By: Amy Xu

A fascinating trend on TikTok has started a revolution. Women are applying calamine lotion onto their faces to heal acne scars and other skin impurities. Some use beauty blenders or brushes, while others simply use their hands to rub the pinkish liquid onto their face.

Tik Tokers all over the world are obsessed with the trend. The hashtag #calamineprimer has an astounding 3.5 million views on the platform. However, many dermatologists and professional makeup artists caution that using the so-called magical lotion can only aggravate the skin and cause long-term damage.

Azadeh Shirazi, a dermatologist conducting research in the San Diego area, wants to prove the theory wrong. With the username “skinbydrazi” on TikTok, she posts videos trying to “debunk” beauty “myths and trends.”

“Calamine lotion is made up of zinc oxide, ferric oxide, and phenol. Zinc oxide is an astringent that can help absorb excess oil and have a mattifying effect,” Shirazi says. The product is used to treat wounds from chickenpox and monkeypox. Besides infections, it may also be applied to alleviate “insect bites, pimples, rashes, and poison ivy”(Hassan 3). Simply put, it’s not for acne.

Shirazi claims that the product will dry up and harden the skin. “Combining phenol with an astringent as in calamine lotion can be very drying and irritating, leading to a damaged skin barrier,” she says. She added, “Phenol is also a powerful exfoliant.” This may only be detrimental to the skin and worsen acne, rosacea, and dermatitis.

The next time one sees a TikTok promoting hacks, one should proceed cautiously.