By: Alison Chen

Nowadays, social media apps can largely influence our actions and thoughts. This time, it’s the famous TikTok app making people apply calamine lotion on their faces, a lotion normally used to soothe minor irritations like rashes caused by poison oak, poison ivy, etc. Growing into a viral hack, TikTok claims that the lotion can help dry out oily skin, repair acne scars, and hold their makeup in place for many hours.

Now many TikTokers are approving of this beauty hack. One TikToker said in a video, “I cannot see my pores anywhere”. According to Jennifer Hassan, author of the article, “TikTokers are using calamine lotion as makeup primer. Doctors say: Bad idea.”, many claim that the cream made their skin look matte. Now on TikTok, calamine lotion has been adapted as a primer.

This new “hack” also drew the attention of professionals, like dermatologist Azadeh Shirazi. She does not approve of this new trend, and uses her account “skinbydrazi” to inform her viewers about skin health from her knowledge as a dermatologist. She also “debunks beauty myths and trends”.

According to the article, “Shirazi has used the platform to urge people to consider the

ingredients before turning to calamine lotion as a primer, as overuse may lead to ‘severe irritation and worsening of scars.’” The lotion does work and has positive visual benefits for a while, but in the long term, it can damage the skin. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, calamine can even worsen skin irritations or acne scars if not used sparingly.

The reason that calamine lotion has these effects, Shirazi explains, is because, “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.”. This product causes the skin barrier to dry up and harden, which protects it while repairing. Ferric oxide can help with itching, while phenol is an efficient exfoliant.

Combining those two, calamine lotion can be very drying and irritating, which can worsen skin

conditions like acne and dermatitis.

Other makeup professionals say that in the future, users may have fine lines and wrinkles

because of the lotion’s drying qualities. Overuse of this product is now leading to calamine lotion being out of stock. And according to the articles, “In the United Kingdom, some parents have reported in recent months that they are struggling to buy the lotion to treat children suffering with chickenpox.”

Viewers of the TikTok’s are also calling this problem out. One person commented, “I have to use this when my lupus flares up, now it’s sold out in Walmart.”

Still, many people see calamine lotion as a cheaper alternative to a real primer, with better

results. It’s up to the social media voice to decide.