An Iowa woman is warning about the dangers of DIY “sugar waxing” tutorials after her daughter was scarred for life from a TikTok trend gone wrong. The young girl attempted to make sugar wax, a natural hair removal method, using a mixture of sugar, honey, and water but ended up with severe burns on her hand. The incident occurred when the hot wax popped and splattered onto her skin, causing it to peel off. The girl was rushed to the emergency room, where doctors diagnosed her with a severe second-degree burn that took weeks to heal. The mother is now calling for TikTok to post disclaimers on their DIY cosmetic videos to prevent similar accidents from happening in the future.
The mother explained that the doctor informed them that the hot wax should not have been put in the fridge for just an hour or two because it would lead to uneven cooling, creating hot pockets in the wax. The hot pockets would then become even hotter when reheated in the microwave, causing a reaction that led to the wax popping. The girl’s wound had to be redressed at the burns clinic, where a large blister had formed and eventually burst. While the girl’s skin has since regrown, her mother believes she will be left with a permanent scar from the incident. The mother is advocating for age recommendations or parental consent to be included in DIY project videos on TikTok to prevent others from getting hurt.
TikTok representatives claim that their content is restricted to users over 18 due to the potential danger of the activities depicted. They also stated that warning disclaimers are included in videos that showcase potentially harmful activities like sugaring, and that these DIY beautification hacks are not exclusive to TikTok but are widespread across other platforms as well. Some companies offer preassembled sugaring kits to prevent individuals from having to create the substance from scratch, reducing the risk of accidents like the one experienced by the young girl. The incident highlights the importance of caution and proper knowledge when attempting DIY cosmetic procedures at home.
The incident occurred when the young girl attempted to make sugar wax for hair removal, a natural alternative to traditional waxing methods. The mixture of sugar, honey, and water was supposed to be heated, cooled, and then reheated before application to the skin. However, due to incorrect cooling techniques, the wax popped and splattered onto her hand, causing severe burns. The girl’s skin peeled off, leading to a trip to the emergency room, where doctors diagnosed her with a severe second-degree burn that required weeks to heal. Despite the trauma, the mother is calling for TikTok to implement age recommendations or parental consent for DIY cosmetic videos to prevent future accidents.
The doctor explained that the incorrect cooling of the wax led to hot pockets forming within the mixture, which caused the explosion when reheated in the microwave. The girl’s wound was treated at the burns clinic, where a large blister formed and burst, eventually healing after weeks of care. While the girl’s skin has regrown, her mother fears that a permanent scar will remain as a reminder of the accident. TikTok has measures in place to restrict certain content to users over 18 and includes warning disclaimers on potentially harmful videos. The incident underscores the need for caution when attempting DIY procedures and the importance of educating oneself before trying out new beauty trends at home.
