- A beauty hack called “slugging” went viral on TikTok.
- Promoters of the trend say it helps moisturize and protect skin.
- It is also said to help reduce wrinkles.
- Skin care experts say slugging can be a good idea if done right.
- However, it can cause problems for some people Man for specific skin types.
Recently, there’s a new viral beauty trend on TikTok called “slugging.” As of this writing, this social media site for Beauty reports that a video tagged “The Slugging Method”, involving his influencers and skincare doctors, has gained 25.4 million views.
In a nutshell, slugging is applying petroleum jelly or another petroleum jelly-based ointment to your face as the final step in your nighttime skincare routine.
Researcher Kyla Pagani, who authored a paper on the topic published in Clinics in Dermatology, told US News and World Report that the goal of slugging is to “help moisturize and strengthen the skin barrier.” Proponents also claim that it can reduce wrinkles.
When her team analyzed the videos available at the time of the survey, they found that 36.7% of the videos were deemed educational in nature.
However, only 20.4% of these videos mentioned the risks associated with long hits.
According to Pagani, this indicates that health content can harm the general public if not presented in a balanced way.
But Pagani emphasized that slugging isn’t harmful per se. It’s simply that TikTokers didn’t always mention the downsides associated with this practice, preferring to highlight the benefits.
In fact, overall, researchers found that 6 out of 10 posts focused primarily on positives, but few mentioned potential problems that users should be aware of. was only 2 out of 10.
So what is the truth about slugging? is it good for your skin? And what are the possible risks associated with it?
According to Dr. Hope Mitchell, board-certified dermatologist, founder and CEO of Mitchell Dermatology in Perrysburg and Fremont, Ohio, applying an occlusive ointment actually moisturizes and heals the skin. help.
“It hydrates or retains moisture, protects the skin barrier, and repairs dry skin,” she explained.
She said it can be done on any part of the body, but the face, lips and eyelids are common targets.
“Dermatologists have been using this beauty hack for years to prevent epidermal water loss and lock in moisture to heal dry skin quickly,” Mitchell said.
Dr. Susan Massik, an associate professor of dermatology at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, added that the procedure may be particularly helpful for certain skin conditions.
“If you suffer from eczema or dry skin, applying an emollient-type moisturizer can help,” Masic said.
Slugging is also beneficial when it comes to wrinkles, Mitchell said.
“As you age, the skin barrier loses its ability to repair itself, and you may notice less moisture, sagging skin, and more fine lines and wrinkles. Slugging can be an advantage in all these cases.” There is,” she said.
Slugging itself isn’t particularly effective as an anti-wrinkle treatment, according to Masik. What it does help with is replenishing the natural skin barrier function, she pointed out.
In other words, instead of actually preventing wrinkles, it helps to make them less noticeable.
Slugging isn’t for all skin types, says Mitchell, but it’s especially good for oily, acne-prone skin.
“To be honest, having another layer on top of oil can cause problems,” she said, noting that it can clog pores and lead to further breakouts. .
Massick further explained that occlusive emollients like petroleum jelly can cause sebum (oil) and bacteria to become trapped in pores.
In such cases, Mitchell suggests using a serum containing hyaluronic acid as a moisturizer, followed by a non-comedogenic lotion or cream as a spot treatment.
However, if your skin is dry, you may just need slugging.
“Slugging is a great way for people with sensitive skin to heal and protect their skin, especially during the cold winter months,” Mitchell said.
If you want to practice slugs, Mitchell and Masik recommend the following routine.
- cleanse. Masic recommends using a mild cleanser and pat dry.
- Moisturize. “Consider products containing hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and glycerin, which work in tandem to lock moisture into the protective skin barrier,” Mitchell advised. He emphasized that one should avoid using products containing toxicants, but these can cause chemical burns when trapped under a barrier.
- Seal the moisturizer with a thin layer of occlusive ointment. According to Mitchell, some good options are petroleum jelly, CeraVe healing ointment, or Aquaphor. Masik added that you can leave the treatment on for a few hours or leave it on overnight while you sleep.
