The Surprising Reason Why Some People Are Putting Pepto-Bismol On Their Faces

People are putting some very weird, very off-label things on their faces these days—from hemorrhoid cream to, yes, Vagisil. We’re getting to the bottom of the buzz. First up: Pepto-Bismol! 

Pepto-Bismol is now being used for more than fighting upset stomachs—some people are relying on it as a pimple spot treatment. Why? The pink stuff contains a pimple-fighting salicylic acid derivative, explains Melanie Palm, M.D., a dermatologist in Solana Beach, California. That’s why YouTubers started touting it as an acne cure. But its drying salts (there to add flavor) can lead to flaky zits, so you’re better off sticking with a skin-specific treatment.