TikTok fact-check

If you’ve ever struggled with stubborn pimples or painful cystic acne, chances are you’ve come across Accutane as a potential treatment option. And while you’re probably well aware that it can help clear up persistent breakouts, the popular prescription medication is rumored to have another, unexpected side effect: “shrinking” your nose.Yep, you read that correctly, and there are plenty of photos on social media that apparently support this alleged phenomenon. In a viral video with more than 9 million views, for example, one TikToker insists Accutane delivered a “nose job in [her] sleep” and presents a teenage selfie as evidence. (Though to be fair, she also admits she didn’t know how to use makeup to contour her face back then.)But, hold on: Despite tons of other similar claims circulating online, these accounts are exaggerated at best and, to put it frankly, kind of BS, according to the dermatologists we spoke with.First, how does Accutane work?Just in case you don’t already know, Accutane (or isotretinoin) is a super potent oral retinoid meant to improve severe and persistent acne. It’s usually a last-resort option for folks who haven’t responded to other less aggressive treatments like antibiotics or prescription-strength topical solutions, such as benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.The science behind what causes acne is pretty complicated (hence why it can be so damn hard to address). In essence, Accutane works by reducing excess sebum, a thick, oily substance naturally produced by your skin’s sebaceous glands (found underneath your hair follicles). Too much sebum can clog your pores and lead to breakouts, Ife Rodney, MD, board-certified dermatologist and founder of Eternal Dermatology in Maryland, tells SELF.“As a result, [Accutane is] a great and pretty popular option for treating persistent acne and minimizing redness or inflammation,” Dr. Rodney says. But like any prescription medication, it comes with the risk of unpleasant (and for some, intolerable) side effects—which we’ll get into in a minute.So can Accutane actually shrink your nose?In short, no. Let’s backtrack to the drug’s ability to reduce sebum production. A whole lot of sebaceous glands are concentrated on your nose. (Yep, we’re talking about those teeny-tiny holes you’ve probably squeezed at.) Because of Accutane’s oil-minimizing effect, your skin might become less congested or greasy-feeling after taking it, Joshua Zeichner, MD, the director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital’s Department of Dermatology in New York City, tells SELF.“By decreasing oil production, Accutane will shrink the glands themselves—including the ones on your nose. That’s why this area tends to show a great level of improvement when taking the medication,” Dr. Zeichner says. That, along with “a decrease in swelling and inflammation,” may result in the tip of your nose looking ever-so-slightly smaller, he says.This potential effect is much more minimal than some TikTokers purport it to be though. One possible reason why some of those before-and-after “Accutane nose job” pics look so dramatic is that many people start the medication to address hormonal acne during their teen years—a time when your whole face (not just your nose) looks different than it will post-puberty. Whether you take Accutane or not, your profile is bound to change as your body (including your facial features) develops into adulthood.

Along with being an easy side dish and a convenient way to save a waterlogged iPhone, rice is now being touted as a standout hair-care ingredient. According to proponents, rice water has the ability to make hair shinier, strengthen strands, and encourage hair growth, among other alleged benefits. (Even celebs such as Kim Kardashian and Cardi B. have shouted out rice water as a hair-care savior.) If you’re thinking all these supposed rice water benefits sound too good to be true, we’re right there with you. That’s why SELF asked hair-care experts to break down what’s behind the hype—so you can determine if using rice water on your hair is a trend worth trying. Here’s what they had to say.What is rice water? | What are the benefits of rice water? | Can rice water increase hair growth? | Does rice water work for all hair types? | How to use rice water for hair | The bottom lineWhat is rice water, exactly?Rice plus water equals rice water. Yes, it’s that simple. Rice water is the nutrient-rich water that’s leftover after rice has been soaked, Rick Wellman, a hairstylist and color expert at The Salon Project in New York City, tells SELF. While using this liquid as a hair treatment has only recently become a viral TikTok trend, there’s actually nothing new about it. “Using rice water for hair is a centuries-old Japanese and Chinese practice,” Jeannette Graf, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Great Neck, New York, and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, tells SELF. Rice water has also long been used as a beauty and hair treatment in Southeast Asian countries including Korea and Thailand.1 Back to topWhat are some potential rice water benefits?There’s no denying that rice is nutrient-dense—it’s rich in minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants, says Dr. Graf. That being said, how much of that good stuff ends up in the water and how, exactly, it can affect your hair remains to be seen. While there are some studies in the works, the science that’s exploring the anecdotal claims is still in the early stages, she adds. Still, it’s fair to say that rice water likely contains many of the same nutrients as whole rice and therefore could offer some cosmetic benefits for hair, potentially improving things such as shine, elasticity, and overall hair health, Dr. Graf says. For example, vitamin B5 (also known as panthenol) can help soften hair,  while fiber might theoretically coat your strands and make them feel thicker. Antioxidants, including ferulic acid, may offer protection from oxidative stress—an imbalance of unstable molecules in the body that can be caused by things like exposure to sun and pollution—which can contribute to hair graying and breakage.2 3 Rice is also loaded with amino acids (eight to be exact), which are the building blocks of protein, including keratin, the primary protein that makes up our hair, says Dr. Graf.4 That’s why rice water has the potential to be a good strengthening treatment, too. Oh, and if you’ve heard that fermented rice water is even more potent than its standard counterpart, know that the evidence is mostly anecdotal and theoretical there, too. Fermentation is a chemical process during which starches or sugars are converted into an alcohol or acid, via enzymes from some type of microorganism. Fermentation may increase the amount of antioxidants in rice water, notes Dr. Graf, but there’s no research to support that this boost will benefit your hair.5Back to topWhat about using rice water for hair growth?Here’s where things get a little dicey. Just as all of the experts SELF spoke with agreed on the potential cosmetic benefits of rice water, they also all recommended taking its supposed hair growth benefits with a grain (pun intended) of salt. “Rice contains inositol, also known as vitamin B8, and there is some science indicating that it may support healthy hair growth,” says Dr. Graf, adding that it’s been shown to treat alopecia—but only in mice and when taken orally, rather than used topically.6 “It’s quite possible that it may be beneficial for hair growth, but more clinical studies need to be conducted before we could make that jump,” she says.

Hair cycling allows you to customize a regimen to fit those individual needs, but because there are so many factors that need to be accounted for—your natural hair type and texture, how you style, the weather, etc.—it’s not possible to come up with a one-size-fits-most plan. If you’re only washing your hair once a week, for example, the type of products you need will very likely be different than if you’re shampooing daily. Another thing that makes hair cycling a bit more nuanced: You have to consider how the products you’re using are affecting both the scalp and the hair, Dr. Garshick adds. Not to mention that how you style your hair (and the products you use for that) also comes into play. How to hair cycleAgain, there really isn’t one set protocol to follow, but there are some general principles that can help you figure out a hair cycling routine that works best for you. Consider starting with a clean slate. If you’re using lots of different styling products on the regular, Ehman says it can be helpful to first eliminate those in order to better determine your hair’s “baseline.” “So many people tell me that they have dry hair, when in reality it’s only that way because they’ve been using drying, alcohol-based styling products like hairspray day in and day out.” See how your hair looks and feels after using just shampoo and conditioner for a week or two, depending on how often you wash your hair. Without styling products, what you’re seeing or feeling is a more accurate representation of your hair’s natural state and not just a temporary effect—and you can then choose your hair-care regimen accordingly.Keep it simple.“You don’t have to buy a ton of different products in order to hair cycle,” Ehman points out. In fact, styling products don’t really play a role when it comes to hair cycling. Instead, she says, a trio of shampoo, conditioner, and some type of hydrating leave-in (like a serum, cream, detangler, or oil) is a great basic protocol—one that you can easily adjust as needed. For example, you can swap out the conditioner for a more moisturizing mask once a week if your hair feels dry or damaged, or switch your go-to shampoo for a more clarifying formula every few washes if you have product build-up or oily hair, she suggests.Consider working in a scalp treatment.Another way to hair cycle? Keep your shampoo and conditioner as the constants in your hair-care regimen and rotate in a scalp product at least once per week if you notice that your scalp could use some TLC, Dr. Garshick suggests. For example, you can try an exfoliating formula if you have an oily scalp with lots of build-up or a soothing, moisturizing treatment if your scalp feels dry or itchy. When in doubt, swap seasonally. If the idea of making weekly changes feels daunting, don’t stress. If your scalp and hair seem healthy and you’re satisfied with the state of both, then you can simply rotate products seasonally, Dr. Jackson says. For example, you might want to choose clarifying or frizz-fighting shampoos, conditioners, and treatments during the summer, which can help combat warm-weather issues such as excess oil, chlorine build-up, and poofy-ness caused by humidity. When it’s cold outside, you can opt for thicker, richer versions of the products you use, ones labeled as “hydrating” or “reparative”—which typically contain a higher concentration of moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, and aloe vera—to address seasonally induced dryness. Yes, hair cycling can be that easy.  A few important hair cycling caveats Remember that the hair care products you swap in can impact your desired style. For instance, it might be harder to achieve a voluminous, bouncy blowout immediately after using a deep conditioning mask that weighs your strands down with moisture, especially if you have fine or thin hair, Neill points out. “Think about how you plan on styling your hair when laying out your hair cycling plans,” he advises. (And maybe save the heavy conditioning mask for an air-dry day.) 

Hair cycling allows you to customize a regimen to fit those individual needs, but because there are so many factors that need to be accounted for—your natural hair type and texture, how you style, the weather, etc.—it’s not possible to come up with a one-size-fits-most plan. If you’re only washing your hair once a week, for example, the type of products you need will very likely be different than if you’re shampooing daily. Another thing that makes hair cycling a bit more nuanced: You have to consider how the products you’re using are affecting both the scalp and the hair, Dr. Garshick adds. Not to mention that how you style your hair (and the products you use for that) also comes into play. How to hair cycleAgain, there really isn’t one set protocol to follow, but there are some general principles that can help you figure out a hair cycling routine that works best for you. Consider starting with a clean slate. If you’re using lots of different styling products on the regular, Ehman says it can be helpful to first eliminate those in order to better determine your hair’s “baseline.” “So many people tell me that they have dry hair, when in reality it’s only that way because they’ve been using drying, alcohol-based styling products like hairspray day in and day out.” See how your hair looks and feels after using just shampoo and conditioner for a week or two, depending on how often you wash your hair. Without styling products, what you’re seeing or feeling is a more accurate representation of your hair’s natural state and not just a temporary effect—and you can then choose your hair-care regimen accordingly.Keep it simple.“You don’t have to buy a ton of different products in order to hair cycle,” Ehman points out. In fact, styling products don’t really play a role when it comes to hair cycling. Instead, she says, a trio of shampoo, conditioner, and some type of hydrating leave-in (like a serum, cream, detangler, or oil) is a great basic protocol—one that you can easily adjust as needed. For example, you can swap out the conditioner for a more moisturizing mask once a week if your hair feels dry or damaged, or switch your go-to shampoo for a more clarifying formula every few washes if you have product build-up or oily hair, she suggests.Consider working in a scalp treatment.Another way to hair cycle? Keep your shampoo and conditioner as the constants in your hair-care regimen and rotate in a scalp product at least once per week if you notice that your scalp could use some TLC, Dr. Garshick suggests. For example, you can try an exfoliating formula if you have an oily scalp with lots of build-up or a soothing, moisturizing treatment if your scalp feels dry or itchy. When in doubt, swap seasonally. If the idea of making weekly changes feels daunting, don’t stress. If your scalp and hair seem healthy and you’re satisfied with the state of both, then you can simply rotate products seasonally, Dr. Jackson says. For example, you might want to choose clarifying or frizz-fighting shampoos, conditioners, and treatments during the summer, which can help combat warm-weather issues such as excess oil, chlorine build-up, and poofy-ness caused by humidity. When it’s cold outside, you can opt for thicker, richer versions of the products you use, ones labeled as “hydrating” or “reparative”—which typically contain a higher concentration of moisturizing ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, and aloe vera—to address seasonally induced dryness. Yes, hair cycling can be that easy.  A few important hair cycling caveats Remember that the hair care products you swap in can impact your desired style. For instance, it might be harder to achieve a voluminous, bouncy blowout immediately after using a deep conditioning mask that weighs your strands down with moisture, especially if you have fine or thin hair, Neill points out. “Think about how you plan on styling your hair when laying out your hair cycling plans,” he advises. (And maybe save the heavy conditioning mask for an air-dry day.) 

You may have noticed that many people on TikTok have started sprinting into freezing bodies of water and lowering themselves into ice baths first thing in the morning. And, if you’re anything like me, you’ve wondered what on earth would possess someone to do that.Cold plunges are having a moment right now. TikTok videos that include #coldplunge have amassed more than 545 million views, and some celebrities have jumped on the bandwagon too. Last week, Kristen Bell recorded herself stepping into her 58-degree pool at eight in the morning and posted the video on Instagram.  And in his recent home tour with Architectural Digest, Stranger Things actor David Harbour showed off his in-home cold plunge pool.Cold water immersion, sometimes referred to as CWI, has traditionally referred to the process of submerging yourself up to the neck in a pool of water that is “colder than normal” for about five minutes or so, Dominic King, DO, a sports medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic, tells SELF. Though the concept has become increasingly popular recently, it’s by no means new. “Ice baths have been used for decades” among athletes, says Dr. King. “The original thought was that, when you get into a cold pool or a really cold shower after exercise, you can ease sore muscles pretty quickly and reduce your core body temperature. It can help with post-exercise recovery.” Very limited research has also linked dunking yourself in freezing water to improved mood and a potential decrease in depression and anxiety symptoms, Justin Puder, PhD, a psychologist based in Boca Raton, Florida, tells SELF. Bell, for instance, wrote in her Instagram caption that she was experimenting with cold plunging for its supposed mental health benefits, citing research that suggests cold water immersion can increase dopamine levels by 250%. “Gimme that ‘feel good’ hormone baby!” she wrote.So what’s the deal with freezing your tail off for wellness purposes? Below, experts explain what we know about the benefits of cold plunging, and what remains to be seen.Are cold water plunges safe?As with any viral health challenges, keep safety in mind before you start experimenting. Dr. King says people who haven’t tried cold plunges before should take it slow, starting in the 67 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit range. (You can eventually work your way down once you’re acclimated to that.) When starting out, don’t push yourself past two or three minutes of exposure, Dr. King recommends, adding that you should probably head out of the water after five minutes (or sooner, if you start to feel really uncomfortable).Avoid submerging yourself into a body of water if you’re not sure of its temperature, Dr. King says, likening that idea to getting in the car and doing doughnuts in the parking lot. “There’s more danger there than benefit,” he says.If you’re new to the practice, it’s a good idea to start as small as possible, Dr. King says. You can do this by simply adjusting your shower to a slightly cooler temperature for just two or three minutes, he recommends. “This gives you an opportunity to see if you like the results” before trying something more extreme.