One woman said cleansing with baking soda was her key to bright, smooth skin. A dermatologist says it could work, but there are risks.

• People on TikTok swear by baking soda as a low-cost skincare product.

• They claim that mixing baking soda with water turns it into a paste that sloughs off dead skin.

• Dermatologists say this trick could have some benefits, but also risks damaging your skin.

When you have a skin issue like acne, cycling through new products doesn't just get expensive — it can also run the risk of causing more breakouts.

So when TikToker Angela May claimed that exfoliating with baking soda fixed her hyperpigmentation and gave her glass skin, commenters were intrigued.

"It completely changed the texture of my skin," May said in a video that received over 3.5 million views. In follow-up videos, she clarified that she makes a paste with baking soda and water and uses it to exfoliate her skin twice a week.

Some commenters already knew (and loved) the hack. "Yup my grandma washes her face with honey and baking soda…aging like fine wine," user @naomianae_ said.

"Omg same!!! Baking soda never fails to get rid of acne," @stephincheck said.

Sometimes, simple household skin remedies — like using olive oil as cleanser — can work surprisingly well. Insider asked Dr. Brendan Camp, a dermatologist practicing in NYC, whether using baking soda is a budget-friendly hack, or another TikTok skincare trend that might come with unexpected side effects.

Baking soda will exfoliate your skin — and it's cheap

In general, Camp said that "exfoliation helps reveal healthier, brighter skin and improves texture," especially if you have some dark spots or discoloration.

There are two types of exfoliants: Mechanical and chemical. Camp said that baking soda acts as a mechanical exfoliant, physically scouring the skin's surface and removing dead skin cells.

He said there are a few perks to using baking soda: It actually does exfoliate your skin, it can also remove oil that can cause future acne, and it's cheap — you probably already have baking soda in your kitchen cabinet.

But you might run the risk of damaging your skin

However there's a reason dermatologists don't recommend cleansing with baking soda, and it has to do with your skin's natural pH balance.

Camp said our skin has a naturally acidic pH. Baking soda, meanwhile, is a basic compound. Dr. Joyce Park, a dermatologist in Washington, took to TikTok to explain that using baking soda for a long period of time can disrupt the skin's pH balance. This could eventually lead to the growth of acne-causing bacteria.

Plus, the gritty texture of baking soda is a problem. Putting it on your skin can "be too abrasive and potentially cause small tears in the skin that leave it vulnerable to infection," Camp told Insider. It can also be irritating if you have dry or sensitive skin.

If the TikToks swearing by it still pique your curiosity, he recommends proceeding with caution.

If you have sensitive skin, chemical exfoliants are better

If you're trying to get rid of hyperpigmentation, Dr. Hope Mitchell, an Ohio-based board-certified dermatologist, previously told Insider that mechanical exfoliants like baking soda can actually worsen the problem by creating uneven skin tone from its abrasiveness.

Instead, she suggested using gentler, chemical exfoliants, which dissolve dead skin cells without any scraping. One of her favorites — and a great budget-conscious pick at around $10 — is CeraVe's Renewing SA Cleanser, which uses salicylic acid but also includes hydrating ceramides and hyaluronic acid.

Read the original article on Insider