#TikTok’s idiotic face wax trend racks up millions of views

“It is clearly not a good idea to cover the whole face with wax,” Dr Emma Wedgeworth, a consultant dermatologist and spokeswoman for the British Skin Foundation, told Yahoo News. She said that the “senseless practice” is particularly harmful when applied to the nose due to the delicate skin and the blood vessels that sit close to the surface.

Dr. Anjali Mahto of the British Association of Dermatologists seconded her sentiment:

“Waxing is a traumatic process for the skin, especially sensitive areas such as those found around the eyes,” Mahto cautioned. “These areas can become inflamed and irritated, in some cases tiny pimples or pus-filled bumps could develop as a result, this is known as folliculitis.” He said that children are especially susceptible to damage from wax-foliation because of their sensitive skin.

The dermis doc also told Yahoo that social media is to blame for the proliferation of questionable cosmetic fads as they can spread them quickly without vetting if they “are actually good for you.”

In the past, TikTok has seen the rise of a plethora of half-baked beauty hacks, from reshaping teeth with nail files to using erection cream as a pout-plumper. Other notorious TikTok trends are even uglier — resulting in serious injuries and even the death of one teen who took the “Benadryl Challenge.”