The latest viral trend on TikTok involves rubbing a vegetable on your skin in a bid to clear acne, get rid of spots, and give you a ‘glass’ complexion – but a skincare expert has warned against it
Skincare experts are warning people against a viral TikTok craze that promises “glass” skin as it could leave people with chemical burns instead.
The latest skincare trend storming social media involves garlic. Most of us know how good garlic is for our health – it is praised by experts for its antioxidant value, blood pressure-lowering and cholesterol-reducing benefits. But it has now found its way into a peculiar TikTok trend, and people insist the smelly cloves have worked wonders on their skin.
Users plunging into the #garlicskin experience on TikTok are seen either gulping down whole cloves or smearing them on their faces. People claim that chewing on garlic can vanquish acne, dial down inflammation, and keep blemishes at bay. One user boasted about achieving enviable “glass skin” thanks to the trend.
Meanwhile, those applying it topically believe its high aluminium content zaps away zits. But despite before and after shots displaying dramatic skin transformation, experts warn that this fad might inflict more damage than good.
Lesley Reynolds, skincare expert and co-founder of The Harley Street Skin Clinic, warned: “TikTok’s latest trend involving the incorporation of garlic within your skincare routine is not only misleading as it does not have the ability to clear acne, but it could lead to causing serious damage to the surface layers of your skin.”
She further cautioned that applying garlic directly onto your skin could result in skin irritation and chemical burns, “worsening the pre-existing inflammation caused by acne and leading to further discomfort and damage to the skin”. She also highlighted the risk of post-inflammatory scarring.
Instead of following such trends, Lesley recommends a more simplistic skincare routine for those with acne-prone skin. Overusing too many products can actually irritate the skin rather than cure it.
Lesley advised: “Everyone’s experience with acne, and therefore their skin types, is different so a one-size-fits-all approach should be avoided.
“However, incorporating some acne-friendly products (non-comedogenic) such as salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide into your skincare routine can help to reduce the build-up within the pores on your skin and combat any bacterial properties to support the reduction of the frequency of a flair-up.”
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