Doctor warns TikTok users against terrifying freckle bleaching trend

An aesthetic doctor and beauty expert has warned against social media trends that are seeing people try to bleach freckles off their skin using household products such as lemon, toothpaste and Vaseline.

Sun exposure can cause pockets of dark brown spots to form on our skin as a result of hyperpigmentation, usually found in people with fairer complexions.

And while they’re often harmless, some people don’t like the change to their appearance and try to find ways to scrub them off.

However, social media trends urging people to use a variety of household products should be treated with caution as it can potentially damage your skin, experts say.

Dr Keyana Emamian, a general practitioner, an aesthetic, skin and hair specialist at Este Medical Group, said: “Freckles are small brown spots that are linked to exposure to the sun and are very common in people with light skin.

“They are a result of overproduction of melanin, a pigment the skin produces to protect itself against UV rays from the sun.

The appearance of freckles is a totally natural and usually harmless side-effect of sun exposure.

“While many people aren’t bothered by them, and some treasure them, others can be upset by the changes to their skin and want to remove them.

“We’re seeing quite a few videos on social media highlighting supposed hacks to get rid of freckles, involving concoctions of household items such as lemon juice, turmeric or toothpaste.

“I would always urge caution against taking skincare advice from sources that may not be reliable, and the nature of social media is that anyone can post videos claiming to be experts.

“The best thing to do is to speak to a qualified professional and explore treatments that are backed up by science and will be carried out by a trained expert.”

A number of videos are circulating on social media platforms from users showing off homemade concoctions.

TikTok user @myhoney111 posted a video claiming a mixture of toothpaste and Vaseline will remove freckles after just five minutes.

Another user, @saniaqam suggests using coconut milk and tomatoes.

And user @yenge7th5 insists a mixture of lemon juice and turmeric can do the job.

However, Dr Emamian, also known as Dr Key, highlighted how social media can significantly influence skincare routines, both positively and negatively.

She added: “Social media can be a powerful learning tool where access to information about effective skincare is made more accessible and influencers and doctors may suggest products that can address common teenage skin concerns such as acne.

“However, it’s important to be on guard for misinformation, and understand that a lot of advice you see on social media may not apply to all skin types.

“Similarly, trends that can lead to too many products or the wrong products being used for teenage skin must be avoided.

“And the age-old problem of comparison and pressure, where influencers and celebrities can create unrealistic beauty standards and pressure to use certain products or follow certain routines.”