A woman on TikTok is controversially claiming she isn’t washing her face at all – or using any water – as she embraces the so-called ‘caveman method.’
Content creator Tia Zakher, who splits her time between Montreal, Dubai, and Cairo, caused quite a stir on social media when she claimed she was no longer washing her face.
Instead, Tia explained that she was letting dead skin cells pile up because her skin’s ‘shedding cycle was disrupted for a long time from years of over picking and removing texture manually.’
Tia told her concerned followers ‘the thick, flaky look is a normal part of resetting my skin barrier’ but they weren’t convinced, with many people accusing her faking her flakey skin for attention and viral fame.
In another video, the unemployed 22-year-old said she was looking forward to see new conspiracy theories about her skin.
The controversial creator also said she was going to start ‘incorporating water’ in her routine, after not using it at all.
She had previously stopped all skincare and was not using water to help her barrier ‘rebuild naturally.’
Tia said her skin was ‘shedding all the damage,’ but one commenter replied, ‘Girl. You’re not a snake. Go to the dermatologist.’
FEMAIL has since reached out to dermatologists to find out what would happen if someone attempted the caveman method – and if it’s realistic that Tia is trying it or if it’s all an elaborate hoax.
A woman on TikTok is controversially claiming she isn’t washing her face at all – or using any water – as she embraces the so-called ‘caveman method’ (stock image)
Women started making their own videos, with many saying that there was no caveman method, accusing her of using a mud mask with pressed powder for attention (stock image)
Content creator Tia Zakher caused quite a stir on social media when she claimed she was no longer washing her face
Dermatologist Dr. Hannah Kopelman told DailyMail.com ‘if you stop cleansing your face entirely, especially in urban or humid environments, you’re likely to see a buildup of oil, dead skin cells, and environmental pollutants.’
‘Over time, that can lead to clogged pores, acne, seborrheic dermatitis, or even fungal overgrowth,’ Dr. Kopelman explained.
Dr. Kopelman said ‘if you stop cleansing your face, especially in urban environments, you’re likely to see a buildup of oil, dead skin cells, and environmental pollutants’
Women started making their own videos in response to Tia’s outlandish claims, with many saying that she wasn’t telling the truth and that there was no caveman method, accusing her of using a mud mask with pressed powder for attention.
While Dr. Kopelman can’t say definitively what’s on her face, she ‘wouldn’t rule out the possibility that she’s using a powdered clay or mud mask for aesthetic or storytelling purposes.’
If someone genuinely wants to repair their skin barrier, Dr. Kopelman recommends using a gentle moisturizer and washing their face twice a day.
Many people on TikTok were appalled that Tia was skipping washing her face entirely, especially since water isn’t damaging.
One commented, ‘Water will not do anything to your skin girl.’
Other people thought it was possible Tia had developed a rash if she was trying the technique, with one person saying, ‘Someone tag me when she finally finds out it’s a fungal infection.’
While the caveman method is taking off on social media, no one should try it at home (stock photo)
While the caveman method is taking off on social media, no one should try it at home. Not only will it not help rebuild the skin’s barrier, which helps retain moisture, it could be quite damaging.
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Stephanie Taylor warned that if people skip washing their face entirely they can develop fungal folliculitis.
The skin condition is a rash caused by yeast that develops in oily skin.
‘People even get patches of redness, itching known as dermatitis,’ Dr. Taylor, a senior consultant at Medpak Solutions, advised.
‘Your skin has its own natural protective barrier, and when it is not washed carefully, that protective barrier can break down.’
