Claims that baking soda can remove dark spots, wrinkles, and dark circles are not supported by strong scientific evidence. In fact, using baking soda on your face can do more harm than good.
Here’s why:
- It can damage your skin barrier. Baking soda is alkaline, while healthy skin is naturally slightly acidic. Applying baking soda can disrupt the skin’s protective barrier, leading to dryness, irritation, and increased sensitivity.
- It won’t erase wrinkles. Wrinkles are caused by factors such as aging, sun exposure, and loss of collagen. Baking soda has not been shown to reverse these changes.
- It won’t reliably fade dark spots. Hyperpigmentation is better treated with ingredients that have evidence behind them.
- It won’t treat dark circles. Dark circles can result from genetics, thin skin, allergies, lack of sleep, or changes in pigmentation, and baking soda does not address these underlying causes.
For concerns like these, ingredients with better evidence include:
- Dark spots: Daily broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher), vitamin C, niacinamide, azelaic acid, or retinoids can help over time.
- Wrinkles: Regular sunscreen use, retinoids, moisturizers, and vitamin C have the strongest evidence among topical skincare products.
- Dark circles: Depending on the cause, sunscreen, gentle moisturizers, treating allergies, adequate sleep, or products containing caffeine or retinol may provide modest improvement.
If you have sensitive skin, eczema, or rosacea, it’s especially important to avoid harsh DIY treatments like baking soda, as they may worsen irritation.
If your dark spots are changing in size, shape, or color, or if you have persistent skin concerns, it’s a good idea to have them evaluated by a healthcare professional or dermatologist.
