A growing social media trend involving the use of liquid nitrogen to create skin tattoos — known as “freeze branding” or the “freeze brand” trend — is raising serious health concerns among medical professionals.
Traditionally used in livestock identification, the freeze brand process involves applying a cryogenically cooled iron to the skin to destroy pigment cells and hair follicles, resulting in a permanent white scar. However, some TikTok users have recently adopted the technique as a form of body modification, prompting dermatologists to issue warnings about its dangers.
Dr. Andrea Suarez, a board-certified dermatologist known as “Dr. Dray” on TikTok, cautioned her nearly 600,000 followers against participating in the trend. “You are not a horse,” Suarez stated in a video, referencing the agricultural origins of freeze branding. She warned that applying a freeze brand to human skin can result in a full-thickness burn and increase the risk of cellulitis, a serious bacterial infection.
Cellulitis affects the deep layers of skin and surrounding tissue and can lead to severe complications such as sepsis, heart infections, or even bone inflammation if not treated promptly. Suarez noted that the severity of the injuries depends on factors like the duration of contact, the iron’s temperature, and the skin’s thickness.
Despite the viral nature of the trend, experts stress that the cosmetic appeal of a freeze brand tattoo does not outweigh the medical risks. “While it may look cool at first,” Suarez explained, “after six weeks of wound care, you could be left with permanent damage — and that might just be from 10 seconds of exposure.”
This isn’t the only health-threatening trend circulating online. Medical professionals are also speaking out against the use of Sharpie markers as lip liner and the application of hemorrhoid cream under the eyes — both of which can pose significant risks to health and safety.
Dermatologists continue to urge the public, especially younger audiences, to reconsider participating in dangerous body modification fads like the freeze brand, emphasizing that short-term visual effects are not worth long-term health consequences.
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