Everyone Is Trying to Treat Their Blackheads With Pepto-Bismol — Here's Why You Shouldn't

We love a good hack, but sometimes, it's just far better to use a product for its intended purpose. Case in point: the effective yet questionable Pepto-Bismol blackhead treatment. In case you hadn't heard about this DIY, Victoria's Secret model Devon Windsor was recently spotted testing it out on Snapchat, and beauty influencer Farah Dhukai demonstrated it on her Instagram.

The reason it's actually effective is because the pink stuff contains salicylic acid, a beta hydroxy acid that goes into pores and sloughs away dirt and buildup. It also includes aspirin, which has long been used as an affordable alternative to clarifying treatments (find our own aspirin acne mask DIY here).

However, according to Allure, dermatologists don't recommend the upset stomach reliever for topical use. "Yes, salicylic acid works, but there are so many great products on the market that are already formulated to treat acne, so why do you need to use Pepto-Bismol?" NYC dermatologist Dr. Debra Jaliman told Allure. "It's great for a stomach ache, but it's certainly not great for your face."

If you're interested in trying the Pepto hack, read on to see how it's done. But if you're still looking for a magical way to shrink your pores, learn how to make them smaller here — and yes, it's possible!