The wildest TikTok trends in 2023

Whether you’re a fanatic follower of TikTok yourself or it's your biggest foe in medicine, the social media video platform is ubiquitous—and chances are your patients are using it for medical information. Case in point: A 2022 health information survey found that 1 in 5 Americans turn to TikTok before asking their physicians when seeking treatment for a health condition.^[] 

You may have treated a few patients in the past year following a botched attempt at one of the latest wellness crazes dominating the platform—the results of which can range from mild, such as serious sunburns after replacing sunscreen with beer; to deadly, such as the “One Chip Challenge,” which involves an especially spicy potato chip.

To improve physical appearance

• Young patients are smashing bones in their faces with hammers. Here's why and what you can do to stop it

• Patients are striving for 'glass skin'—here's what that means

• As fans prepare for the live-action "Barbie" movie, the spotlight is on the unrelated "Barbie drug"

• Beer is replacing tanning oil — TikTok trend gives new meaning to the term 'beer belly'

For bigger breasts

• TikTokers are using bee pollen as a way to stimulate breast growth

For better vision

• Your patients are putting castor oil in their eyes. Here's what you need to know

Just for 'fun'

• Your patients are hunting toads and sea sponges to have psychedelic experiences

• TikTok's boat jumping, like other risky trends, is causing a spike in injuries, hospital visits, and deaths

• 'Borg' is the dangerous alcohol trend physicians need to know about

• People are chewing the hottest gum on earth—and winding up in the ER

• The Benadryl challenge is killing teens. Here’s what you should know about it

• Are your patients hoping to get 'high' through their eyeballs using chapstick?

To improve mental health

• People are using tiny dolls (complete with tiny penises) as emotional support. Here's what you need to know

For joint pain and inflammation

• Don’t let TikTok fool your patients—drinking borax is unhealthy

For romance

• What you should know about 'vabbing,' the trend of vaginal dabbing

• Patients are loading up on caffeine in a bid for bigger, better orgasms. Does it work?

For gastrointestinal issues

• TikTok’s latest constipation hack, a 'turbo-charged prune juice laxative,' is probably safe, but its effectiveness is under question