Brandi Glanville Suffers Chemical Burns from Nair in Attempt to Treat Facial Parasite

Former “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Brandi Glanville, 52, has sparked concern after revealing severe chemical burns on her face from a DIY treatment using Nair, a hair removal cream, to combat a suspected facial parasite she calls “Caroline.” In a TikTok video posted on August 3, 2025, Glanville displayed red, inflamed skin on her cheeks and chin, joking, “I know I look attractive. Good news, you don’t have to spend a lot of money on peels and lasers anymore.” The incident follows her ongoing struggle with a mysterious illness causing facial disfigurement, which she believes stems from a parasite contracted during a 2023 filming trip in Morocco for “Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip.”

Glanville explained in the video that she applied Nair to her lower face, believing exfoliation aggravates the parasite, causing it to move. “Nair is the fountain of youth. I figured it out, but I overdid it,” she said, admitting she left the cream on for seven minutes, far longer than recommended. In the caption, she advised, “Beauty hacks (this is a good one but do a test patch) I did 7 minutes and I’m on fire sooooioko don’t to 7 minutes it also burned the loose skin off my arms & its 7 dollars mix up some aloe vera, cucumber and black tea put it in the freezer put it in the spray bottle and once its cold enough spray all day cause I’m in some pain.” She noted using a homemade spray of aloe vera, cucumber, and black tea to soothe the burns.

Fans expressed alarm in the comments, urging Glanville to seek professional medical help. One wrote, “NAIR is not meant to be a chemical peel. Brandy, please don’t do anything that’s not recommended by a professional doctor. & even then be cautious & get second opinions. This can be so dangerous. I hope you have a speedy recovery.” Another commented, “Nair is NOT the fountain of youth! I hope you heal well, because that looks like a terribly, painful, infected burn.” Healthline warns that depilatory creams like Nair, containing chemicals such as calcium hydroxide, can burn sensitive facial skin even when used as directed, emphasizing the need for patch testing.

Glanville’s health struggles have been public since late 2023, when she reported facial swelling, tooth loss, and speech difficulties. In April 2025, she was hospitalized after experiencing immobility in her head and neck for four hours, requiring an ambulance. “I could not get out of my bed,” she shared on social media, describing a lengthy emergency room visit. She has spent over $113,000 on tests and treatments, consulting specialists like Dr. Michael Scoma for long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) symptoms, but the parasite remains unconfirmed.

The parasite, nicknamed “Caroline” after her former co-star Caroline Manzo, has been a focal point of Glanville’s health narrative. She attributes her condition to contaminated food from the Morocco trip, where Manzo accused her of sexual harassment, leading to legal disputes with Bravo. Glanville’s openness about her ordeal, despite painful setbacks, has drawn both concern and support from fans.