Doctors have warned social media users against using erection cream to achieve fuller lips following a viral TikTok video. You can watch it here:
In the video, TikTok user Jerry Mal shows users how he says they can get fuller lips.
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He says: "Basically, I saw a movie and this girl put erection cream on her lips and it made them really big, so I wanted to try it. I forgot what the movie was called but here we go."
He smears the cream all over his lips, telling his followers: "It kind of tingles. It doesn't feel terrible, but we'll see."
He adds: "So it's been like five minutes, and they look bigger but I'm going to wait five more minutes, and I'm going to eat my pizza."
But it turns out he couldn't make the full five minutes.
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He goes on to say: "It's been three more minutes and I said I was going to do five, but it's burning really bad, so I'm going to take it off and we'll see."
He wipes off the unnamed cream, telling his fans: "Oh my gosh, I kind of like it, I'm not going to lie."
As lip enhancers go, it's probably one of the least invasive methods, but it's still not advisable to try it, with doctors warning against the beauty 'hack'.
As reported by Metro, Dr Ross Perry GP & Medical Director of Cosmedics said: "Putting erection cream on your lips in a bid for a fuller pout is utterly ridiculous and can be extremely dangerous for a number of reasons.
"Individuals trying this could suffer an allergic reaction such as stinging, soreness, blisters and uncomfortable swelling.
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"Other side effects from the absorption of the cream as it goes into the body can create headaches, blood pressure problems and even possible heart problems.
"The cream could also flare up cold sores if you're prone to them already."
Dr Ross warned that even if you do try it and are lucky enough not to suffer serious side effects, it would only last a few hours at the most.
World-famous aesthetic, facial and reconstructive plastic surgeon, Dr Tunc Tiryaki, told the same publication: "The healthy and scientifically acceptable way of plumping your lips is using degradable lip fillers, which are made of hyaluronic acid.
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"Reinjection is necessary, but at least if you don't like it, it is reversible."
He advises against the 'hack', saying the creams 'usually contain alprostadil, a vascular dilatator, meaning it makes the blood vessels larger.'
Dr Tunc added: "The risk of digestion of these creams - which are absolutely not designed for swallowing - can create not only local problems but generalized side effects.
"This is why people should not be using these creams on their lips."
Featured Image Credit: TikTok/Jerrymaldonado