What would you do if you decided to take steps to keep your skin looking its youngest and best?

If you're like most of us, you'd simply wear sunscreen every day, the best way known to science to

protect your skin from damage. But some choose a different path. Today we're

looking at vampire facials a full face tattoo of your own blood.

Is that really what doctors are recommending now?

We're going to find out today on Skeptoid.

You're listening to Skeptoid.

I'm Brian Dunning from Skeptoid.com.

Vampire Facials.

Welcome to the show that separates fact from fiction,

science from pseudoscience, real history from fake history, and helps us all make better life decisions

by knowing what's real and what's not. Few industries are as thick with pseudoscience as skin care.

Nearly everyone wishes they looked a bit better.

So commerce is quick to respond.

The inevitable result is that skin care and beauty products occupy disproportionately

bloated sections of every supermarket and department store.

But making people look like movie stars is not as simple a task as we all wish it could be.

So the marketers and peddlers sometimes over-promise.

And these promises are pregnant with zeal and positivity.

But since the object of the game is selling, not science,

these promises are very often less than forthright

about exactly what can be accomplished.

...