How far would you go in the name of beauty?

In the latest skincare trend circling on social media, women can be seen applying their menstrual blood as a face mask to achieve—what they describe as—an unmatchable glow. 

Some call the practice spiritual or empowering, tapping into the divine feminine whilst others are comparing it to 'vampire facials' made famous by Kim Kardashian, where dermatologists inject platelet-rich plasma (PRP) into the skin to boost collagen and minimise the visible signs of ageing. 

Amassing some 3.5million TikTok searches, 'menstrual masking' is certainly getting a lot of attention right now, but is there actually any scientific evidence to support saving your monthly shed to supercharge your skincare routine? 

Menstrual blood contains a mix of tissue from the lining of the uterus—called the endometrium—as well as circulating blood and vaginal fluid. 

When the endometrial lining that is shed during menstruation regenerates, it thickens starting the cycle again, driven by stem cells in the endometrium. 

This biological process has shown some potential in medical research, namely significantly enhancing wound healing. In 2018, a study found that wounds treated with menstrual plasma showed complete repair within 24 hours, compared with just 40 per cent repair using regular blood plasma. 

Another study, published in the World Journal of Plastic Surgery, found stem cells derived from menstrual blood to be a 'suitable cell source in repair and regenerate of skin diseases and naturally photoaging of skin' caused by long-term sun exposure. 

Because they are versatile and can be collected non-invasively, menstrual blood-derived stem cells—also known as MenSCs—are now being considered as a promising option for developing medical treatments to treat chronic wounds. 

But whilst it is logical to presume that these cells can stimulate blood vessel production elsewhere, dermatologists are sceptical about the use of menstrual blood collected at home on the face. 

One reason for this is because period blood also contains epithelial cells which are pro-inflammatory, producing cytokines and chemokines, meaning it could actually have the opposite effect—irritating the skin. 

'Menstrual blood also contains broken down uterine lining so it will contain messenger molecules that signal tissue breakdown and removal. This is not the effect we are looking for on the skin,' Mariam Abbas, an advanced facialist with a special interest in skin science, explained. 

And whilst menstrual blood is completely natural, as it passes through the vaginal canal, it can pick up bacteria and fungi, including staphylococcus aureus which can cause infections if it gets into cuts or pores on the skin. 

As Ms Abbas explained: 'Menstrual blood isn't just blood; it also contains uterine tissue, cervical cells, and vaginal fluids, all of which naturally carry bacteria. 

'On top of that, if someone has poor oral hygiene or a sexually transmitted infection, the risks go up.

'Applying it your face can lead to infection, irritation, or inflammation, especially if there are open lesions, acne or sensitive skin. 

'If the blood is being used to heal skin conditions like acne or dry skin, impaired barriers; it can potentially cause bacterial infections deeper in the skin because the breaks in the skin will allow the bacteria to travel deeper.' 

There's also a risk that sexually transmitted infections (STIs), like herpes, could be transferred to the skin, Ms Abbas added. 

The vagina typically has a pH of around 4.5, which is considered moderately acidic. But when a woman is on her period, the vagina becomes less acidic and more alkaline, making it easier for bacteria and viruses to survive. 

As a result, using menstrual blood on the face could actually increase the likelihood of acne or skin infections, with the majority of cells contained in the blood dying as soon as they are exposed to the air. 

The facialist added: 'It is important to consider, when we talk about stem cells in skin care products, the bottles don't actually contain bottled up stem cells, they contain growth factors and messenger molecules that have been released by stem cells in lab settings.

'These growth factors and proteins are then further packaged in delivery systems. Stem cells are never topically applied to the skin to promote healing or rejuvenation.'  

For this reason, dermatologists recommend avoiding putting period blood on your face, and instead opting for PRP treatments, which uses your own blood that has been freshly harvested and stored properly to avoid the risk of infection and deliver actives deep into the skin.

'Menstrual blood, however, does not rejuvenate the skin in the same way because the nutrients and molecules it contains cannot penetrate healthy, intact skin because the molecular size of nutrients isn't small enough.' 

PRP facials, endorsed by celebs from Megan Fox to Kourtney Kardashian, are cosmetic treatments that use a patient's own blood to revitalise the skin.

Practitioners take a patient's blood sample and spin at a very high speed in a centrifuge to separate platelets from the erythrocytes—the functional component of blood responsible for transporting key nutrients around the body. 

The platelet-rich plasma will then be injected into the skin using microneedles to stimulate collagen production and promote healing, reducing acne marks and scars, accelerating wound healing and improving the overall tone and texture of the skin. 

'In contrast, the topical application of menstrual blood is carried out in unsterile settings, the blood is contaminated and can introduce infection to the skin,' the skin specialist said. 

So whilst 'menstrual masking' might feel empowering for some, it has no place in DIY skincare routines according to science.  

Professor Tess McPherson, an expert in adolescent dermatology and member of the British Association of Dermatologists added: 'Unusual skincare trends are popular content on social media, and some of the appeal of the content is the shock value. 

'In the case of menstrual blood masks, there is no evidence to suggest that they would work, or a recognised mechanism through which menstrual blood would act as a skin rejuvenator. 

'The explanation provided by those who support this claim on social media is unconvincing, from a medical perspective, and we would not recommend that people use this method. 

'Moreover, using someone else’s blood for this type of trend is particularly risky because there is a chance of infection.'

Last year, influencer Sara Sol, 32, sparked debate when videos of her using her period blood as an anti-ageing mask went viral. 

The influencer, who splits her time between Egypt and Indonesia, has been using her own period blood as a beauty product for several years.

Ms Sol, who calls herself a 'menstrual cycle and womb healing educator,' claims that the blood is 'pure and fresh' and regularly shares videos of herself wearing menstrual face masks and pouring blood into the soil.

'You want the ancient feminine secret to glowing young skin? Well now you have it,' Ms Sol wrote to her 11,000 Instagram followers. 'It comes out from down there..right between your legs.'