Many individuals use rice water on the skin to enhance its look or to treat conditions like eczema. There isn't much scientific proof to support the anti-aging claims made by several cosmetic brands about rice water.
Rice water consists of the starchy liquid that emerges after soaking or boiling rice. Rice water can be produced at home, or it can be found in skincare products.
This article examines the possible skin advantages of rice water as well as its preparation and use.
Is rice water good for the skin?
Rice water may have some benefits for the skin. The effects of rice water are now the subject of a lack of high-quality studies. Larger-scale research will be necessary for scientists to prove that rice water has real advantages.
The results of current studies on the possible benefits of rice water are as follows:
Treating Dandruff
According to preliminary studies, certain fungi may be prevented from growing by fermented rice water.
According to a 2013 laboratory investigation, the Bacillus cereus bacteria, which produces the antibiotics zwittermicin A and kanosamine, is present in day-old rice water. These antibiotics can stop Malassezia furfur from growing, which can lead to dandruff.
The fact that this was a lab experiment, however, does not necessarily imply that fermented rice water works as a dandruff remedy for people.
Further research will be required to determine whether rice water can effectively cure dandruff under normal conditions.
Reducing Skin Aging
Only a limited amount of research suggests that rice water can slow or prevent skin aging.
The 2018 study also discovered that rice water reduced elastase activity, an enzyme related to skin aging. This shows that rice water could be able to slow down the development of wrinkles and lines on the skin.
2001 research found that inositol may reduce wrinkles already present. Females of various ages were tested for 7 weeks with a moisturizer containing 1-2 percent inositol.
After the study, the researchers calculated that inositol enhanced elasticity by 17 percent and decreased wrinkle size by 12.4%.
To be clear, both of these trials were small, and the latter did not specifically test rice water.
Reducing Skin Irritation
People with atopic eczema and people whose skin had been affected by sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) were the two groups on which researchers conducted experiments in 2002 to see how bathing in water containing rice starch would affect them.
For those with SLS irritation, they discovered a 20% improvement in the skin's ability to recover. This happened after subjects took a 15-minute bath in the rice starch mixture twice daily.
In patients with atopic eczema, the skin barrier also became better with this treatment.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants like inositol can be found in rice. The effects of free radicals, which are volatile molecules that may harm the body's cells, are countered by antioxidants. Antioxidants are frequently used in skin care products.
A rice water gel was tested on the skin for 28 days in short research conducted in 2018 with 12 volunteers. The scientists discovered that the antioxidant activity of the rice was comparable to that of ascorbic acid, or vitamin C.
How to make rice water:
Making rice water may be done in a few different ways:
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Soaking: Soak 1/2 cup of uncooked rice for 30 minutes in 2-3 cups of water.
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Boiling: Rice should be boiled in twice as much water as is usually used for cooking.
After you're done, pour the water into a clean bowl or bottle for immediate use. Refrigerate the rest in a clean container.
Use the soaking procedure to create fermented rice water, and then let the rice water sit at room temperature for one to two days before storing it in the fridge.
How to use rice water for skin care:
Rice water can be applied to the skin in a variety of ways. A person can:
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Use rice water to wash your face
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After cleansing, use rice water as a toner
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Pour rice water into a spray bottle and then mist your face with it
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baths with rice water
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To a foot soak, add rice water
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Additionally, some individuals use rice water as a conditioner or hair treatment
Are there any risks?
No proof exists that drinking fresh rice water is harmful to your skin. However, it is wise to test the product on a tiny patch of skin first, just as with any beauty product.
For about a week, rice water can be used without risk. Any rice water that is older than this should be discarded.
Avoid using rice water if you have a rice allergy.
It is important to remember that rice water is not a replacement for medical treatment. It could aid in managing a skin problem, but a person should see a doctor for proven and effective treatments for disorders like eczema.
When to contact a doctor:
A patient needs to see a doctor if:
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they have dry, flaky, or itchy areas of skin
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they experience negative side effects like hives or a rash after using rice water
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Infection symptoms on their skin include painful open wounds, red skin streaks, a fever, or wounds that do not heal
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After consuming rice water, a person should seek emergency medical attention if they develop face or throat swelling or have trouble breathing
