Activated Charcoal Has No Benefits, And Could Potentially Be Harmful

While activated charcoal has become popular in the cosmetic industry, a recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Miami found “there is ‘little to no’ evidence to substantiate the claims skincare companies are making,” Popular Science reports. To take things even a step further, they point out that, because these products don’t claim to treat or cure a diagnosable medical condition, the FDA isn’t forced to regulate what goes into these products or how they advertise themselves.

“Since there have been few studies regarding charcoal’s effects on the skin, these products should be used in moderation and with caution,” the University of Miami researchers write. 

In addition to being found in a growing number of over-the-counter beauty products, activated charcoal can also be found in a number of health products, coffee, ice cream and cookies, and other edible substances. But researchers again warn that, unless a person is actively experiencing an overdose or has been poisoned, ingesting active charcoal, whether in a pill or slurry form, probably won’t hurt them, “but it assuredly will do them no good,” David Juurlink, a pharmacologist at the University of Toronto explained. As a matter of fact, activated charcoal could be potentially harmful if you are also taking prescription medication, as the charcoal’s adsorptive properties could zap the medication’s active ingredients.

Read the full study here.