It’s no surprise that social media is continuing to dominate our existence. With social media influencers, Tik Tok videos, and other social media platforms at our fingertips, many people are turning to these platforms for recommendations for skin care and beauty tips. There is an overwhelming number of accounts dedicated to skin care; some of these are reputable brands and clinicians, however with the good comes the bad.
Viral Skincare Trends to Avoid
Some viral trends are not only unhelpful but can be damaging to the skin. Let’s take a look at some of these dangerous viral skincare trends.
Hyaluron Pens
Hyaluron Pens began gaining popularity during the pandemic, but since, have gained even more of a following on social media.
Hyaluron pens are needle-free devices that use compressed air pressure to push hyaluronic acid (HA) through your skin into the deeper tissue to help create the appearance of fuller, plumper lips. They claim to be modeled after handheld jet injectors that are often used for administering medications like immunizations.
These are not FDA approved and the FDA has actually put out statements to avoid such devices. The pressure these pens claim to exert can be quite traumatic to the skin and the individual using it. Not only is this a traumatic mechanism of action, this trauma also comes with some serious side effects. These pens are unpredictable in delivery. There is a lack of control to where, and how much hyaluronic acid you are pushing into the skin. This can lead to uneven results, bruising, infections, and in worst-case scenarios, can cause occlusion of major vessels that supply blood to the lips and face, which can lead to tissue death or blindness (among other issues).
It’s also important to recognize that the Hyaluronic Acid supplied within the pen is not medical grade. This means you have no idea what you are getting or injecting into your skin.
DIY Skin Care
DIY skin care is all the rage, where influencers encourage you to use products found in your pantry and fridge. While this seems like an easy and cost effective idea, there can be some risks associated with doing so.
Just because something is natural doesn’t mean it is safe or comes without issues. Without appropriate preservatives, DIY skincare can become a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and mold to develop–things we most certainly don’t want to be rubbing all over our skin.
Natural products like lemon juice can come with some side effects that people don’t consider. When using citrus fruits, and exposed to the sun, this can lead to a sunburn-like effect or hyperpigmentation (darkening of the skin). Essential oils can also lead to allergic reactions due to the concentrations of use in DIY skin care.
Your best bet is to buy skincare products from a trusted retailer or consult with a licensed professional to find products that work well for your skin.
At Home Microneedling Kits
Microneedling has also gained popularity, and for good reason. When done in a medical office, by trained professionals with medical-grade equipment, the results can be quite amazing.
However, at home kits should be avoided at all costs. These devices do not have the same quality needles of the right depth and width to achieve safe results. When skin undergoes a controlled trauma, like microneedling, collagen production is kick started. These are the results we want to achieve. However, there is a fine line between controlled injury and serious injury that can lead to permanent scarring with at home kits. Not only can scarring occur, but infection is also possible.
We’re providing just a short list of a few of the more dangerous trends we’ve seen going viral lately. Please be aware of these unsafe practices and consult your doctor with any questions before embarking on at-home skincare efforts that could cause serious problems in the future.