NHS GP and TV personality Dr Sara Kayat has issued a warning to anyone using Sudocrem as part of a viral skincare trend. Appearing on ITV's This Morning, she discussed the 'face blasting' hack, in which beauty bloggers apply the antiseptic healing cream to their faces overnight, claiming it can achieve a temporary 'glass skin' effect.
What is Sudocrem and why has it gone viral?
Sudocrem is a well-known antiseptic healing cream, typically sold in a grey tub with a red lid. It is designed to treat and prevent nappy rash in infants, as well as cuts, grazes, minor burns, eczema, and acne spots. It creates a protective barrier on the skin that repels water.
The product has recently gone viral on social media, with users uploading videos of themselves applying the cream as an overnight face mask. Some claim the trend can calm red, angry, and inflamed spots.
Dr Sara's verdict on the 'face blasting' trend
Dr Sara described the hack as one she can "really get involved with." She acknowledged the claims behind it: "The claims are that it calms down red, angry and inflamed spots. And actually, there is evidence to say that it's high in zinc oxide, which does actually calm redness, calm breakouts and can moisturise."
Research indicates that zinc oxide helps reduce inflammation, decrease redness, fight acne-causing bacteria, and minimise transepidermal water loss, helping retain moisture. Studies, including those on nanodiamond-zinc oxide products published in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, reveal that up to 95% of participants experience notable reductions in facial redness and inflammatory erythema scores within four to eight weeks.
However, Dr Sara cautioned that the cream is not designed for the face because it is "a bit thick and a bit occlusive," which could lead to a separate skin issue. In a message to anyone following the viral hack, she warned: "[It] potentially causes pores to clog up."
Expert concerns and advice
Co-host Angela Scanlon interjected: "It's also going to ruin your pillow." Dr Sara replied: "Yes, it's not ideal. A small price to pay for beautiful skin." She added: "There are other creams that are designed specifically for the face, for specific acne breakouts and things like that. But, let's say you're on holiday and you forgot your own creams, but you've got your kids' nappy rash cream, I have no problem with you using it on your face."
Sudocrem contains zinc oxide, which helps soothe redness and small inflamed areas. But its thick base, which has paraffin and lanolin, can trap sweat, bacteria, and oil. This might block pores and cause new breakouts, especially for those with oily or acne-prone skin. On Reddit, opinions vary; some say it helps reduce the size of a pimple now and then, while others claim it leads to persistent clogged pores and more breakouts.
Skin expert Dr Aakriti Gupta of the Australasian Society of Clinical and Procedural Dermatologists has shared concerns about the trend. She noted that it might provide temporary relief for people with a damaged or irritated skin barrier, but it is not as effective as creams made specifically for the face. "There is little evidence that using a thick diaper cream every night is superior to using a facial barrier cream that's specifically formulated to hydrate and repair the skin," she said. For people with oily or acne-prone skin, Gupta pointed out that keeping a thick layer of these heavy ingredients on overnight won't solve all problems, such as breakouts or redness.
