7 Skincare Trends & Treatments to Avoid (And What to Do Instead!)
November 5, 2025 - Rhys Branman, MD
Some of the latest viral skincare trends can do more harm than good, and lead to skin damage, infections, and even permanent scarring. At our Little Rock medspa, we’ve seen it all, and we want to help you avoid DIY disasters. Here are seven skincare trends and treatments you should absolutely avoid, plus safer, professional alternatives that actually work.
Sunscreen Contouring
Sunscreen contouring involves applying sunscreen only to certain areas of your face while leaving other areas bare, with the goal of creating “natural” contouring through selective tanning.
Why it’s dangerous: Deliberately leaving parts of your face unprotected from UV rays dramatically increases your risk of skin cancer, premature aging, and sun damage. The areas left exposed will develop hyperpigmentation, fine lines, and wrinkles faster than protected areas. This technique may actually achieve a noticeable contour; however, you’ll be left with uneven, aged-looking skin in the long term.
What to do instead: Apply broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher to your entire face every single day, year-round, to keep your skin protected and to age as gracefully as possible. If you want to contour, use makeup! We can recommend medical-grade sunscreens that work beautifully under makeup and provide the protection your skin needs.
DIY Permanent Freckles
Some people use at-home tattoo kits, henna, or other DIY methods to create fake freckles that look permanent.
Why it’s dangerous: Tattooing your own face without proper training, sterile equipment, or medical-grade pigments is a recipe for disaster. You risk serious infections, allergic reactions, scarring, and permanent disfigurement. Non-professional products marketed for skin use can contain harmful additives, which can cause severe allergic reactions and chemical burns. What seems like a cute beauty trend can turn into a medical emergency, or leave you with permanent marks you didn’t intend.
What to do instead: There are plenty of freckle pens and makeup techniques that give you the freckled look without the risk. If you’re interested in semi-permanent cosmetic tattooing, consult with a licensed, experienced professional who uses sterile equipment and safe pigments.
Toothpaste Spot Treatment
We love a good acne spot treatment, just not when it’s toothpaste (yes, people are really dabbing toothpaste on pimples overnight).
Why it’s dangerous: Toothpaste is formulated for your teeth, not your skin. Most contain harsh ingredients like baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and menthol that can cause irritant contact dermatitis, chemical burns, and severe dryness. Rather than clearing up your acne, toothpaste can make it worse by damaging your skin barrier and triggering more inflammation. You may end up with red, peeling, irritated skin that takes longer to heal than the original blemish.
What to do instead: For effective acne spot treatment, look for products with proven ingredients like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Better yet, schedule a consultation with our aesthetician, Crystal, who can recommend skincare treatments for acne, such as a Hydrafacial®, chemical peel, specialty facial, and medical-grade products that actually treat and prevent breakouts.
DIY Chemical Peels
The internet is full of homemade chemical peel “recipes” that use household ingredients like lemon juice, baking soda, vinegar, or other pantry items.
Why it’s dangerous: Peels are medical treatments that require precise formulations and professional application. DIY versions using household acids can cause chemical burns, permanent scarring, severe hyperpigmentation, and irreversible skin barrier damage. Lemon juice, for example, is far too acidic for skin and can cause a condition called phytophotodermatitis, where your skin becomes extremely sensitive to sunlight and can lead to severe burns and dark spots that can last for months or years.
What to do instead: Professional chemical peels at Exhale Med Spa are safe, effective, and customized to your skin’s needs. We offer physician-only brands like SkinCeuticals® and VI Peels, as well as TCA and AHA peels in varying strengths. Crystal carefully assesses your skin to recommend the right peel to safely and effectively address your concerns.
“Let me start by saying I’ve been getting chemical peels from Crystal on and off for approximately 2-3 years now, and she always makes me feel very comfortable and does a phenomenal job; she’s very attentive and listens to what I want her to do she’s the best! Keep up the fantastic work Crystal!”
Homemade Sunscreen
DIY sunscreen recipes use ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, zinc oxide powder, and essential oils.
Why it’s dangerous: Proper sunscreen formulation requires precise measurements, stability testing, and UV protection verification in a laboratory setting. Homemade versions don’t undergo any testing, so you have no idea if they’re actually protecting your skin (and chances are, they’re not). This gives you a false sense of security while you’re actually getting burned.
What to do instead: Choose a quality, broad-spectrum sunscreen from a reputable brand. We carry medical-grade sunscreens at our med spa in Little Rock that are tested, proven effective, and formulated to work with all skin types.
DIY Microneedling
This trend uses derma rollers, microneedling pens, or needles at home to try and recreate the benefits of professional treatments.
Why it’s dangerous: Microneedling creates controlled micro-injuries in the skin to stimulate collagen production. When done improperly, those “micro-injuries” can become major problems. At-home devices often aren’t properly sterilized and can increase your risk of bacterial infections and scarring. And, using the wrong needle depth or technique can damage your skin rather than improve it, and leave you with hyperpigmentation, broken capillaries, and uneven texture.
What to do instead: Looking for professional microneedling in Little Rock? We offer SkinPen® microneedling at Exhale Med Spa. These treatments are performed in a sterile environment with medical-grade equipment and proper technique to give you real results without the DIY risks.
Extreme Multi-Step Routines
Everyone should have a skincare routine, but some people follow 10, 15, or even 20-step skincare routines with multiple serums, essences, and treatments layered on top of each other.
Why it’s dangerous: Using too many products, especially products with conflicting ingredients, can lead to over-exfoliation, skin barrier damage, irritation, and sensitization. When you layer multiple actives like retinol, vitamin C, AHAs, and BHAs without proper guidance, you risk skin issues like chemical burns and chronic inflammation. You’re also wasting money on products that may be canceling each other out or sitting on top of your skin without absorbing.
What to do instead: A personalized skincare routine is far more effective than a complicated multi-step process. If you don’t have a routine or aren’t sure your existing routine is working for you, Crystal can assess your skin and create a customized routine using medical-grade products that actually work together.
It’s not worth risking your health and appearance on unproven DIY trends. Whether you’re dealing with acne, sun damage, aging, or simply want to maintain healthy, glowing skin, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. Call Exhale Med Spa at (501) 227-0707 today to schedule your consultation with Crystal to get started.
