Dermatologists Warn About The Dangers Of Peel Off Charcoal Face Mask

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It's a viral trend that promises smooth, radiant skin, but beauty experts say using charcoal masks isn't the way to get a spring glow.

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It’s cheap, containing some powdered charcoal and glue and it does pull everything off your skin, including the dirt that clogs pores. But it’s pulling way too much off your face.

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It is the latest beauty trend to take the internet by storm with beauty bloggers and celebrities alike boasting the benefits of the charcoal face masks.

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Skincare experts are actively discouraging the use of the tacky masks warning that they could be extremely damaging to the skin.

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An Arkansas doctor warns that anything good for your skin shouldn't hurt that bad.

"None of the things we do here are that painful. Even our strongest peels are not painful," said Dr. Anne Trussell of Sei Bella Med Spa.

Dr. Trussell said it's not just the pain that's the problem.

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"Permanently enlarged pores. You can get scarring. People of darker ethnicities; black patients, Asians, Hispanics, they can actually get permanent hypopigmentation," she said.

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The mask 'sticks' to not just the blackheads, but also the skin and hair on the face.

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When the mask is removed, it pulls off the outermost layer of skin and associated oils which serve as a barrier to protect the skin from the environment. This, plus pulling out the small hairs causes significant pain just like waxing the face.

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Experts suggest that there are some gentle exfoliants and charcoal masks that you can buy, which are much safer.

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You can even mix a little aloe vera with activated charcoal and rinse it off.

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California-based dermatologist Christine Choi Kim recently explained to Seventeen magazine the dangers of using the ingredient to do the opposite of what was intended.

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She explained: "This charcoal and glue mixture could actually clog pores, leading to blemishes. Sensitive skin types may react to the stripping action of peeling off dried glue which removes the top protective layers of the epidermis and could lead to rashes [and] dryness."

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Dr. Trussell said if you think you're going to need a peel, the best thing to do is go see a licensed esthetician or a doctor and find out what products are good for your skin and which ones aren't. Definitely, take whatever you've bought into an esthetician or a dermatologist or other skin care professional.

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Have them look at the ingredients and tell you if there's anything in there you shouldn't put on your skin. Don't buy something off the internet that you don't know anything about or can't read the language.