Doctors debunk TikTok’s ‘DIY Botox’: Two ingredient ‘miracle cream’ made from flaxseed and water becomes latest beauty hack to sweep social media – but scientists say it’s nonsense

• TikTokers claim the serum has a freezing affect on their skin – just like Botox
• READ MORE: I was bullied over my extreme acne- now I’m a beauty influencer

With it costing up to £400 a round, Botox can be an expensive investment.

So it’s perhaps no wonder that, a two-ingredient DIY Botox has become the latest sensation to take over Tiktok.

Crafted from flaxseed and water, beauty bloggers from across the world insist the homemade serum has a freezing effect on their skin – just like Botox.

Jenna, based in the USA, who uses the handle @itsjennnnnaa, shared her innovative beauty regime with followers on the social media app, garnering almost two million views on the video.

The post prompted countless comments from viewers, desperate to know how long to leave the mask on for and how many times per day it should be applied.

However, despite the trend’s popularity, doctors have discredited the flaxseed gel trend, warning that it should not be used in place of Botox.

FLAX SEEDS BOTOX! Im obsessed!! 😍😍I will litterally try anything before ever touching my face. Im going to continue for 1 week too see how it goes! #flaxseedsbotox #flaxseedsbenefits #flaxseedsgel #flaxseedsmask

Jenna, based in the USA, who uses the handle @itsjennnnnaa, revealed her innovative beauty regime to her followers on the social media app

Jenna shared each step in a TikTok video, including squeezing the formula through a cheesecloth

Hundreds of people have made the gooey liquid and claimed health benefits

In the clip, Jenna, one of thousands who have tried the trend, combined two tablespoons of flaxseed and two cups of water in a saucepan before bringing it to a boil. She let the liquid gel simmer for 10 minutes then poured it into a cheesecloth.

The next step, which she described as ‘either really disgusting or really satisfying’, involved squeezing the liquid through the cloth into a bowl.

The product can then be refrigerated for up to 30 days before being slathered over the skin like a face mask. 

Jenna admitted that she was hesitant to experiment with flaxseeds since she has sensitive skin. However, she expressed being ‘so happy’ that she did, emphasising that her skin responded exceptionally well.

She went on to demonstrate the results by showing that her forehead appeared ‘frozen’ after applying the formula.

One fan commented: ‘I have been uses chia and flaxseeds for a couple of months now and my face feels like I had a facial, it’s crazy!,’ while another claimed: ‘Flaxseed gel saved me from eczema/dermatitis’.

Meanwhile, someone else added: ‘It is also a non-toxic alternative to hair gel.’

But medical experts are advising against the slimy formula, saying it lacks scientific basis. 

Dr Max, a popular Tiktok creator with nearly 400,000 followers explained that it’s ‘not even close’ to Botox. 

The TikToker showed the results of using the flaxseed serum, showing how her forehead was not budging after the formula had been applied

However, doctors have claimed it’s nonsense and there are no benefits. Dr Max, (pictured) a popular Tiktok creator with nearly 400,000 followers explained that it’s ‘not even close’ to Botox

One dermatologist (left) said its ‘not going to penerate’ the skin

 ‘There are so many grey areas when it comes to skin and scalp,’ he explained.

‘Just because something is natural, doesn’t mean it cannot irritate your skin’.

‘I will tell you definitively that flaxseeds applied topically to one’s skin is not, I repeat, not Botox,’ said Dr Jennifer Ashton, ABC News chief medical correspondent. 

‘It doesn’t work the same way as Botox, it doesn’t have the same properties as Botox.’

Cosmetic Botox functions as a neuromodulator, inducing temporary muscular paralysis to smooth out skin by minimising wrinkles and fine lines.

Derived from botulinum toxin, Botox can also be used to treat various health conditions, including chronic migraine, spastic disorders, cervical dystonia and detrusor hyperactivity. 

The gel commonly seen on TikTok is made from dry flaxseeds, soaked in boiling water and stored in the fridge for up to 30 days.

‘If you’re applying to your face, there is the possibility that you can have some contact irritation, dermatitis, even potentially an allergic reaction,’ Ashton warned.

‘The biggest risk here – and this is true with almost every TikTok medical trend – is someone following this as credentialed, credible medical advice and information. It is not.’

‘Your skin is the largest organ in the body,’ she continued. ‘That means that anything you put on your skin can and will be absorbed into your bloodstream. So choose wisely.’

As an alternative, Ashton suggested opting for natural oils, such as olive oil, coconut oil or avocado oil, as a moisturiser for the entire body – favouring these over products with chemical ingredients. 

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