4 of the most damaging skincare 'hacks' on TikTok, according to one of the app's star dermatologists

• TikTok's skincare videos get billions of views a month, but some of the advice can harm the skin, Dr. Muneeb Shah says.
• TikTok's DIY masks may include ingredients that cause inflammation.

While skincare videos on TikTok get billions of views, experts warn some of the hacks that go viral might actually be dangerous for your skin.

Dr. Muneeb Shah, a dermatologist with over 10.9 million followers on TikTok, told Insider skincare videos featuring DIY masks and pore vacuums, may "shock" viewers, but can actually be damaging.

Shah told Insider about the worst skincare hacks he's seen on the platform and safe alternatives to use instead.

Putting ingredients like ginger and cinnamon on your face can irritate and burn your skin

Shah said some DIY masks on TikTok may include ingredients that irritate or swell the skin.

He said people should avoid masks that contain ginger and cinnamon, as both ingredients are "just not beneficial and can be very inflammatory."

Instead of making your own mask, consider using an exfoliating face wash or retinol to clear your skin. Retinol works by increasing cell turnover which reduces the appearance of acne, scars, and hyperpigmentation.

Popping your own pimples without washing your hands and face can lead to even more acne and scarring

Shah told Insider squeezing your own zits could result in even more acne and permanent scarring if your aren't careful.

"If you have a pimple, it's usually walled off inside the hair follicle or other pores, so it's like it's locked into that location," Shah said.

According to Shah, when you apply a lot of pressure to a pimple, it can pop under the skin, which can scar your face.

In addition to scarring, popping a pimple with dirty hands, no gloves, and before you wash your face, can spread bacteria from the original pimple into more pores, causing more acne.

At-home mole removal could lead to permanent scarring or worse

Another potentially damaging TikTok trend, according to Shah, is removing your own moles.

@dermdoctor

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♬ orijinal ses - Emrullah Keleş

"They're basically either burning their skin or using acid to essentially burn the skin," Shah said. "Most people that do these end up with like really bad scars from it."

Aside from scarring, Shah said DIY mole removal can be extremely dangerous in some cases because moles should be properly examined by a doctor to determine if they are benign or cancerous.

Pore vacuums can scar your face and break blood vessels

Pore vacuums, or devices that suck out oil and dirt from your skin, are popular on TikTok, but can be too harsh. Shah said in some cases, the vacuum can permanently damage the skin if blood vessels burst in the process.

@dermdoctor

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♬ original sound - Dr. Shah

Instead of using a pore vacuum to clear your skin, Shah recommends switching to a 2% salicylic acid solution or cleanser.