Tiktok’s latest trend: Drinking chlorophyll water to clear acne

Gulf Today Report

There’s a new craze that’s doing the rounds on the popular video-sharing platform TikTok.

Users of the application have been going gaga over the benefits of chlorophyll for skin problems.

This has led to the hashtag #chlorophyll trending on TikTok with 146.8 million views at the time of writing.

If you remember your school biology lessons well, you’ll be aware that chlorophyll is the pigment that gives plants their green colour.

It's involved in photosynthesis, aka the process when plants convert light energy to chemical energy.

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But what if humans were to consume it? Chlorophyll has antioxidants and has some noteworthy potential health benefits, as per research.

Now, social media influencers are suggesting that adding few drops of it to water could be your ticket to clear, acne-free skin.

But Gen Z aren’t the first to buy into liquid chlorophyll.

Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop website claims it can be used as a natural deodoriser, and Kourtney Kardashian’s Poosh has a whole article espousing its benefits.

“Liquid chlorophyll is a plant derivative that is a great source of vitamins A, C, E and K, and is high in antioxidants and minerals,” says Dr Preema Vig, an aesthetic doctor.

“Chlorophyll is (considered) safe to take daily and doses vary between supplement, this is usually between 100-300 milligrams.

 Spinach and kale are some of the chlorophyll-rich foods.

“If you are unsure of the dosage you should be taking or you are on any medication or pregnant, you should always consult with your doctor first.”

Vig advises you “start at a lower dose and increase slowly if necessary” — and you can also apply it topically.

“Ingesting liquid chlorophyll will give greater side effects than topically applying chlorophyll, but both have great benefits,” she explains.

“Ingesting it can also give additional benefits such as increased energy, hormonal balance, constipation relief and digestive improvement.”

Of course, one shouldn’t just bank on liquid chlorophyll for healthy skin, and should maintain a nutritious diet, lifestyle and good skincare routine.

But this new TikTok trend could hold some water.

“The potent antioxidant can work as an anti-inflammatory as well as an antibacterial which can help fight acne, reduce inflammation and redness, reduce the appearance of large pores and help improve the skin’s elasticity,” Vig explains.

Although there are “no known major health risks to liquid chlorophyll,” says Vig, “it can cause some side effects, such as nausea, diarrhoea, gastrointestinal cramping, and digestive problems.”

If you don’t fancy buying liquid chlorophyll and dropping it into your water, “you can create your own smoothie by putting spinach and kale into it,” says Vig.

Spinach and kale aren’t the only chlorophyll-rich foods — it can also be found in broccoli, chicory, collard greens and parsley, and Vig recommends loading up on four servings a day.