Is it reliable to use enema for constipation both internally and externally for beauty treatment?

In order to become beautiful, people have tried various methods. The recently popular "beauty internet celebrity" enema is said to be able to remove wrinkles and whiten the skin... But isn't enema used to treat constipation?

Written by reporter Song Meng (Medical and Health Group)

Editor/Ding Lin New Media Editor/Chen Xuanzhi

Audit experts:

Fan Ping (Standing Committee Member of the Anorectal Branch of the Chinese Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine, President of the Anorectal Branch of the Anhui Provincial General Practitioners Association, Professor of the First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China)

In autumn and winter, skin care experts in dry climates always try their best to keep every inch of their facial skin smooth and tender. Even traditional skin care products cannot satisfy some people. Enemas commonly used to treat constipation have inexplicably entered the stage of "good quality, cheap, and all-inclusive" skin care products.

As netizens discovered the "new use of enema for skin care", its application range has expanded from the previous "local" to the skin of the face, hands and other parts, and some people even choose to take it orally. However, can enema really achieve the effect of beauty and skin care as some netizens say?

The “main business” of enema

The "honey decoction" recorded in Zhang Zhongjing's Treatise on Febrile Diseases is similar to the modern enema. The book describes "honey decoction" as follows: "In patients with Yangming disease, spontaneous sweating and spontaneous urination are caused by sweating. This is due to the exhaustion of body fluids. Although it is hard, it cannot be attacked. If the patient wants to defecate, honey decoction should be used to guide the bowel movement."

Ancient people boiled honey to remove the water in it, and twisted the hot paste honey into a two-inch shuttle shape. For people with constipation, ancient doctors used "honey boiled" to moisten the intestines and relieve constipation. In addition, ancient people also used the root of the wild gourd and pig bile to moisten the intestines and relieve constipation. However, these methods are the same as modern enema, which works through "rectal administration".

Fortunately, constipation patients nowadays do not have to "fight on their own". Enema is a relatively cheap over-the-counter drug that can be purchased in hospital pharmacies and street pharmacies.

△ Enema and vitamin E lotion appear in various online "cheap skin care recipes" (Photo source: Zhihu)

Common enema on the market generally includes oily and watery types. The main component of oily enema is glycerin, which can be as high as 60%; while watery enema is mainly composed of sorbitol and magnesium sulfate. Both types of enema, after being injected into the rectum, soften the stool, stimulate the intestinal wall through hypertonic effect, and promote smooth stool discharge - when the enema is applied to the surface of the rectum, the high concentration of glycerin or sorbitol will absorb the water in the body, making the stool that is difficult to discharge become soft and moist.

Although enema is a common medicine for constipation patients, it is not suitable for everyone and cannot be used for a long time. Ning Huijuan, deputy chief physician of the Department of Gastroenterology at the Capital Institute of Pediatrics, said in an interview with the media: Enema is relatively safe for short-term use, but long-term use is likely to lead to drug dependence.

△Using it or not, it’s a hassle (picture from the Internet)

For constipation, enema is only a "symptomatic treatment" and not a cure for the disease. If used when you feel a little difficulty in defecation, it will aggravate the constipation. If used for a long time and constantly irritating the intestinal wall, it is likely to cause the patient to form a habit of refusing to defecate without strong stimulation.

Contains skin care ingredients, but is not a skin care product

According to rumors circulating online, enema can be used as a facial cleanser, a facial mask, or a skin care product. Even adding something can produce a "1+1>2" effect: for example, adding some milk to enema can turn it into a hand cream; adding some honey can "nourish yin and tonify the kidney"; adding some toothpaste can turn it into a repair essence.

Can enema really be transformed from an ordinary "little genius for constipation relief" into a multifunctional "little expert in beauty and skin care" after "adding spice"? The reporter consulted a deputy chief physician of dermatology, who said frankly: I have never heard of enema being able to solve skin problems.

In fact, some "moisturizing" ingredients are used in both skin care products and oily suppositories, but in different concentrations. Whether it is oily suppositories or water-based suppositories, the concentration of glycerin or sorbitol contained is much higher than when used as an ingredient in skin care products. If the suppository is applied directly to the skin surface, the moisture in the skin cells will be continuously "sucked away". Such "skin care" not only fails to moisturize, but also causes the skin itself to lack water and become drier.

△The main ingredients of enema (such as glycerin) contain more hydrophilic groups, so they are also commonly found in skin care products.

As for the wrinkle-removing and freckle-lightening effects of enema, there is no scientific basis to support the addition of milk, honey, toothpaste and other substances to oily enema. The formulas of regular skin care products are supported by a large number of experiments, and the amount of a certain ingredient that the skin can absorb is calculated. It is difficult to strike a good balance by adding it on your own, and it may have a counterproductive effect.

Oral administration may cause gastrointestinal irritation

In addition to applying enema externally, some people also take a different approach and choose to "drink it all at once". When they blindly use enema, they actually ignore the possible risks. For example, excessive intake of high-concentration sorbitol may cause electrolyte disorders, rapid increase in blood volume, and in severe cases, heart failure.

Even a small amount of high-concentration sorbitol can cause diarrhea and digestive disorders. In addition, the main ingredient in some enema is glycerol (propylene glycol). Although propylene glycol is less toxic to the human body than ethanol, it can also be irritating to the human body at high concentrations.

Therefore, enema should be used correctly according to scientific standards. And before use, the dosage should be determined according to the specific situation and doctor's advice. For beauty and skin care, it is better to choose more mature products with a lot of test support.

Produced by: Science Central Kitchen

Produced by: Beijing Science and Technology News | Science Plus Client

Reproduction without authorization is prohibited, and offenders will be prosecuted