Rising up, all of us hear a number of bizarre issues about intercourse, together with a couple of weird things about semen, particularly. One rumor I keep in mind circulating among the many women in my class — who, as center schoolers within the age of 2000s weight-reduction plan tradition, had already realized to depend energy and hate ourselves — held that swallowing however a single load would price you no less than a thousand energy, perhaps extra.
Whereas that individual little bit of spunk mythology didn’t maintain up — a fast Google search suggests your common load boasts a mere five to 25 calories — one other standard semen-related rumor that made the rounds in center college appears to have survived adolescence. The concept semen possesses anti-aging qualities stays, for lack of a greater time period, “a factor” amongst adults, whether or not or not anybody actually buys it. New York Metropolis-based comic Olga Namer tells a joke about having “a really young-looking decrease again,” however speak of semen’s rumored anti-aging properties isn’t at all times in jest. Just a few years in the past, “semen facials” — practiced as an precise spa therapy, not a intercourse act — made headlines as a buzzy new skincare pattern.
So, as Carrie Bradshaw would possibly say, I couldn’t assist however surprise: is semen really anti-aging?
The reply, as you would possibly count on, isn’t any, but additionally sure, sort of. Based on dermatologist Dr. Will Kirby, Chief Medical Officer at LaserAway, there may be, to the very best of his admittedly inexpert information on the subject, “no proof within the medical literature to assist any rumored profit from semen facials.” If something, he provides, use of semen in skincare solely places one prone to growing situations like contact dermatitis, conjunctivitis and probably contracting communicable ailments — i.e. STIs.
“I’d extremely dissuade anybody from the sort of therapy would politely redirect them to extra studied pores and skin health routines available from licensed professionals,” Dr. Kirby tells InsideHook.
That mentioned, there should still be some motive to imagine that semen’s rumored anti-aging powers aren’t whole BS. Based on New York-based dermatologist Dr. Jennifer MacGregor, “There is scientific proof to counsel that spermidine, a chemical present in semen, has many useful antioxidant and anti inflammatory properties.” In reality, she tells InsideHook, spermidine is at present being manufactured and offered as a well-liked anti-aging complement, and “analysis exhibits it would even enhance mobile perform and lengthen life expectancy.”
The issue — as is the issue with many supplements — is that spermidine dietary supplements aren’t standardized and are hardly ever checked to see in the event that they really include what’s on the label, says Dr. MacGregor. In different phrases, “Use at your individual danger,” she says.
As for semen itself, Dr. MacGregor says that whereas the sexual fluid does include spermidine, the amount present in ejaculate is simply too small to offer any actual profit. Semen additionally comprises varied different probably skin-boosting elements, together with nutritional vitamins like magnesium and zinc, protein and urea, which, in keeping with Dr. MacGregor, is a typical skincare ingredient that boasts “distinctive hydrating and exfoliating properties.” (And, sure, it comes from urine.) Nonetheless, like spermidine, these nutritional vitamins and different compounds don’t exist at a excessive sufficient quantity in semen to offer any vital profit to the pores and skin.
Furthermore, Dr. MacGregor echoes Dr. Kirby’s warning that apart from being impractical, making an attempt to include semen into your skincare routine may very well be downright dangerous, leaving you susceptible to STIs and different situations. The underside line: “Barring the chance of transmitting infections, consuming semen may theoretically be good for you; nevertheless, the portions of useful compounds in typical ejaculate volumes aren’t enough,” says Dr. MacGregor.
Nonetheless, she does word that there’s some proof to counsel that semen publicity could also be useful for different causes. Dr. MacGregor cites a study that discovered intercourse with out condoms had a “mood-boosting impact” on girls, versus protected intercourse. This, she says, “may very well be partly attributable to semen ‘exposures,’” maybe suggesting that semen boasts mood-boosting and even antidepressant properties. (In fact, she provides, it’s doable the results researchers noticed had extra to do with elevated emotions of intimacy or different emotional facets of fluid bonding than semen, however that definitely isn’t going to cease anybody from claiming a uncooked load is nature’s Prozac.)
However as for any potential pores and skin advantages of taking a load to the face (or decrease again), it could appear the rumors of semen’s anti-aging properties have been enormously exaggerated, and are in all probability, in keeping with Dr. Kirby, rooted in little greater than the perverted musings of “an emotionally immature man.”
“It’s human nature to gossip and unfold rumors,” he provides. “And the extra perverted the key is, the quicker it travels.” (And, in fact, the extra possible you’re to click on on an article about it.)
Nonetheless, whereas taking the occasional load to the face might not be chargeable for any youthful complexions, it’s in all probability not doing any hurt — so long as the ejaculatory companion will get examined often and kindly goals away from the eyes.
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