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Verify: Does the hot trend 'activated charcoal' really work?

It's a hot trend in personal health and beauty: activated charcoal. The claims range from brightening your skin to stopping gas and bloating. But does it really work?

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- It's a hot trend in personal health and beauty: activated charcoal. The claims range from brightening your skin to stopping gas and bloating. But does it really work?

We sat down With Dr. Robert Robinson with Urban Housecall to separate the fact from the fiction.

First up we’re tackling the products claiming they can help you with gastrointestinal issues.

The doctor said activated charcoal does bind to other substances. That’s why it’s used in emergency rooms to treat overdoses. He said if there’s something that’s causing your GI upset like a food toxin, medication or an overdose, activated charcoal can potentially work. Dr. Robinson said it’s still best to talk to your doctor first though, because the evidence is still lacking when it comes to common, everyday use.

Up next, we talked about skin care. Can it really clean your pores and brighten your skin?

“In theory, because it can bind to the surface, it can pull away dead skin cells,” Dr. Robinson told NBC Charlotte. “That brings about the caution in terms of it being very abrasive and maybe doing a bit too harsh of a job on your skin.”

So it’s true, but be cautious.

For one final piece of advice, we asked the doctor if it’s true the supplements can help you with a hangover. The jury’s still out on that one.

“There’s not been any research to support those claims.”

For all the praise of activated charcoal, there's also a warning. Because of its absorbent qualities it can interfere with any medication you are taking.

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