Don’t worry, be happy.
A growing number of spas in the US and around the world are now offering “beer baths” and “bear soaks” for customers to soak and relax in tubs filled with beer — and they claim it has benefits for your skin. Is full of.
Piva Beer Spa Chicago in 2019 offered massages, salt rooms and beer soaks in which they fill a tub with hops, barley and brewer’s yeast.
They claim the ingredients are loaded with antioxidants that exfoliate, soften and improve skin elasticity, while the anti-bacterial properties of the alcohol and epidermal growth factor in barley can clear up acne.
Piva also touts its purported benefits for hair, saying it can stimulate growth and add shine.
During this time, my beer spa The one in Orlando, Florida, which opened in 2021, raves that their soaks are packed with B vitamins, minerals, proteins and antioxidants that exfoliate, “purify” and moisturize the skin — and also make hair soft and shiny. .
They also clarify that the soak they offer is not literally in beer, but rather water infused with common beer ingredients.
Oakwell Beer Spa Their treatment in Denver, Colorado is called “beer bath hydrotherapy,” and they have an in-house herbalist who mixes their special herbal beer blend specifically to get the most of the skin and hair benefits.
“Think of it as a giant bubbly beer tea – except instead of drinking it, you sip it!” They say.
This may seem unlikely – especially because drinking alcohol depletes the body of water and is known to be definitely dehydrating. bad for your skin – but there is some science To support the authenticity of the beer’s skin care.
A chemical compound called polyphenols is found in hops. several studies To prevent skin aging and fight certain skin diseases and hair loss.
In fact, some polyphenols derived from hops can be found in popular skin care products, including quercetin, which appears in toners and serums. Paula’s ChoiceIt also contains ferulic acid, which is often combined with vitamin C — including in serums from SkinCeuticals, The Ordinary, and Tatcha.
Dr. Joshua Zeichner, a New York City dermatologist, tells The Post that hops are “rich in antioxidants to soothe inflammation,” while brewer’s yeast contains “high levels of B-complex vitamins, including There are relaxing and brightening activities.”
He said, “It’s not clear how much beer you would need in a bath, but I believe the thicker the bath, the more effective it will be.”
Although he doesn’t think there’s enough research to say that beer baths will make any noticeable difference to your skin, he believes they can’t do any harm – just make sure the beer soak is kept on long enough. . Work.”
“Although we lack data showing real effectiveness, there is still a slight downside,” he said, dismissing concerns that brewer’s yeast could cause vaginal yeast infections in women.
“However, it is important to wash the body after soaking to remove any beer residue that may be on the skin to prevent any potential rashes.”
Although beer may have some benefits for the skin, it should be used wisely – and certainly not as a tanning lotion. Earlier this year, a video went viral as social media users went viral for “beer tanning”, in which they poured beer on their skin in place of sunscreen.
Apart from the possibility of leaving the skin quite sticky, it can also cause irritation, skin aging and skin cancer.
“There are many issues with this idea of beer tanning,” said dermatologist Dr. Shilpi Khetrapal. cleveland clinic“The first is that if you are not wearing sunscreen, the skin is not protected. “This can also increase the chances of getting sunburned and may also increase the risk of skin cancer.”
She thinks this also sounds unpleasant.
“Besides everything we know about ultraviolet exposure and exposing yourself to exposure without sunscreen, why would you want to apply something sticky and nasty all over your body?” He said.
