Viral 'skin cycling' TikTok trend actually liked by dermatologists

02 December 2023 , 21:34

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Dermatologists have been recommending this technique for years (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

"Tik Tok trend" are words that many dermatologists are fed up of hearing.

Just last month the American Academy of Dermatology warned about worrying skincare trends across social media. But there is one trend that they can get on board with.

Hundreds of videos have been created by users talking about skin cycling. However, it isn't a product, but a technique, and one that Dr Loretta Pratt says dermatologists have been recommending for years.

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She told HuffPost: "This is new on social media and in the news, but many dermatologists have been advising this for years. I have been practicing skin cycling with my own skin care products and routine for over 20 years."

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Dr Pratt is a board-certified dermatologist with Advanced Dermatology P.C. She explained that with skin-cycling, you use certain products on different days of the week. This is to avoid layering them on all at once which can cause your skin to be irritated.

Dermatologists have been recommending skin cycling for years (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The skin cycle routine is credited to Dr Whitney Bowe who advises that in the morning you should cleanse, add any extra serums you want and then apply sunscreen. But at night is when you can take full advantage of skin cycling.

A four night schedule should look like this: night one: exfoliation (acids), night two: retinoid, night three and four: recovery night and another recovery night. Experts say by applying a retinoid and exfoliation on separate nights, you should avoid irritation.

For the exfoliant night, Dr Jaimie DeRosa, a facial plastic surgeon, said you should use an exfoliant after a gentle cleanser and always follow it with a moisturizer. This also applies for night two. Also, when you are using retinol, it is advised only to use a small amount.

On the two nights you are using as recovery, all you need to do is cleanse and moisturize. You should take care not to use a moisturizer that has other active ingredients in it, like Vitamin A, Alexandra Ward a licensed aesthetician at Reform Aesthetics in Encino, California explained.

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But be warned, you should not dive straight into skin cycling if you are someone that doesn't ordinarily use products like acids and retinoids. "Start low and go slow", Dr Gay Motykie, a plastic surgeon, explained.

He said: "“If you have sensitive or reactive skin, you don’t want to introduce a super active product. A skin expert can help you select the products that will be right for you,” Motykie added. He also warned against people on certain medication, like Accutane or other acne medication, from using harsh products that make up skin cycling.

Lydia Stephens