Current Trends in Social Media-Associated Skin Harm Among Children and Adolescents

Trending social media phenomena, often referred to as social media "challenges," include those centered around pencil erasers, salt and ice, spray deodorant, and fire. Each of these share features of intentional self-injury with the possibility of permanent skin changes, although generally without the intent to cause harm.. The background history of these social media-associated activities is fascinating and perplexing. For the clinician, adept recognition of the characteristic skin signs of these behaviors affords the opportunity to discuss them in the open and to educate patients and their parents about how to avoid potential for more serious harm.