TikTok 'Skin Care' Hashtag Hits 77.3 Billion Views
Experts Say "No Procedures for Delicate Teenage Skin"
With social networking systems (SNS) at the center, teenage TikTokers, YouTubers, and other influencers are competing to upload skincare videos, leading to an increase in teenage students using anti-aging cosmetics or undergoing procedures. The medical community warns that excessive use of anti-aging treatments or cosmetics on the still delicate skin of adolescents can actually cause significant skin damage.
A 14-year-old TikToker who has been consistently managing their skin since the age of 12 shared their unique anti-aging secret by carefully applying sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 50. [Photo by TIKTOK @upkeepbeauty]
According to CNN on the 21st (local time), the hashtag 'skincareroutine' on TikTok recently recorded 77.3 billion views. Anti-aging videos reached 7.9 billion views, and Botox videos recorded 10.2 billion views, showing an excessive surge in interest in skincare. In fact, in the United States, the amount spent by teenagers on skincare increased by more than 20% compared to the previous year.
Some influencers have been criticized for indiscriminately uploading videos of themselves receiving anti-aging procedures. A 14-year-old TikToker posted videos showing Botox treatments as an anti-aging method, applying sunscreen with SPF 50, taking apple cider vinegar pills, and using retinol cream.
The so-called 'baby Botox' procedure involves injecting a small amount of Botox into the dermis layer beneath the facial epidermis rather than targeting specific muscles. According to a report by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the use of Botox injections, known as botulinum toxin injections, increased by 878% in the United States from 2000 to 2019. It is argued that baby Botox contributed to this rapid increase, with a 2019 survey showing that the 20-39 age group accounted for 20% of botulinum toxin injection users.
However, the medical community and experts express great concern about Botox treatments for very young teenagers. It is common for teenagers and those in their early 20s not to have severe wrinkles that would warrant Botox treatments, and their skin is still fragile, making them more susceptible to various side effects. In fact, Botox treatments, if overused, can cause side effects such as bruising, facial asymmetry, and sagging.
Excessive use of anti-aging cosmetics or medication can also cause skin allergies or increase the risk of hormone-related acne, so anti-aging treatments and cosmetic use among teenagers should be approached with extreme caution.
Dermatologist Dr. Moon Deep Sha told the New York Post, "The use of retinol cream for anti-aging should start no earlier than the late 20s," adding, "It is advisable not to receive Botox treatments from the mid-20s to mid-30s."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
