Skin care viral trends are everywhere - be careful!

It's happened to all of us: some social media influencer talks us into some new viral skin care trend, you try it, waste the money on it, and it just doesn't work for you. Sometimes it even harms you. You finally talk to your plastic surgeon or skin care specialist about it and they give you the look. Then a moment of clarity is achieved with a sheepish grin and you feel like an idiot.

Marketing works. That much is true. Especially when you think the marketing is being truthful and honest, but most people don't even realize the game that's being played, sometimes until it's too late. Sometimes people fall for the same persuasive tactics over and over again. You want it to be true, especially when a celebrity is telling you something. I get it.

So the next time you see some short video promoting a strange yet intoxicating beauty hack, don't let it easily suck you in and please don't be the type of person who’s trying a new product every month. Only certain viral trends deserve a permanent spot in your routine.

A good understanding of your skin type can help you. This will help you figure out what might make sense or what seems downright silly. As with anything else in life, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

Some people feel the need to jump on every new skin care sensation because they want to be "cutting edge," and be the first to know and try what's new and cool. I’ll admit, I’ve even fallen into some traps just like anyone else. I try to think about the things first from a common sense point of view, and then check out the medical literature. Some beauty crazes I’ve adopted and have helped my patients. For example, everyone now uses a moisturizer, because it’s trendy to do so. Most trends though don’t make the cut.

Misinformation is swirrelling everywhere on the Internet and social media. The easiest way to figure out what’s legit is to find a plastic surgeon you trust to go over new trends.

Dr. Sam Speron