There’s no denying the influence influencers (and regular folk) wield on TikTok. But just because it's trending, doesn’t mean it is smart, or safe for that matter—especially when it comes to beauty. In fact, experts like Board-Certified Washington, DC Plastic Surgeon Dr. George Bitar contend consumers are wise to keep scrolling past many of the popular DIY beauty trends they see on social media.

Dr. Bitar—who is founder and medical director of the Bitar Cosmetic Surgery Institute—shed light on some of the trending beauty tips and hacks on social media and why consumers should steer clear of them. Here’s what is on his radar right now:

Liquid Chlorophyll

What is it? It’s a liquid tonic that users make at home that purports to be an acne cure-all and improves skin’s texture and redness.
Why to steer clear: “Drinking chlorophyll-infused water to get rid of acne or improve your skin can worsen your skin condition.”

At-Home Hyaluron Pen

What is it? The hyaluron pen (also known as hyaluronic acid pen) is a small handheld medical device used to administer hyaluronic acid fillers into the face. This “pen” was originally created for diabetic patients to offer a needle-free, pain-free way to deliver insulin into the subcutaneous tissue. The pens took TikTok users by storm for their supposed potential to inject the lips, jawline or nose with hyaluronic acid at home.
Why to steer clear:  “You should never be giving yourself lip procedures or any aesthetic rejuvenation at home. At the advisory of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), “no one should be purchasing a hyaluron pen due to the fact that they can cause bleeding or bruising; infection with bacteria, fungus, or virus from the filler or needle-free device, among several other side effects, including death.” Don't ever try this at home. Injectables may cause occlusion of blood vessels leading to skin death and possibly blindness in the most experienced hands, so when someone who is not familiar with facial anatomy injects themselves, they could cause a catastrophe!”

Sea Salt Acne Spray

What is it? A DIY spray consisting of sea salt and water to eradicate acne.
Why to steer clear:  “Sea salt water at best may help with mild skin inflammation and redness. This is not a viable treatment for acne. It could delay proper care and cause hyperpigmentation and potential scarring due to its use.”

At-Home Plasma Pen Treatments

What is it? The devices look not so different from a mechanical toothbrush — but instead of a brush head, plasma pens have a needle-like tip. However, the tip never touches the skin — it's merely the means through which an arc of plasma passes. The process is said to make skin firmer and tighter by inducing trauma that triggers skin cells called fibroblasts to produce more collagen.
Why to steer clear: ”You should not be purchasing a plasma pen to achieve “firmer and tighter” skin. The risks associated with using this pen are quite severe. Inflicting pain on the skin with this device removes its proteins, causing the skin to lose its suppleness. It also poses a risk of causing pitting and scars. What’s more, the pens are not monitored by the FDA. A more professional version of this pen is used in plastic surgeons' and dermatologists' offices. It requires a lot of training to be able to treat a patient without burning them. If a lay person uses this pen, they are at risk of causing themselves second and third degree burns if used improperly.”

Scraping Off Moles at Home

What is it? Some people have been using chemicals or even attempting to scrape off moles physically at home. One peculiar method recommends applying eyelash glue to skin.
Why to steer clear: “All moles be checked by a professional before removal. There is no 'safe' way to remove a mole at home. This needs to be done by a trained qualified doctor or dermatologist. Using chemicals or attempting to 'scrape' off a mole could lead to infections, bleeding, scarring and deformity. A more compelling reason to not scrape moles at home is because moles originate in the dermis and therefore scraping the skin will only make them regrow after the endured trauma heals. Another reason to not scrape moles is that some moles can be cancerous, even on teenagers, and by scraping them without a physician examining them, cancer cells will still remain to regrow later.”

At-Home Nasal Tanning Spray

What is it? These products, showcased on TikTok, aren't strictly self-tanners. Instead, they're inhaled as nasal sprays to boost the effects of sun exposure or a tanning bed.
Why to steer clear:  “You shouldn’t be inhaling substances that haven’t been studied sufficiently, as using medications nasally can affect your sense of smell. They can also potentially have toxic effects on the cilia of the nose, keeping the nose from moving mucus through it normally. This can lead to mucus buildup throughout the nasal cavity, which thickens and forces you to blow out or postnasal drip. Melanotan is an unregulated synthetic chemical that functions as a hormone and supports melanogenesis, which is the process by which melanin, a black-brown pigment, is produced in the skin. Nasal tanning sprays have a range of different ingredients, but most commonly, they will all contain tyrosine or melanotan as their main active ingredient.”

Erection Cream Lip Pout

What is it? One man caused shockwaves across social media for using erectile dysfunction cream to create plumper lips. These creams designed to boost erections typically rely on alprostadil, a type of vasodilator that widens blood vessels.
Why to steer clear:   “This can cause allergic reactions, blisters and swelling, but it can also cause blood pressure problems if the cream gets into your mouth. The lips are made of thin and delicate skin with fewer oil glands. Let's just end this by saying that technology is fascinating and adaptable, but just because there is a remote connection between a cosmetic problem and the technology to address it doesn't mean that a non-medically trained lay person should take that leap of faith and self-medicate. The emergency rooms around the world are filled with these people!”