Midbrain says…After the last poll, I wanted to be sure to create a tough one and it looks like that happened. Only 5% of you were able to find the FAKE headline in poll #31. Read below for the real (and fake) stories.
1. Marijuana cream could help with skin allergies – [TRUE]
20% of you thought this was the fake headline but you were wrong. According to articles published in both Nature and Science magazine, cannabinoids derived from marijuana were shown to reduce allergic reactions in mice that had contact dermatitis. They conclude that
development of cannabinoid compounds based on elements produced from the cannabis plant could enhance therapeutic treatment for humans.
Certainly this one will face some opposition from the anti-drug crowd.
2. Hair can develop blisters [TRUE]
67% of you were certain that this was the bogus headline but it is, in fact, TRUE. “Bubble hair” as it’s called, 
is a type of hair damage caused by exposure to excessive heat. Under an electron microscope they look like little hair blisters. That’s what can happen when you use a curling iron, flat iron, or blow drier. See the picture in this post.
3. Binge drinking while pregnant harms fetus [FALSE]
Only 5% of you were able to sniff out this FAKE headline. It seems obviously true, but according to a review of published research from the last 35 years, authors were unable to find any evidence that binge drinking causes significant harm to the fetus. Consistent, heavy drinking was linked to problems, just not binge drinking. The scientists say more research is needed so despite these findings, they continue to recommend pregnant women avoid binge drinking.
4. Smoking increases risk for hair loss. [TRUE]
9% of the Beauty Brainiacs out there thought this was fake but it’s not. According to a report in Archives of Dermatology, smoking may increase hair loss risk. Researchers suggest various mechanisms by which smoking causes hair risk loss such as destroying hair follicles, damaging the papilla that circulate blood and messing up the hormone system.
So how did you do? Did you get the right answer? Leave a comment and tell the rest of the Beauty Brains what you think.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
That seems a rather technical argument for the binge drinking. Beauty brains, how is the difference between “heavy drinking” and “binge drinking” operationalized? Aka how are the variables defined. Seems like a matter of semantics not science to me…. (from a faithful and appreciative reader)
p.s. I have been telling people to mix their skin cream with cannabis for years now……
p.p.s. Usually your polls provide interesting new information. This one seems to fail at that aim. Hope the next one is better. Reading as always and loving it….
Teddy
FTA: “Binge drinking was taken to mean downing five or more alcoholic drinks in one go, equivalent to 60 g of alcohol or 7.5 units.”
It’s different from consistent heavy drinking in that it’s done only once.
The article was pretty clear and it’s not a matter of semantics. People might not like the science (or quibble with the conclusions) but that’s what the study found.
Sorry you didn’t like the poll. We’ll keep it in mind for the next one.
Thanks for your comments.