Are Menstrual Masks Really Good For You?

While it may still be taboo for some, menstrual blood appears to have more to offer than previously thought. For example, researchers discovered in 2023 that it may actually play a key role in treating Alzheimer’s Disease in the future.

As period blood becomes a little less of a forbidden topic, some social media users have been discussing their DIY skincare in the form of “menstrual masking” or “period face masks”, which are exactly what they sound like.

Writing for The Conversation, Dipa Kamdar, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice, Kingston University explains: “Popularised on social media, hashtags such as #periodfacemask have amassed billions of views. In most videos, users apply menstrual blood for a few minutes before rinsing it off.

“There’s no clear agreement on how much blood to use or how long to leave it on. Some call the practice healing or empowering, describing it as a spiritual ritual that connects them to their bodies and ancestral femininity.”

However, scientists do have some concerns.

Kamdar says: “Advocates of menstrual masking often argue that period blood contains stem cells, cytokines and proteins that could rejuvenate the skin.

“There is currently no clinical evidence to support using menstrual blood as a topical skincare treatment.”

However, she adds, “its biological composition has shown potential in medical research.”

A 2018 study found that plasma derived from menstrual fluid could significantly enhance wound healing. In laboratory tests, wounds treated with menstrual plasma showed 100% repair within 24 hours compared with 40% using regular blood plasma.

Kamdar explains: “This remarkable regeneration is thought to be linked to the unique proteins and bioactive molecules in menstrual fluid: the same substances that allow the uterus to rebuild itself every month.”

According to Kamdar, some menstrual masking advocates have compared the practice to ‘vampire facials’ which were popularised by Kim Kardashian. Vampire facials use platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) extracted from a patient’s owsn blood and inject it into the skin.

Kamdar warns: “But experts caution against comparing PRP with menstrual blood. Menstrual fluid is a complex mixture of blood, sloughed-off endometrial tissue (the uterine lining), vaginal secretions, hormones and proteins.

“As it passes through the vaginal canal, it can pick up bacteria and fungi, including Staphylococcus aureus, a common microbe that normally lives on the skin but can cause infections if it enters cuts or pores. There’s also a risk that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) could be transferred to the skin.”

Maybe just stick to shop-bought masks…