A bizarre trend has resurfaced on TikTok in a video racking up more than 8 million views. “Beezin” was a short-lived trend in the 2010s which saw people rub Burt’s Bees lip balm on their eyelids in an attempt to imitate or enhance the feeling of being high or drunk.
A video posted to TikTok shows several men rubbing the balm on their eyes while “in the club”, the video has racked up 8 million views and nearly 800K likes.
However, the strange fad could potentially be dangerous experts have warned, causing dermatitis or even eye infections.
In a video also posted to TikTok, cosmetic scientist Carly Musleh warned “beezin” could cause dermatitis on the “super sensitive” skin and could spread bacteria .
She said: “The skin on the eyes is super sensitive so doing something like this could cause contact dermatitis. But not only that, using something on your lips and your eyes and sharing it amongst other people could carry bacteria and spread infection.”
Eyelid dermatitis is a condition where skin can become dry, itchy, red and sore on or around the eyelid.
Likewise, “anytime someone talks about putting any product that’s not specifically made for the eyes or the eyelid near the eye, you’re asking for trouble because the eyes and the eyelid are very sensitive parts of the body”, Dr. Patrick Harkins, an ophthalmologist in Waco, Texas, told Fox News Digital.
“They react very differently than a lot of other places. So anything that is not specifically formulated for eyelid or eyeball use is probably not a good idea,” he added.
A spokesperson for Burt’s Bees told the outlet that just because the company’s products were all natural, “that doesn’t mean it can go on eyes”.
They added: “Burt’s Bees tests all of its products, including the Beeswax Lip Balm to ensure they are safe for their intended use. We recommend that people use our products as directed.”
New Jersey allergist Leonard Bielory told the Optometry Times that he regularly sees patients who have suffered from dermatitis around the eyes.
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He said: “Interestingly, this and other ‘natural products’ are very common sensitizers and can cause a contact dermatitis, especially the area around the eyes which is especially sensitive to minor inflammatory changes.”
Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm contains peppermint oil while the company’s Medicated Moisturizing Lip Balm contains menthol, which can also irritate sensitive skin when used improperly.
The substances produce a cooling effect which can cause someone to feel alert, particularly when applied to the thin, sensitive skin on the eyelids.
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