By: Anthony Zhang
On the social platform TikTok, nearly anything can surface on a user’s recommended page. Most of these trends are harmless dance moves, but occasionally, they are dangerous.
The devious lick trend was a movement on TikTok where students would go into their school’s bathrooms and steal toilets, paper towel dispensers, and other bathroom amenities causing school property damage.
Recently, a “beauty hack” has gone viral on TikTok claiming that calamine lotion helps dry out oily skin, repair acne scars and keep their makeup in place for hours.
Some are using sponge pads or brushes to apply the lotion while others pour the pink lotion directly on their faces. “I cannot see my pores anywhere,” one TikToker said in approval, claiming the product made her skin appear “super matte”. The hashtag #calamineprimer has about 3.5 million views on the platform, but dermatologists and makeup experts are warning that the lotion can cause harmful long-term effects.
“It just doesn’t make sense to use calamine lotion and risk drying out the skin and damaging the skin barrier,” says dermatologist Azadeh Shirazi. “Calamine lotion comprises zinc oxide, ferric oxide, and phenol. Zinc oxide is an astringent that can help absorb excess oil and have a mattifying effect.” Shirazi adds that the lotion is generally recommended to treat oozing wounds from bacteria and soothe insect bites, pimples, rashes, and poison ivy.
These harmful trends are increasingly becoming worse. It first began in late December 2017 when people ate Tide Pods - laundry detergent pods- causing many deaths and toxic effects. With TikTok’s low age demographic, the audience is more likely to follow what the “Popular Creators” do. With this cream trend, the same effect is happening and people are suffering harmful skin effects. TikTok should spread awareness of the effects of calamine lotion.
Link: https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1658688485603x546950573926757950/TikTok%20trend%20of%20calamine%20lotion%20as%20makeup%20primer%20draws%20dermatologist%20concern%20-%20The%20Washington%20Post.pdf