Recently, another beauty trend quite different appeared in the TikTok : use ointment for hemorrhoids below the eyes to avoid dark circles under the eyes .

Because it is a very unusual tip, it made many people curious. After all, can it help with that?

According to dermatologist Cintia Cunha, the ointment can even influence the dark circles under the eyes, but it will not solve its causes. Learn more!

Read also: Dangerous beauty tips that have been pumping in the TikTok

How does hemorrhoid ointment work?

According to the professional, there are a few types of ointment for hemorrhoids, with different functions.

The most common are those with actives such as dexpanthenol, which is a substance also used in the skin, and improves the hydration and lubrication of the area applied.

Those with anti-inflammatory effect, in turn, are made with hydrocortisone, zinc oxide, and lidocaine.

"Zinc oxide has antiseptic action, which will decrease local infection, while lidocaine anesthetizes the skin."

And, finally, there is the one with hydrocortisone, which also serves to treat inflammation in the region.

Can I use the hemorrhoid ointment on my face?

Cintia explains that the difference between hemorrhoid ointment and face ointment is in the vehicle, i.e. the base of the product.

"Dexpanthenol applied to the intimate parts, especially the anal region, helps improve hydration and lubrication. When used on the skin, it also improves the quality of the region."

The other types, with analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, should not be used on the face.

"These are ointments that are a bit stickier and can cause allergies, irritation and acne on the skin," she explains.

"If you think only of the actives themselves, they could even be used on facial skin, but the cream that receives these actives is different when intended for a hemorrhoid and for the face," he adds.

This is because products for facial skin are usually softer and more fluid, while those for the intimate area are heavier, to stay on the skin for longer.

In this way, the hemorrhoid product can make it difficult for the skin to breathe, leaving it looking unpleasant.

But after all, does the ointment prevent dark circles under the eyes?

"Hemorrhoid ointment will never treat dark circles under the eyes, because they usually have a vascular component as the cause," says Cintia.

Purple under-eye circles are caused by poor circulation, so it is necessary to improve the microcirculation to remove the blood pigment that remains in the skin, causing the dark mark under the eyes.

"So, in treating dark circles under the eyes, the goal is circulation improvement and lightening, and these ointments don't have that function."

Read also: Types of dark circles under the eyes: After all, how to identify and treat each one?

The right products for dark circles under the eyes

Forget the hemorrhoid ointment and bet on products indicated for dark circles under the eyes.

According to the dermatologist, the best options are bleaching agents, vitamin K, haloxyl, and substances such as vitamin C.

Read also: Chamomile tea for dark circles under the eyes: know this and other natural options

It is worth remembering, however, that some types of dark circles will not improve with topical actives alone, because sometimes they occur due to a depth in the region.

"In this case, a hyaluronic acid filling may be necessary, but when the dark circles have a very important vascular pigment or many microvessels in that area, laser technologies such as pulsed light and ND YAG laser are good options to complement the treatment," adds the professional.

Source: Cintia Cunha, dermatologist, from Uberlândia, Minas Gerais.