Nyeleleneh Trend, Menstruation Blood Becomes A Face Mask, Try To Check Out The Scientific Explanation

JAKARTA - The trend of beauty always brings new things, but not everything is easily accepted. One that is now being discussed is the menstrual masking, namely the practice of using menstrual blood as a face mask.

This trend is popular on social media, with hashtags like #periodfacemask reaching billions of views. In many videos, users apply menstrual blood for a few minutes then rinse it. There are no clear rules about how much blood is used or how long it should take to leave on the skin.

Some people call this practice a form of healing or empowerment, even considered spiritual rituals that make them more connected to the body and the feminities of the ancestors. But what does science say?

Reported by Science Alert, supporters of menstrual masking argue that menstrual blood contains punca cells (stem cells), cytokines, and proteins that are believed to be able to rejuvenate the skin. There is currently no clinical evidence that supports the use of menstrual blood as skin care. Even so, its composition does show potential in medical research.

Dipa Kamdar, Senior Lecturer of Pharmacy Practice, Kingston University said the study of finding plasma from menstrual fluids could accelerate wound healing significantly. In laboratory testing, wounds given menstrual plasma show 100% recovery in 24 hours, compared to 40% of wounds given regular blood plasma.

This regeneration capability is thought to originate from unique bioactive proteins and molecules in menstrual fluids, the same substance that allows the uterus to rebuild the network every month.

Researchers are now exploring the possibility of using synthetic menstrual fluids as a treatment for chronic wounds.

Research on punca cells also highlights the punca cells from menstrual blood known as MenSCs. These cells are easy to grow and can develop into various types of cells.

Studies show mesentimal punca cells (MSCs) from various sources can help repair the skin by increasing collagen, reducing wrinkles, and releasing growth factors that repair damage caused by burns, UV exposure, or injury.

Its versatile and seemingly safe nature, the Minister ofSCs is considered promising for the development of medical therapy that is able to regenerate the skin and slow down photoaging, namely premature skin aging due to long-term sun exposure.

Some mendukung menstrual masking menyamakannya denganiental facial, prosedur beauty yang dipopulikan oleh selebritas seperti Kim Kardashian. Vampire facility menggunakan plalet-rich plasma (PRP) dari darah pasien sendiri yang kemudian disuntukkan ke wajah.

However, experts emphasize that PRP is not the same as menstrual blood. The menstrual fluid is a complex mixture of blood, endometrium tissue (uterine layer), vaginal fluids, hormones, and proteins.

When passing through the vagina, menstrual blood can be mixed with bacteria and fungi, including Staphylococcus aureus, a common microbial in the skin that can cause infection if it enters through small wounds or pores. There is also a risk of transmitting sexually transmitted infection (IMS) to the skin.

On the other hand, PRP is processed in a sterile condition. Blood is taken, rotated in a centrifuge, separated from the plaquette-rich layer of plasma, then injected using a fine needle. In some procedures, doctors also add fillers for faster results. The procedure is expensive, it can reach thousands, in contrast to menstrual masking which is free and easy to do.

The menstrual masking is not the only beauty practice that uses body fluids. Urine therapy, namely applying urine to the skin, has roots in Ayurveda's treatment and is believed to be able to detox the body.

Some people claim urine is beneficial for acne or eczema, although there is no scientific evidence to support it. Urin does contain urea, a material used in moisturizers, but natural urea levels are much lower and different from pure synthetic urea used in skin products.

The idea of raw urine or menstrual blood can replace medical cosmetic ingredients not supported by dermatological evidence.

The menstrual masking is at the intersection of body positivity, cultural rituals, and pseudocins. For some people, this is a form of celebration of the menstrual cycle and a way of rejecting stigma. For others, this is just a beauty trend that has not been proven and has the potential to be risky.

The biological content of menstrual blood is indeed rich, but its safe and effective use is in the realm of controlled medical research, not home skincare routines.

Like many other viral health trends, it is important to differentiate between symbolism and science. The menstrual masking may be felt to empower personally, but from a dermatological point of view, this practice should be considered a personal belief, not a skin care.