People on TikTok are eating garlic to try and get rid of their acne, but a health expert has warned that the viral cure ‘lacks research’.
The trend sees people swallowing whole pieces of the stinky vegetable to clear up their spots, with many claiming the crazy hack actually works.
Viral acne cure using garlic
Videos are circling the app which show people gulping down raw cloves of garlic whole like a tablet to help with their skin issues.
“To whoever said to swallow garlic to reduce acne breakouts overnight. I owe you my life,” one woman said in a video which has had more than 6.8 million views.
“Literally the easiest tip to get rid of acne ASAP,” she wrote in the caption – and she’s one of hundreds swearing by the crazy hack.
“If you grab a clove of garlic and you peel it and you take it in your mouth and swallow it like this, you will have just taken something that is gonna help with inflammation on your skin,” said another. “It’s going to help fight acne, it is literally the easiest, naturalist hack you can do for your skin.”
People are swallowing the garlic whole instead of chewing it to avoid releasing the bad smell and disgusting taste, while still attempting to reap the skin benefits.
Literally the easiest tip to red rid of acne asap!! 😋 #acneskin #acnefighter #skincare #tips #acne
Health expert says cure ‘lacks research’
Dr. Hana Patel, NHS GP and GP Medico-Legal Expert Witness, told The Focus that eating garlic can “theoretically” cure acne as it is an antibacterial – but there ultimately isn’t enough research into the topic.
“Its compounds such as allicin, and ajoene are known to have antibacterial activity,” she said. “A recent student showed that surgical wounds treated with 30% garlic ointment healed with more cosmetically appealing scars than the Vaseline-treated sites.”
“So theoretically it can but there has been no demonstrable research that has directly investigated garlic’s potential as an acne treatment,” Patel continued. “In most cases it is not known how much these compounds are responsible for their anti-acne activity.”
Allicin is an oily, slightly yellow liquid that gives garlic its distinctive odor. It has been used for centuries in various societies to combat infectious disease, a report in the National Library of Medicine reveals, and has antibacterial properties, meaning it prevents the growth or spread of bacteria.
Acne is caused when hair follicles on the skin become blocked. Harmless bacteria that live on the skin can then contaminate and infect the plugged follicles.
Clear Skin Hack with 🧄 – Apparently having one clove of fresh garlic a day will help clear hormonal acne, i will be testing this for the next week !
How to help reduce acne
MedlinePlus recommends washing your skin once or twice a day gently with a mild, nondrying soap (such as Dove, Neutrogena, Cetaphil, CeraVe, or Basics) to help acne. Avoid scrubbing or repeated skin washing and only use water-based formulas in cosmetics and creams.
They also suggest shampooing your hair daily, especially if it’s oily, as the oils can make acne worse. Comb or pull your hair back out of your face too. Always wash your makeup off before bed and do not leave it on overnight.
Try not to aggressively squeeze, scratch, pick, or rub the pimples as this can lead to skin infections, slower healing, and scarring. Avoid wearing tight headbands or hats, don’t touch your face with your hands and avoid greasy cosmetics or creams.
If pimples are still a problem, your healthcare provider can prescribe stronger medicines and discuss other options with you.
