TIKTOK users have been warned not to follow a dangerous beauty trend which sees people attempt to remove their own moles at home.
Videos showcasing different DIY mole removal methods have been shared on TikTok, leading to doctors to slam the dangerous trend and warn people run the risk of permanent disfigurement if they try them.
Stomach-churning videos on the social media app see people attempt to remove moles by scraping, picking or with dangerous chemicals.
Doing this runs the risk of huge scars, brutal skin damage and infection.
Dr Ross Perry, NHS GP and medical director of Cosmedics skin clinics warned there is no ‘safe’ way to remove a mole at home.
He said: “This needs to be done by a qualified doctor or dermatologist who is trained and knows what they are doing.
“Using chemicals or attempting to ‘scrape’ off a mole could lead to infections, bleeding, scarring and deformity of the area.”
DIY mole removal videos have since been slammed by doctors
The clips have hundreds of views, and dermatologists and doctors using the app have hit back by creating their own videos discouraging users from DIY mole removal.
The medical advice regarding mole removal has always been to have it checked and removed by a qualified professional.
The British Association of Dermatologists, the British Dental Association and the British Skin Foundation all advised people not to copy the treatments.
Speaking to the BBC Dr Anjali Mahto, a spokesperson for the British Association of Dermatologists, said: “It is important to remind people that social media should not be used as a primary source for dermatology issues.”
Earlier this week, dentists spoke out against people using hydrogen peroxide to whiten their teeth.
Clips viewed more than 12 million times have been circulating on the app telling viewers to use the chemical – more commonly used in hair bleach and fertilisers – instead of dentist-approved products.
But health professionals have slammed it as “extremely dangerous” – and it could lead to tooth loss if used in the wrong way.
For more TikTok trends, one woman’s bizarre fake tan hack has gone viral after telling people to bathe in Bio Oil and apply tan with a makeup brush.
And one woman shared a ‘game chaning’ hack to turn old coat hangers into kitchen bag clips – and it couldn’t be easier.
