TikTok is driving an increase in painful ‘influencer inflammation’

The “glow trap” refers to the overwhelming trend of following intricate skincare routines promoted by influencers, which can lead to skin damage. Dr. Sandy Skotnicki advises against blindly adopting these routines, which often include multiple active ingredients like glycolic acid and retinol used simultaneously. Many individuals, particularly Gen Z, experience issues like irritant dermatitis because their skin becomes overwhelmed and inflamed.

To address this, Dr. Skotnicki recommends a “product elimination diet,” where skincare routines are scaled back to basics with gentle products, then slowly reintroducing one product at a time to identify what works. She also suggests “skin cycling” — alternating different active ingredients on separate days to reduce irritation.

She cautions against trusting influencers who may have commercial motives and warns that marketing labels like “sensitive” can be misleading. Instead, she recommends using products with fewer ingredients and being knowledgeable about ingredient mixing to avoid irritation. The goal is to reduce “influencer inflammation” and help individuals find routines suited to their specific skin needs.