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Doctors debunk flaxseed gel trend boasted as Botox alternative
Victoria Benitez, 24, of Los Angeles, CA, received more than 6 million views on TikTok after sharing a video of a thick gel she made with just flaxseed and boiled water, calling it "Botox you make at home." (Notarantonio, 2023)
Medical experts, however, don't agree. Vanessa Coppola, a nurse practitioner in New Jersey, explained, "You are not going to get the effects of Botox that is injected. We currently cannot produce that effect topically."
Dr. Jennifer Ashton, ABC News chief medical correspondent, also shared a word of caution: "If you're applying [this gel] to your face, there is the possibility that you can have some contact irritation, dermatitis, even potentially an allergic reaction," she said. She also generally cautions against TikTok medical trends that consumers can mistake for credible medical advice. (McCarthy, 2023)
Sources:
McCarthy, K. (2023, December 13). ABC News. Doctor debunks TikTok-viral flaxseed gel trend that claims it's 'nature's Botox.' https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Food/doctor-debunks-tiktok-viral-flaxseed-gel-trend-claims/story?id=105625558
Notarantonio, L. (2023, December 8). Newsweek. Could a DIY Flaxseed Mask Really Replace Your Botox? What an Expert Says. https://www.newsweek.com/botox-bowl-flaxseed-tiktok-trend-1850524