Beauty Tips

Fake News Exists in the Beauty World, Too. Don't Believe These Viral Headlines

We sort fact from fake in eight eyebrow-raising headlines

by Katie McCarthy | COMMENT

PHOTO 4/9

"Lighten Your Skin For Good! Remove Wrinkles, Acne, Age Spots and Excess Facial Fats Using This All-Natural Remedy!" The claim: This article also from worldhealthguide.org made the rounds for suggesting that a simple facial mask of lemon juice and oatmeal can eliminate basically every skin imperfection on earth: wrinkles, acne, dark spots, fat, and freckles.

Shared: 15.7K times

Fake or fact: Pretty fake

Why: The ingredients in this mask have some efficacy, says Dr. Patricia Wexler of Wexler Dermatology. "Oatmeal contains saponins, a cleansing agent," she explains. "This gives the oatmeal a large role in exfoliation and absorption of excess oil on the skin, and absorption of dirt and debris deep within the pores." Lemon juice is a natural skin lightener, adds Wexler. Together, she says, these ingredients can "address spots, freckles, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation."

Although these two ingredients are effective in fighting certain skin issues, they're unlikely to completely eliminate them, like the article claims. They're also very likely to irritate skin, possibly doing more harm than good.

"Oatmeal can be used to exfoliate the skin, but can be irritating and drying if used too often," says Sobel. Not to mention applying lemon juice to skin can also make it more sensitive to the sun, leading to burns.

And the notion that lemon juice and oatmeal can burn facial fat? Well, it's utter hogwash.

Image via Getty

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