Rubbing a Banana Peel on Your Face as Good as Botox?

Should Banana Peels Be Used as Skincare?

TikTok has led the charge on quite a few skincare trends, and some are pretty questionable. Among the latest is a trend where users rub empty banana peels on their faces in pursuit of better skin. People are even claiming the practice erases wrinkles, similar to the results achieved by Botox.

The Source of the Trend

The source of this trend probably comes from the fact that bananas, and by extension their peels, have a lot of nutrients—vitamin C, vitamin A, and other nutrients. Helen He, MD, an assistant professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai, told Verywell.

Is It Safe to Rub Banana Peel on Your Face?

Most people can safely try the banana peel trend. "If you want to use the peel on your face and it moistens it then that’s fine," Zakia Rahman, MD, FAAD, a clinical professor of dermatology at Stanford, told Verywell. However, people with certain skin conditions should hang back. "If you have skin that is allergy-prone or if you have a history of eczema, you want to be more careful," Rahman said. And those with banana allergies should also avoid the practice.

The Risks

Even if you don’t have any skin conditions that could make the practice risky, there could be downsides. "The peels can also be abrasive," He said, "and you never want to put anything rough and abrasive against your skin because it can cause irritation." Make sure to use a fresh banana peel. "I would use it immediately after consumption," said Rahman. "If you store it, it continues to degrade, and there are things like fruit fly larvae that live on banana peels."

Conclusion

According to the experts, no research suggests that rubbing a banana peel on your face will improve the appearance of your skin. The same goes for the claim that banana peel facials are equivalent to Botox. While bananas have many health benefits, the nutrients we get from eating bananas don’t necessarily translate when used as skincare.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is it safe to rub banana peel on my face?
A: Most people can safely try the banana peel trend, but people with certain skin conditions should hang back.

Q: Will rubbing banana peel on my face improve the appearance of my skin?
A: No, according to the experts, there is no research to support this claim.

Q: Are banana peels equivalent to Botox?
A: No, according to the experts, there is no research to support this claim.

Q: Are there any downsides to using banana peels as skincare?
A: Yes, the peels can be abrasive and may cause irritation.