New warnings regarding a 10-year-old trend called “beezin'” are making the rounds on social media. Renewed interest in the practice, which involves applying Burt’s Bees beeswax lip balm to eyelids, seems to have been spurred on by a viral TikTok video.
Reportedly, the practice, popular among college students, enhances feelings of being drunk. According to the New York Post, some report that beezin’ “helps them stay up all night to study.”
Lily Knott applied Burt’s Bees Beeswax lip balm to her eyelids and posted her experience in a brief TikTok video in December. The young lady acknowledged applying the balm “without knowing what it does” and mouthed “dumb decisions.”
The video has garnered more than 38 million views.
Doctors warn that beezin’ is very dangerous. Dr. Patrick Harkins, an ophthalmologist in Waco, Texas, issued a warning during an interview with Fox News:
“Anytime someone talks about putting any product that’s not specifically made for the eyes or the eyelid near the eye, you’re asking for trouble because the eyes and the eyelid are very sensitive parts of the body.”
Harkins added: “They react very differently than a lot of other places. So anything that is not specifically formulated for eyelid or eyeball use is probably not a good idea.”
The University of Michigan Hospital released a similar warning earlier this month. “The practice is risky and ineffective,” noted Dr. Olivia J. Killeen, a clinical lecturer in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Michigan Medicine.
Titled “Beezin,’ Killeen’s statement read:
“Breezin’ can cause chemical irritation to the eyelids themselves, resulting in redness, swelling, and inflammation. … it is easy for products to accidentally get into the eyes themselves. So, beezin’ can end up causing tearing, redness, and painful burns to the surface of the eyes. In severe instances, it could lead to scarring or vision loss.”
Killeen concluded her warning: “Any trend like this is generally a bad idea.”
A spokesperson for Burt’s Bees told Fox News that its beeswax lip balm is a safe product that the public has enjoyed for over 30 years. The spokesperson noted:
“It’s crafted with ingredients from nature like beeswax, coconut oil, and of course, peppermint oil — all selected to care for lips. It may be 100% natural origin, but that doesn’t mean it can go on the eyes. Burt’s Bees tests all of its products, including the Beeswax Lip Balm, to ensure they are safe for their intended use. We recommend that people use our products as directed.”
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