Pinoy Beauty Myths, Debunked by a Dermatologist

Have you ever tried using toothpaste on your pimples? Or have you skipped a nightly shower, in fear of getting pasma? Or were you ever told by your elders to put your own menstrual blood on your face so that your skin would clear up? (Eep.)

The Philippines is a country with a rich background of culture and folklore, snippets of which, up to this day, still make their way into modern existence. Some of them, though, seem so outrageous that we couldn’t help but wonder about their basis.

We previously checked in with board-certified dermatologist and current Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS) president Jasmin Jamora, MD, to debunk culturally-rooted Pinoy hair myths. In a continuation of the series, we ask Dr. Jamora to clarify skin-related Filipino beauty myths, too. 

Myth 1: Putting your period blood on your face will give you clear skin.

“This sounds quite dreadful,” says Dr. Jamora, slightly shocked, when we asked her about it. Please do not put period blood on your face—please,” she implores. Apparently, according to Dr. Jamora, this one myth doesn’t deserve our time nor our attention. It’s unsanitary, and may result in complications for your skin.

“However,” she muses, “there is actually some basis for this myth.” You may have heard of the trendy vampire facial, which celebrities like Kim Kardashian have tried, where you undergo a treatment that involves your own blood, a small amount of which is drawn beforehand. “The trendy vampire facial is effective, because of platelet-rich plasma, which is taken from your blood.”

Interesting. But, as our board-certified dermatologist pleads, please do not put your period blood on your face.

Myth 2: You can use toothpaste to shrink your pimples.

This myth extends beyond the shores of the Philippines, with toothpaste actually being used regularly to combat acne. But according to Dr. Jamora, this isn’t something that you should do. Instead, it’s better to use ingredients approved by your board-certified derm to combat your acne.

“I’ve heard people do this in an emergency, but I think it doesn’t work,” clarifies Dr. Jamora. “There are other products you can put on your pimples to dry them, like benzoyl peroxide, but this is not one of them. “

Myth 3: Showering at night will make you pasma.

Pasma is a Filipino folk illness of tremors and shaking, believed to come about when the body is exposed to different temperatures. This is something that many people today still believe in. However, Dr. Jamora points out that since we live in a tropical country, where we get all hot and sweaty, skipping a nightly shower only ups your chances of developing sweat acne on your back. “One of the things we tell our patients to do is to take a shower at night.,” says Dr. Jamora. “I tell them, ‘You like basketball. What does Lebron James do after he gets off the court? Siyempre maliligo yan diba? Meron bang pasma yan? Wala, diba?”

Pasma, Dr. Jamora says, is not actually real. “There’s no pasma,” she explains. It’s something that our grandmothers believed in. You can take a shower anytime. Pasma is not real.”

Myth 4: Crossing your legs will give you varicose veins.

Ever crossed your legs, and had your lola, tita, or even mom nudge your knee and say, “Makaka-varicose veins ka diyan!” This myth, it turns out, needs a little qualifying.

“Varicose veins are genetic,” explains Dr. Jamora. Merely crossing your legs will not automatically give you varicose veins. However, she says that crossing your legs does in fact increase the pressure in your lower legs. “But if you already have varicose veins and you cross your legs, it will increase the pressure in your lower legs,” she says. “Baka dumami yung varicose veins mo. For me, don’t cross your legs if you don’t have to, because it does cause an increase in pressure.”

Not sure if you’re genetically prone to varicose veins? Dr. Jamora says to check your mother’s legs (or even the legs of your lola or tita who keeps telling you to uncross your own). “Look at your mom’s mom’s legs and see if she has varicose veins,” Dr. Jamora suggests. “And kung meron, wag ka na mag-cross ng legs.”

Myth 5: Using deodorant will make your underarms darker.

In this case, it’s not the deodorant per se that might make your underarms darker, but an allergy that you may not be aware of.

Dr. Jamora explains that some people may, in fact, be allergic to an ingredient, or even a fragrance, in their deodorant. “Their armpits get inflamed and red and itchy, and then they will become darker,” she says. “For people who are allergic to their deodorant or can’t tolerate it, it may make underarms darker.”

One thing that you can do is thoroughly check the ingredients of your deodorant, and pick deodorants that are less likely to cause you allergies.

Myth 6: Eating chocolates will give you pimples.

We’ve all heard this one, right? And as it turns out, this one is actually true.

“It’s been shown in studies that sugar and dairy can trigger acne,” says Dr. Jamora, explaining that they can trigger inflammation. “Sugar, dairy, red meats, processed foods, fast foods—these things can really trigger a breakout of acne.”

If you happen to have a sweet tooth, Dr. Jamora feels your pain, and offers some advice: “If you have a big event, ease off on the chocolates before it. You can eat some after.”

Myth 7: If you make a face and the wind blows in it, your facial expression will be frozen—permanently.

Do we really need to explain this one?

“This is very funny, no?” Dr. Jamora says with a grin. Who hasn’t made silly faces as a child and been told, “Sige lang, gawin mo pa yan. Pag hanginan ka sa mukha, ganyan na forever yung mukha mo!” “Of course this is not true at all,” Dr. Jamora clarifies with a laugh. “It’s just very funny, and I think it’s a myth that’s not only in the Philippines, but also abroad. It’s a myth that your face can freeze that way. This is not true at all, so make a funny face and make somebody laugh today!”

The bottom line: science over (ka)sabihan

Main takeaway: Don’t believe everything you hear. Some of these myths do, in fact, have some sort of basis in science. But the others? None whatsoever, and they may even put you at risk of skin allergies, disease, and even anxiety. Don’t play around with your skin. Instead, make you sure you reach out to clarify things with a board-certified dermatologist. And yes, go ahead, and make that funny face—whether it’s windy outside or not.