An expert has revealed the shocking item that the majority of women will use that can cause major problems to their skin.
Dr Sermed Mezher is a UK medic, who, according to his YouTube biography is an ‘award-winning doctor and published academic author in the UK, MBChB (Hons) MRes on a mission to make health simple with high quality scientific content’.
In a short video he posted to his channel @DrSermedMezher, he revealed that an anonymous 30-year-old patient had ended up going to the doctor because of the severity of her facial skin rash.
They used steroids, antifungal medications, antibiotics, acne creams, none of them would even touch it.
Because the GP was stumped, and nothing seemed to work, the woman was then sent onto a dermatologist to see if they could help – and it was disscovered that her make-up brush was to blame.
In his video, Dr Sermed continues: ‘This patient’s case explains exactly why this 30-year-old patient went to her doctor with this rash that just wouldn’t go away.’
When she went to the specialist dermatologist, they still didn’t know exactly how to treat it, and so took a swab to send it to the lab.
The doctor continues: ‘What they found was really quite shocking.
‘It is a bacteria that only usually affects immunocompromised people like those with HIV, or who have been on chemotherapy called Pseudomonas.
‘Guess where they found the source?’
Shockingly, the source of the bacteria was the woman’s unclean makeup brushes.
According to the doctor: ‘These things have a more bacteria than your toilet seat, but don’t take my word for it.
‘This study by spectrum actually swapped a toilet seat and compared it to an unclean makeup pack.
This tool in every woman’s bag could be wrecking your skin.’
The lesson?
Ensure your make-up brshes and tools are in tip-tip condition to keep your skin clean.
It turns out a staggeringly low number of people keep their beauty tools free.
The 2023 Beauty Pie survey of more than 1,000 people revealed that 45 per cent have never washed their foundation brush and more than half have never cleaned their beauty blender.
Dr Joe Latimer, a microbiologist at the University of Salford, said: ‘Our skin is an ecosystem with a myriad of bacteria, fungi and viruses living together, and most of the time, our skin keeps the balance of these bacterial species in check.
‘Our bacteria help to keep our skin healthy and protect us from infection, but if numbers become too high, we can end up with problems like acne, atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, or wound infections.’
But it is not only makeup applicators that are being neglected.
‘Brits also admitting to leaving dirt and bacteria multiply on skincare tools such as flannels, headbands and face sculptors.
Grim images, captured by the beauty company, which zoomed in to magnify the tools by 10 times, reveal what happens when you forget to wash them.
Photographs of a foundation brush show encrusted bristles, collecting years-old makeup residue and oil.
This product build-up occurs after continuous use if it is not thoroughly sanitised, which can lead to oil and dirt to accumulating on the brush and skin and trigger infections and acne.
Dr Joe Latimer, a microbiologist at the University of Salford, said: ‘Our skin is an ecosystem with a myriad of bacteria, fungi and viruses living together, and most of the time, our skin keeps the balance of these bacterial species in check.
‘Our bacteria help to keep our skin healthy and protect us from infection, but if numbers become too high, we can end up with problems like acne, atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, or wound infections.’
But it is not only makeup applicators that are being neglected. Brits also admitting to leaving dirt and bacteria multiply on skincare tools such as flannels, headbands and face sculptors.
Face sculptors, such as Gua Sha, were the most neglected beauty tools.
Nearly three-quarters of respondants (73 per cent) said they had never cleaned theirs.
A shocking 40 per cent of people said they hadn’t washed their face flannels and half did not clean their face cleansing cloths.
Grusome pictures show how a flannel cloth’s structure perfectly traps dirt and fibres, which can be transferred to the skin during every wash.
Dr Latimer said: ‘Every time we touch our skin with beauty tools like makeup brushes, facecloths or facial rollers, we transfer some of our bacteria onto the tools.
‘Over time, bacteria, dead skin tissue and old skincare and makeup product will build up on tools and this will allow bacteria to multiply.
‘So, when we use the tools again, we transfer many thousands of these microbes back onto our skin. To make it worse, bacteria love warmth and moisture.
‘This means that if we store our cloths and brushes in a damp environment, more bacteria will grow.’
Other beauty tools, such as fake tanning mitts and skincare headbands, also have been the victims of poor hygiene upkeep.
Of those surveyed, 73 per cent admitted they had never washed their tanning mitt and 61 per cent revealed they do not clean their skincare headbands.
Not cleaning these tools while using beauty products routinely can lead to rashes and spots, as soft materials are a trap for dirt and for bacteria.
Dr Latimer said: ‘To stop bacteria from building up to potentially unhealthy levels, we need to remove their food, water, and heat so they can’t grow.
‘Regularly cleaning skincare and makeup tools and, crucially, storing them somewhere nice and dry is the best way to do this.
That way, you can restore the happy balance between you and your bacteria without risking any annoying spots or rashes.’
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.