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Fake News Exists in the Beauty World, Too. Don't Believe These Viral Headlines

We sort fact from fake in eight eyebrow-raising headlines
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Sorry, Mr. President: When it comes to fake news, CNN is not the problem. But the internet is pretty rife with inaccurate, sensationalist content. In the shadow of the 2016 election, fake news with political motivations has gotten a lot of attention and media coverage, raising our collective awareness of the insidiousness of false news content. However, fake news isn't just a problem in the realm of politics -- it's also a problem in the beauty-and-health world.

Everyone's seen those articles peddling miracle cures for acne, wrinkles and gray hair. Sure, they're silly. But, damn, do these articles make the rounds. Consider the story "Remove Sun Tan and Other Dark Spots Quickly Within 10 Minutes With These Tips," which was shared on social media 41.8K times. A similar 'magic pill' article, "How to Grow Long, Thick Eyelashes & Eyebrows in Just Three Days," was shared 27.5K times.

And the advice in these fake news articles can be dangerously, jaw-droppingly misleading. These fake beauty news stories don't just drive people to try weird DIY face masks and natural brow serums; some push unfounded treatments and "cures" for serious mental and physical illnesses, even life-threatening ones.

We shared eight viral beauty and health news stories with experts to find out if any kernels of truth exist in these newsbytes -- or if they're as fake as Trump's spray tan. Here's what the professionals said.

All stats via Buzzsumo.com

Image via Getty

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'Coconut Oil and Lemon Mixture: It Turns Gray Hair Back to Its Natural Color'
The claim: This article from thebestremedies.com suggests readers can turn back the clock on silver strands by applying a once-weekly hair mask made of coconut oil, which "reverse[s] gray hair," and lemon juice, which "prevent[s] premature graying."

Shared: 560.5K times

Fake or fact: Fake AF

Why: There's no doubt that rich, moisturizing coconut oil can improve the condition of the hair and scalp, and that lemon juice and coconut oil are filled with beneficial nutrients. But don't expect them to do anything to change the color of gray hair.

"The process of graying is a complicated chemistry that will not be suspended or changed with the use of coconut oil and lemon juice," says Liz Cunnane-Phillips, a trichologist for Philip Kingsley. "Oh, that it were it that simple!"

It's important to understand why your hair turns gray, Cunnane-Phillips continues. "Hair turns gray when the pigment cells responsible for color, melanin, stop being produced," she explains. In other words, hair turns gray due to the absence of color. And if your hair's pigment is gone, the only way to bring it back is with artificial color.

Rita Hazan, famed celebrity colorist and founder of New York City's Rita Hazan Salon, agrees with Cunnane-Phillips. "You need to add pigment into your gray hair to color it," she says.

Image via Getty

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'Baking Soda Shampoo: It Will Make Your Hair Grow Like It Is Magic'
The claim: This news story on dailyhealthkeeper.com claims that washing hair with a simple paste of baking soda and water has an array of benefits including preventing hair loss, boosting hair growth, and eliminating hair of "toxins" and product build-up.

Shared: 129.8K times

Fake or fact: Super fake-y

Why: Washing your hair with a baking soda paste certainly can help soak up hair-product residue or an extra-greasy scalp, as the article's author suggests. But the idea that baking soda will help hair grow faster or prevent hair fallout? That's bunk.

"Sorry to report that a baking soda shampoo will not influence the growth cycle magically," says Cunnane-Phillips. "Optimal nutrition, balanced hormones and stress management are some of the multitude of factors that will help to ensure that you are growing your best head of hair. Shampoo should function as a cleanser for the scalp and hair, but to suggest that baking soda and water will influence the growth cycle is simply not accurate."

"Baking soda will only clean your scalp and ends from buildup," Hazan agrees. "Hair growth is internal."

To promote healthier hair growth, Hazan suggests taking vitamins or eating a more balanced diet.

Image via Getty

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'Say Goodbye to Wrinkles and Sagging Facial Skin After Washing It With Coconut Oil and Baking Soda!'
The claim: This how-to guide on worldhealthguide.org, complete with supposed before-and-after pics, suggests that a cleansing face mask made of baking soda and coconut oil can rid your skin of acne, wrinkles and "saggy skin."

Shared: 27.1K times

Fake or fact: Somewhat fake

Why: Dr. Francesca Fusco, dermatologist at Wexler Dermatology in NYC, gives a generous interpretation of this wrinkle remedy. "This formulation can indeed diminish the appearance of wrinkles on skin," she says. "The baking soda is a gentle and effective exfoliant which removes dead skin, plumps it up, and allows the coconut oil to penetrate deeply. The coconut oil plumps up the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines."

Dr. Howard Sobel, dermatologist and founder of DDF Skincare, says baking soda is an effective but very harsh remedy for problem skin. "Soda can indeed help dry out oily skin and cleanse some blackheads," he says. "It can also be extremely drying and irritating if used too often. If one wants to try this method, I would caution using only once or twice a week."

Re: your "saggy" mug, don't expect this DIY concoction to tighten it -- that part is completely fake.

Image via Getty

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'Lighten Your Skin For Good! Remove Wrinkles, Acne, Age Spots and Excess Facial Fats Using This All-Natural Remedy!'
The claim: This article also from worldhealthguide.org made the rounds for suggesting that a simple facial mask of lemon juice and oatmeal can eliminate basically every skin imperfection on earth: wrinkles, acne, dark spots, fat, and freckles.

Shared: 15.7K times

Fake or fact: Pretty fake

Why: The ingredients in this mask have some efficacy, says Dr. Patricia Wexler of Wexler Dermatology. "Oatmeal contains saponins, a cleansing agent," she explains. "This gives the oatmeal a large role in exfoliation and absorption of excess oil on the skin, and absorption of dirt and debris deep within the pores." Lemon juice is a natural skin lightener, adds Wexler. Together, she says, these ingredients can "address spots, freckles, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation."

Although these two ingredients are effective in fighting certain skin issues, they're unlikely to completely eliminate them, like the article claims. They're also very likely to irritate skin, possibly doing more harm than good.

"Oatmeal can be used to exfoliate the skin, but can be irritating and drying if used too often," says Sobel. Not to mention applying lemon juice to skin can also make it more sensitive to the sun, leading to burns.

And the notion that lemon juice and oatmeal can burn facial fat? Well, it's utter hogwash.

Image via Getty

BY KATIE MCCARTHY | AUG 18, 2017 | SHARES
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