Doctors are warning against a potentially dangerous social media trend, which sees people using erectile dysfunction cream to plump up their lips.
The trend is believed to have been started by a TikTok user named Jerry Mal (username: @jerrybmaldonado).
The video was uploaded to the platform last December and in it, Jerry explains that he had recently seen a movie in which a woman puts "erection cream" on her lips, which increased their size.
Jerry then proceeds to apply the erectile dysfunction cream explaining that while it doesn't feel "terrible", it does tingle.
Five minutes later, his lips look considerably plumper.
Another three minutes later, the TikToker explains that it's burning "really bad" so he decides to remove the cream.
"Oh my gosh!" he says upon seeing the result of his experiment.
"I kind of like it - I'm not going to lie," Jerry says.
The video has since gone viral with 3.5 million views, more than 6,000 comments, and over 640,000 likes.
He explained in another video that while he doesn't know what the brand is, the container had a "giant penis" on it and he got it from a sex shop.
However, skin experts are warning against applying erectile dysfunction cream to your lips.
As reported by Insider, New York City-based dermatologist Dr. Hadley King said it should definitely be avoided. In fact, he said it was best to avoid putting your lips in contact with any cream with the following ingredients: retinol, alpha hydroxy acids, and salicylic acid.
"Products that can more easily be tolerated in areas where the skin is thicker or oilier may be too irritating when used on the lips," King told Insider.
Per the Daily Mail, a TikTok dermatologist posted a video response to Jerry's stunt, saying: "I don't know exactly which cream is being used in the video, but all erection creams work by using vasodilation, which increases blood flow to a given area.
"Increased blood flow will lead to swelling of the area. It takes about 15 minutes to work and it lasts for about an hour. So, all the benefits of plumping will be completely temporary.
"Also, these creams were not made to be ingested or consumed by mouth and this probably not safe if it's ingested. It does work, but I would not recommend it."
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