Is Visine good for skin spots?

Leah sees spots: My grandmother always says to put a drop of Visine on spots. I’ve never done it, but was curious as to whether there is any truth in this. And would it damage the skin?

The Right Brain’s red-eyed reply:

Visine reduces red eye because its active ingredient, tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride, constricts the superficial blood vessels in the eye. But skin spots, like acne blemishes, scars and age spots, are not caused by dilated blood vessels. Therefore, there doesn’t appear to be any benefit to applying Visine to your skin. In fact, there’s at least one good reason NOT to use Visine any place else except your eyes. And that reason is related to a nasty practical joke.

Visine and potty humor

Supposedly, you can prank someone by someone by putting a few drops of Visine in their drink to give them an amusing case of diarrhea. (This is assuming of course, that you’re the kind of person who finds diarrhea amusing.) But according to Snopes.com, this prank is actually an urban legend; Visine will NOT give you the runs. But it will cause vomiting, seizures, difficulty breathing, blurred vision and it can even induce coma. Now THAT’S entertainment!

Visine ruined my love life

What does this have to do with your skin? Imagine the following scenario: The night of your Big Date you discover a nasty pimple on your face. Taking your kindly old grandmother’s advice, you dab a few drops of Visine on the zit. Later that night in the throes of passion, as your main squeeze’s lips brush across your rosy cheek, he gets a tiny taste of tetrahydrozoline hydrochoride. Sometime after the vomiting and tremors subside, but before he slips into a coma, he drives you home. You do NOT get a good night kiss.

The Beauty Brains bottom line

Visine may or may not ruin your date, but it won’t do anything for your skin spots. Slather on some Clearasil or cover up with some Face Spray Foundation instead.

Does anyone else have a favorite grandma’s home remedy they’d like to ask about? Vomit your comment for the rest of the Beauty Brains community.