TikTok trend of 'slugging' is bad for your skin and can cause acne, study finds

It’s a Korean beauty craze that has gripped TikTok and garnered the support of pharmacies and skincare brands.

But “slugging,” as it’s known, can cause acne, dermatologists have warned.

It involves rubbing Vaseline on the face before going to bed with the goal of waking up in the morning with a radiant, soft complexion.

Using thick ointments like petroleum jelly can help lock in moisture by preventing skin from drying out overnight.

Social media clips promoting the trend have been viewed millions of times in recent months.

Some, including one from UK pharmacy chain Boots, say it may even be a “great option” for people with oily skin, which makes them more prone to acne.

But experts at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachussetts, have now questioned the claims peddling online.

Writing in the journal Clinics in Dermatology, the scientists said: “Slugging involves applying a petroleum jelly-based ointment to the skin as the final step of your evening skincare routine and is currently trending on TikTok.

“Due to its occlusive nature, slugging has the potential to cause acne.”

The trend, which gained momentum after a post on Reddit in 2014, helps moisturize the face, especially for people suffering from eczema and particularly dry skin.

But at the same time, the petroleum jelly can also block the release of the skin’s natural oils, allowing it to mix with dead skin cells and clog pores.

This can lead to acne, leading to an outbreak of pimples, blackheads, and pimples.

It’s a particular risk in people with oily skin who are already at risk of acne, as their glands produce more sebum, which can lead to clogging.

Several videos on TikTok recommend slugging for people regardless of their skin type.

One by Boots even recommends it for oily skin. A clip advises people to use a jelly made at night by Aquaphor for a “healthy glow in the morning”.

In the video, a spokesperson says: “Slugging is the practice of smearing a thick layer of occlusive petroleum jelly onto the face at night before bed.

“And you’d be right in assuming it’s pretty messy.

“But it’s worth it, because it supports the skin’s own regeneration process and ensures a healthy glow in the morning.

“And this Aquaphor number doesn’t clog pores, making it a great option for oilier skin.”

However, experts have argued that slugging creams are always more comedogenic — likely to clog pores — than other, oil-free moisturizers designed for people who get acne more often.

dr Anjali Mahto, consultant dermatologist and spokesperson for the British Skin Foundation, told MailOnline: “I would not recommend slugging for acne-prone skin due to the risk of it clogging the pores.

“There are far better moisturizers for acne-prone skin that are less likely to be comedogenic.”

The BIDMC team warned that slugging “can unintentionally increase the potency of topical medications (eg, steroids) when layered.”

This is because the steroid creams can become trapped on the skin, forcing the skin to absorb them more deeply and increasing the risk of them entering the bloodstream.

It can lead to rare side effects like Cushing’s syndrome — when the body produces too much of the stress hormone cortisol — or adrenal suppression, where the opposite occurs.

Medical student Kyla Pagani and her colleagues shared the top 50 most popular English-language slugging videos on TikTok.

Videos included those uploaded by healthcare providers and “influencers” with more than 5,000 followers.

They rated the videos on how well they discussed the risks and benefits.

Only a fifth of all posts mentioned the potential risks of the routine, such as acne and enhancing the effects of steroid creams.

Researchers say the findings highlight the dangers of beauty trends on TikTok as social media users are exposed to other potentially harmful practices without being made aware of the risks.

Boots and Clinique were contacted for comment.