Yeusvi Flores: A trend that plays with health

In recent weeks, a trend has swept social media: young people using Sharpie markers as lip liners.

Under the hashtag #SharpieLipLiner, thousands of people are showing how they're saving on makeup by replacing cosmetics with these permanent markers.

Sharpie markers are industrial markers designed to write on surfaces such as cardboard, plastic, glass, or metal. They contain toluene, xylene, ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, and resins—volatile chemical compounds not designed for contact with skin, let alone the lips, which are one of the most sensitive areas of the body.

The skin on your lips is thin and has a high blood supply, which facilitates the absorption of substances. By applying Sharpie to this area, you are exposing your body to industrial solvents that can cause irritation, allergic reactions, redness, dryness, and/or peeling.

When moistening your lips, drinking, or eating, you may inadvertently ingest some of the marker. This can cause headache, nausea, dizziness, and in extreme cases, liver or neurological damage with prolonged or frequent use.

The manufacturer (Newell Brands) has publicly stated that Sharpies are not made for use on skin.

They do not have any type of authorization from health authorities such as the FDA in the United States or Cofepris in Mexico for application as makeup.

Many of these trends are linked to issues of self-esteem, acceptance, and social pressure.

It's important to create safe spaces to talk about these topics. Cheap things can be very expensive. Using products like Sharpie for makeup isn't a beauty trick, but an unnecessary risk to your health.

Your body deserves care, respect, and safe products. Don't risk your well-being for a trend that, like many online trends, will soon go out of style, but could leave lasting consequences.

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