I Tried a TikTok Beauty Trend… But It Destroyed My Face
A lady alleges she ruined her face by partaking in an apparently innocuous TikTok beauty fad.
Regina Quaye of Ghana used DIY dermaplaning to get rid of her peach fuzz in November.
The process is similar to shaving, except that an exfoliating blade is used to gradually remove dead skin cells from the face and hair. It became quite popular on social media in 2019.
The 24-year-old had acne outbreaks and grew painful and bloated three days after attempting to remove her facial hair.
Miss Quaye, who herself has 37,000 TikTok followers, decided to go to the hospital as a precaution.
Regina Quaye, from Ghana, tried to remove baby hair from her face in November by dry shaving off the peach fuzz with a facial razor. A nightmare followed three days later when the 24-year-old’s face broke out in acne and became sore and swollen.
Miss Quaye has shared her face shaving experience on TikTok, showing off her skin before and after
Doctors prescribed her hydrocortisone cream to soothe her skin and her skin eventually returned to normal.
She shared her experience on TikTok, showing off dramatic before and after photos.
“I had one try in 2021 and broke out,” Miss Quaye said.
“But I thought it was the new skin care products I was using at the time.”
She discussed her latest experience, adding, “My skin started flaring three days after I shaved.
“I experienced a terrible breakout to the extent that my face became swollen.”
However, she claims that her skin is now acne-prone and very oily, which means she can only use oil-free skin care products.
Still, experts insist that the procedure itself cannot cause acne.
Instead, it can cause flare-ups in people who already suffer from breakouts. This is because shaving over “active acne” can spread acne-causing bacteria and make it worse.
Famous beauties such as Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, and Cleopatra would all shave their faces as part of their routine.
However, skin experts say that fine “vellus” hair on the face is “absolutely normal” and that dermaplaning ? also known as microplaning or blading ? should only be done by a professional.
And in some cases, dermatologists say hair can grow back worse and what might be considered mild facial hair can grow back thicker.
Doctors prescribed her hydrocortisone cream to soothe her skin, and her skin eventually returned to normal (pictured are her before and after photos of her skin)
Dermaplaning, or full face shaving, hugely popular at home on TikTok and YouTube in 2019 (file photo)
Other risks include infection from unsterile razors and physical injury to the skin, and photosensitivity leading to sunburn from physical exfoliation.
Dr. Mary Sommerlad, consultant dermatologist and spokesperson for the British Skin Foundation, said: ‘At-home dermaplaning has become increasingly popular in recent years.
?While social media often shows positive results, as a dermatologist I would be very wary of this type of at-home procedure.
Dermaplaning is also not suitable for people with inflammatory skin conditions such as acne or eczema.
“It’s also worth remembering that many of the perceived benefits of dermaplaning can be achieved in less risky ways, such as following a consistent skincare routine that’s tailored to your skin’s needs.”