There was the Cinnamon challenge, the Ice Bucket challenge and, now, the Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge.
Teenagers insert their lips into a shot glass, small jar or bottle, then suck out the air, creating a vacuum. The hope is they’ll end up with pouty lips like the reality TV star. But some attempts have gone awry: girls end up with bruises, soreness and even torn skin.
Canadian dermatologist, Dr. Benjamin Barankin, says there are many ways young girls are damaging their lips from taking on the controversial challenge.
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For starters, bruising, blistering and even infection that would require antibiotics to clear up could occur from suctioning the lips so aggressively.
“The issue is that you can certainly develop bruising that can last for seven to 10 days and can be purple, yellow and green and look gross,” Barankin warned. He’s also the medical director and founder of the Toronto Dermatology Centre.
If you’re prone to cold sores, you’re only tampering with your sensitive skin. You’re also hurting lip tissue, and collagen and elastin — proteins that give lips plumpness and firmness.
The plumpness from the suction would last for only 24 hours at most, Barankin suggests. After that you’re left with the repercussions.
“The new trend in trying to DIY lip plumping is quite concerning. Not only can significant pain, swelling and bruising result from these suction techniques but there is potential risk for scarring and permanent disfigurement with repeated attempts,” Dr. Dendy Engelman, a dermatologic surgeon, told Seventeen magazine.
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There’s also concern that the shot glass can break under pressure if the suction is too strong. That could lead to cuts around the mouth.
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In the meantime, teens have taken to social media to post their results:
https://twitter.com/Mfeems24/status/590197307800334336
Kylie Jenner responded to the lip challenge:
carmen.chai@globalnews.ca
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