Experts Warn Against Scalp Popping TikTok Trend

TikTok is full of useful tips and trends – we’ve learned how to make a whole host of luxurious bakes, turned our bikini bottoms into bikini tops, and even found the best way to defend ourselves while wearing acrylic nails.

But the latest TikTok craze is one you should absolutely not be following.

For some wild reason, the kids on the video sharing service has taken to ‘scalp popping’ – and it really is as grim as it sounds.

Watch a video below:

People are twisting small sections of hair and yanking them away from their scalp as fast as possible, which makes a ‘popping’ noise.

The trend became popular on TikTok after popular user YanaSemerly, who has over 31,000 followers, shared a clip of her and her friend trying out the trend – you can watch the video below (but we wouldn’t recommend you watch while eating as it can make your stomach churn).

Make you feel uncomfortable? Us too.

There is literally no benefit in doing this either – people seem to just be doing it only to hear that sounds.

And partaking in the scalp popping trend can lead to some very damaging consequences, according to doctors.

Dr Gokhan Vayni, hair transplant specialist at Vera Clinic told Tyla: “The scalp popping trend is hugely concerning for many reasons. Primarily, it’s dangerous and can cause bleeding under the skin on the inside of the scalp, or sores on your head.

“The ‘popping’ sound you hear is the galea aponeurotica (soft tissue between your scalp and skull) popping off your skull.”

And Dr Ross Perry, Medical Director of Cosmedics skin clinics, adds that this can lead to a number of problems when it comes to having a healthy head of hair - and damage free scalp.

“Firstly you can easily tear the inside of the scalp which can lead to bleeding and possible infections, it can become sore and extremely uncomfortable. It can also cause damage to the hair follicle on a long term basis which could lead to hair loss and let’s not forget damage to the neck and head from the force of the hair being pulled,” he explained.

“You can pull out clumps of hair resulting in bald patches. It can cause subgalea hematoma which is when a pool of blood forms under the scalp and can be incredibly dangerous. It can also cause Scalp folliculitis which is a skin condition where the hair follicles on the scalp become inflamed or irritated and will be extremely sore.”

While scalp popping is used by some cultures to promote headache relief, Dr. Perry says there is no medical evidence to support this.

“In my opinion it just isn’t even worth attempting,” he said.

Well, that’s us told.

Featured Image Credit: (Credit: TikTok - yanasemerly)

Topics: TikTok, Health, Beauty

Kimberley Bond

Kim is a journalist at Tyla, and has previously worked at the Evening Standard, Radio Times as well as several national newspapers. A showbiz obsessive and a television fanatic, Kim is particularly interested in celebrity gossip, A-list events and the latest releases on either the big or small screen. Contact her at [email protected]

@0xKimberley