Fashion among influencers, ‘skin icing’ consists of putting ice on your face and can be dangerous

A quick search on shopping sites like Amazon and Shein can lead to thousands of options for a product as common as an ice cube tray, but which, after a while, rebrandingbegan to be known as “ice roller”.

Just fill the silicone mold with water, freeze it and voila: you have the new skincare tool of the moment. A prosaic mold like this, after being put through a “gourmetizing ray” can cost up to R$70 on the internet.

The product promises to improve the appearance of the skin, dry out pimples, close pores, reduce dark circles and bring freshness to the face. Yes: it’s just an ice cube. The technique, called “skin icing”, is taught by influencers on TikTok and sold as a great solution for those with acne and “inflamed skin”. Celebrities such as Bruna Marquezine, Jade Picon and Bella Hadid are among its followers.

Ice, however, is tricky: if you leave it in contact with your skin for too long, instead of getting a de-puffed, acne-free face, you could end up with a burn. And there’s no way of knowing how long each skin can withstand, nor of noticing that it’s burning. The damage is only noticeable after it’s done.

According to dermatologist Daniela Menezes, a member of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology, what ice does is reduce microcirculation in the surface layer of the skin, causing vasoconstriction. “The skin then becomes more uniform, less red and with tighter pores,” she explains.

“There is a myth that it makes your face more beautiful,” he explains. “But people with sensitive skin, rosacea or severe acne, can end up with inflamed, reactive and even redder skin,” he says. Even for people with normal skin, there is still a risk of burns. “If this happens, the person will feel a burning sensation, the skin will hurt and it may become stained,” he says.

That’s what happened to American TikToker Hannah Lee Douglas. She used her ice roller right after getting out of the shower and got a burn that turned into a dark spot on her face. After four months of trying to smooth the spot with products, she decided to have laser sessions.

Brazilian Giovanna Biondi also suffered a burn after trying the beauty tip, but to a lesser extent. “The ice simply burned my face,” she said. Another Brazilian TikToker showed her brother, a child, with badly burned cheeks after trying to copy the “trend.”

According to Daniela, ice burns can take anywhere from a week to a few months to heal, depending on the severity and the area affected. Some influencers go even further, teaching how to make ice rolls with cucumber, chamomile and even—surprise—lemon.

The doctor warns about the risks of influencers and celebrities advertising not only this technique, but other home skincare methods that can be dangerous. “Mixing products and techniques without knowing how they might react can have serious consequences,” she warns.

“We have to remember that there are a lot of children who are watching these videos on TikTok. Children’s skin is very young, it is skin that is not yet fully formed and is more susceptible to burns and damage,” he warns. “Both ice and other home remedies can cause complications that can even be irreversible for the skin.”