Community Service Announcement: Do NOT try this skin treatment at home.

Gold facials, face bras, snakeskin pedicures: we’ll try anything in the pursuit of beautiful skin. But friends; this is definitely not one you want to add to the list.

New research has found that bleach can help to reverse the signs of ageing and even treat skin damaged by sun exposure and radiotherapy.

It’s already used as a treatment for eczema, and researchers have tested (very) diluted bleach on mice with significant results.

The trials found that after two weeks of bleach baths the mice developed thicker skin and showed signs of more skin cells being produced.

Researchers are now considering testing the formula on humans and looking into what other skin conditions it could be used to help treat. “It’s possible that, in addition to being beneficial to radiation dermatitis, it could also aid in healing wounds like diabetic ulcers,” said Dr. Thomas Leung from Stanford University.

“This is exciting because there are so few side effects to dilute bleach. We may have identified other ways to use hypochlorite to really help patients. It could be easy, safe and inexpensive.”

But experts warn you shouldn’t go ahead and slather bleach directly on your face. (Well, duh.)

“I cannot emphasize enough that it is very important that individuals with inflammatory conditions do not apply bleach directly to their skin,” said Dr. Graham Johnson of the British Association of Dermatologists.

“We often see patients with severe reactions to even mild bleaches, and I would recommend that people with inflamed or broken skin avoid contact with bleach in those areas.”

Or in another words, step away, step very far away from the bleach.

What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever put on your skin? 

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