Does a rice mask really help against acne?
HLN, 5 August 2022
Does a homemade mask of cooked rice work against acne? Dr Griet Voet and Dr Joren Brassine put the TikTok trend into perspective in HLN.
On TikTok, a homemade mask of long-cooked rice is doing the rounds as a cheap solution for spots. In HLN, dermatologist Dr Griet Voet and aesthetic physician Dr Joren Brassine look at what that promise is worth.
Rice contains substances such as inositol, ferulic acid and phytic acid, which are credited with beneficial properties for the skin, and it has long been used in skin care in Asia. In theory, that could help acne-prone skin, but there is little research and the existing studies are small.
If you have mild acne, you are welcome to try the mask, but according to the doctors you should not expect miracles: with a home preparation, you do not know the concentration of the active substances. For acne, a tailored treatment from a skin specialist remains the best way to prevent scarring.
Key advice
Expect at most a modest effect from a homemade rice mask for mild acne.
With a home preparation, you do not know how much active substance you are applying.
Have acne treated by a skin specialist to limit the risk of permanent scarring.
“So this mask will certainly not be a miracle cure.” — Dr Griet Voet and Dr Joren Brassine
Want to know more? Read about Acne at Clinique Dermatologie Gent.