Beauty influencers are encouraging skincare enthusiasts to save their menstrual blood for a bizarre purpose
Menstrual masking” went viral on social media, where beauty enthusiasts broadcast their blood-soaked visages on camera. Jam Press/@onewildwomban
A new social media beauty trend is turning heads — and stomachs — with claims that menstrual blood can give skin a healthy glow. The DIY practice, known online as “menstrual masking,” involves applying one’s own period blood to the face for a brief time before rinsing it off.
Supporters say menstrual blood contains stem cells, cytokines, and proteins that can refresh the skin. But because the trend is completely unregulated and hasn’t been thoroughly studied, there are no medical guidelines for how it should be done — or if it should be done at all.
Some of the enthusiasm comes from research on menstrual fluid-derived plasma, which has demonstrated healing potential in controlled lab settings. A study published by the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology reported that wounds treated with menstrual plasma closed fully within 24 hours, compared to 40% healing with standard blood plasma. Scientists believe this rapid repair is related to proteins and other bioactive molecules that help the uterus regenerate every month.
Researchers have also examined menstrual blood-derived stem cells (MenSCs), which appear to promote skin repair, boost collagen, reduce wrinkles, and encourage growth factors linked to healing. However, these findings come from laboratory studies — not at-home facial treatments.
Some trend followers liken menstrual masking to the popular “vampire facial,” a cosmetic procedure that injects platelet-rich plasma drawn from a patient’s own blood. But dermatologists say the comparison doesn’t hold. PRP is processed in sterile medical conditions, whereas menstrual blood can contain bacteria, fungi, Staphylococcus aureus, and even sexually transmitted infections, any of which could cause irritation or infection if applied to the face.
Menstrual masking isn’t the only unconventional beauty ritual spreading online. “Urine therapy,” which involves applying urine to the skin, has resurfaced through modern alternative wellness groups, though its historical claims of detoxification and skin benefits remain unproven.
With limited scientific support and clear potential risks, dermatology experts suggest that menstrual masking is one trend better left off the beauty routine — and certainly off the face.
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