Home » Health » Permanent damage: that’s how dangerous tiktok health trends are

Permanent damage: that’s how dangerous tiktok health trends are

Don’t imitate: These “beauty hacks” are so dangerous.

  • Trends that are hazardous to health are always making the rounds on Tiktok.
  • For example, it is touted to whiten teeth with bleach.
  • Such «beauty hacks» are extremely dangerous.
  • Now the health authorities in the UK are warning against such videos.

Trends are spreading like wildfire on social media platforms like Tiktok. Often these are harmless and intended for fun or entertainment. But now several tiktok trends have emerged, which health experts classify as harmful and even dangerous. As the BBC reported, the UK Department of Health, the Association of Dermatologists and the UK dental community are now explicitly warning against such videos.

This involves so-called “beauty hacks” that could permanently damage the people who use them. For example, some Tiktokers advise using chemicals in their clips to etch away birthmarks and moles. You can also try to simply scrape off annoying birthmarks. However, dermatologists strongly advise against this.

“There’s no safe way to remove moles at home,” says Ross Perry, senior dermatologist at Cosmedics Skin Clinic. «The removal must be carried out by a specialist. Anyone who tries to use chemicals or scraping off birthmarks risks infections, uncontrolled bleeding and permanent scars. “

Bleach for yellow teeth

Perry also does not recommend using the glue normally used for gluing false eyelashes on other parts of the body. Another trend on Tiktok promises a “splashed-on lips” look if you stick your upper lip to the skin above with this adhesive. “But eyelash glue contains cyanoacrylate, a well-known allergen,” says the dermatologist. It is therefore extremely dangerous to apply this substance near the lip. In the worst case, this could trigger extreme allergy reactions.

Another beauty tip that actually makes the rounds is to whiten your teeth with bleach. Videos under the hashtag #teethwhitening have now accumulated around 284 million views. It is promised that bleach lightening is easy to do at home, avoiding the high cost of otherwise available treatments.

However, the UK dental community is expressly warning against following this trend. «The dosage of hydrogen peroxide in bleach is much higher than in the approved whitening agents. If you use normal bleaching agents on your teeth, you risk permanent damage to your gums and tooth enamel. ” In fact, the use of bleach can cause burns in the mouth, not to mention the substance is highly toxic if ingested.

Sunburn and burn blisters

Another trend that is making the rounds on Tiktok is that you only smear sunscreen on certain areas of your face. This should lead to a natural “contour effect”. Vishal Madan, dermatologist at the Stratum Dermatology Clinic, warns against this idea. «Skin cancer can develop anywhere on the face. Applying sunscreen only in certain places or unevenly distributed can therefore increase the risk of developing skin cancer. ”

In addition, the skin ages faster in areas where no sunscreen has been used. This leads to an irregular complexion. It is also dangerous to smear citrus fruit juice on your skin and then lie in the sun, as some other Tiktok videos advertise. “That only leads to skin irritation, sunburns and burn blisters,” says Madan.

When asked about these trends, Tiktok assured the BBC that such videos would not violate the platform’s guidelines. “It is our first priority to keep Tiktok safe,” said a company spokesman. “Our community guidelines clearly state that we immediately remove content classified as dangerous and content that leads to self-harm or harm to others.”

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