The Viral Treatments Causing Real Burns
The most common case walking into dermatology clinics right now is a teenager with contact dermatitis from a DIY chemical peel they watched on a reel. Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and even undiluted lemon juice are being applied at concentrations meant for clinical use, sometimes left on overnight. A 2022 study published in the Indian Journal of Dermatology documented a rise in chemical burn presentations among patients under 18, with the majority linking the injury to an online tutorial. The skin of a 15-year-old is not the same as the skin of a 30-year-old content creator. It has a thinner stratum corneum, higher transepidermal water loss, and reacts to acid exposure far more aggressively.
