A popular trend back in the 2010s that included TikTok users rubbing Burt’s Bees’ lip balm on their eyelids rather than applying it to their lips, is making a comeback, much to the disappointment of doctors who have previously warned against the ill effects of the trend years back.
What is Beezin’ trend on TikTok?
The aim behind an increasing number of teenagers doing this is to enhance the feeling of being drunk or high on a night out. Collegegoers also claim that the trend helps some of the users stay up at night to study before their exams.
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According to medical experts, using the balm on one’s eyelids can cause infections and ulcers of the eye leading to permanent vision loss. Olivia J Killeen, MD, a clinical lecturer in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Michigan Medicine, said that using the balm on the eyelids results in redness, swelling, and inflammation.
Medical X Press reported that the balm can enter one’s eyes and can result in eye surface burns, weeping, and redness. One can also face scarring or visual loss under extreme conditions.
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“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.
The renewed fascination with this years-old trend began when TikToker Lily Knott applied the balm to her eyelids “without knowing what it does” back in December TikTok. Since then, her 11-second clip has garnered over 38.2 million views. The clip ends with the woman mouthing “dumb decisions” as lights flicker around her.