Doctors PANIC Over Disgusting New TikTok Trend

Millions of Americans are left shaking their heads as TikTok influencers trade common sense for “savings,” turning Sharpie markers into the newest lip liner craze—even as doctors sound the alarm about putting industrial ink on your mouth.

At a Glance

Sharpie permanent markers are being used as lip liner in a viral TikTok trend, despite warnings from doctors and poison control experts.
Medical professionals highlight the potential for skin irritation, dryness, and chemical exposure when using these markers as makeup.
Sharpie’s own manufacturer has explicitly stated their product is not intended for use on skin or lips.
The trend reflects a broader pattern of social media “hacks” outpacing health and safety guidance, raising questions about product misuse and consumer awareness.

TikTok’s Latest Beauty Hack: Permanent Marker on Your Lips

Welcome to 2025, where a $2 Sharpie pen is the new $20 cosmetic, and common sense apparently costs extra. TikTok’s “Sharpie lip liner” trend has exploded, with influencers and teens alike outlining their mouths in permanent marker—yes, the same one you use to label your moving boxes or mark up your tool shed. The draw? It’s cheaper and bolder than your standard makeup, and, in this economy, who doesn’t want to save a buck? But here’s the kicker: this “hack” is making headlines not for its creativity, but for the wave of warnings from medical professionals who actually know a thing or two about what goes into these markers.

Doctors, dermatologists, and poison control centers are all chiming in with a simple message: just because you can buy a Sharpie at the dollar store doesn’t mean you should start painting your face with it. The ink inside these markers contains chemicals like xylene and toluene—ingredients that have no business being anywhere near your lips, let alone inside your body. But social media, as always, is happy to run faster than the experts can catch up, leaving users to weigh the risks after the damage is already done.

Doctors and Poison Control Sound the Alarm

Let’s talk about the facts—something that’s in short supply on TikTok, where a viral video spreads faster than a government spending bill. Medical professionals have been forced to step in to address the Sharpie-as-makeup trend. Dr. Brooke Jeffy, a board-certified dermatologist, says that applying Sharpie ink to your lips might not kill you, but it can cause irritation, dryness, and inflammation. The harsh chemicals in these markers are designed for permanence on paper, not for sensitive human skin.

The Missouri Poison Center put it bluntly: accidental exposure to marker ink is generally low-risk, but repeated use—like the kind encouraged by viral beauty hacks—could easily lead to chronic skin issues. Their advice? Keep markers on your desk, not in your makeup bag. If you’re coloring your lips with industrial ink, you’re risking more than a bold look; you’re rolling the dice with your health, all in the name of fleeting internet fame.

Sharpie’s Response and the Cost of Viral Foolishness

Even Sharpie’s own parent company, Newell Brands, has had to step in and clarify—again—that their markers are “non-toxic” only when used as intended: on paper, not on people. Their official website now features a warning: do not use Sharpies on your skin or lips. But when did warnings ever stop a social media trend, especially when the main goal is to rack up likes and views?

The irony is thick. While American families are pinching pennies and watching inflation erode their paychecks, we now have a generation willing to risk their health for a few social media “hacks” that substitute basic reasoning for viral notoriety. Who needs regulatory oversight or product safety? Just grab a marker, draw on your face, and worry about the consequences later. That’s the kind of logic that seems to pass for wisdom on these platforms—and it’s a perfect microcosm of what happens when real-world consequences are ignored in favor of internet clout.

The Broader Picture: Social Media’s War on Common Sense

This Sharpie lip-liner debacle isn’t just about one bad beauty idea. It’s a symptom of a much bigger issue—the relentless push by social media to celebrate the bizarre, the risky, and the outright ridiculous. Platforms like TikTok have become breeding grounds for trends that make a mockery of expert advice, while regulators and brands play an endless game of catch-up.

As the line between “hack” and “hazard” blurs, Americans are left to wonder: Where’s the accountability? Why are we tolerating a culture that encourages kids to put industrial chemicals on their faces just to save a few dollars? Perhaps it’s time to demand a little less viral nonsense and a little more real-world responsibility—from influencers, from brands, and from the platforms themselves. Until then, the rest of us will be here, shaking our heads, waiting for the next “brilliant” hack that puts a whole new spin on the word “permanent.”