One of many extra widespread on-line theories means that Dior’s lip oil acts as a “cooking agent” of types, catalyzing irritation. Dobos dismisses this as an exaggeration: “[On an average day,] you’re not attending to any kind of temperature the place you’d be ‘cooking’ the pores and skin.” Dr. Gohara, then again, says, “Shiny lip merchandise can intensify UV publicity by appearing like a magnifying glass. With out SPF, this could result in sun-induced pigmentation.” (The Dior lip oil doesn’t embody sunscreen substances.)

Some TikTok customers theorize the lip oil is inflicting “margarita burns”—a nickname for phytophotodermatitis, a pores and skin situation whereby sure substances (like lime juice) uncovered to mild trigger a burn-like rash. That’s what Kavita Mariwalla, MD, a New York-based board-certified dermatologist, and Chesahna Kindred Weaver, MD, a Maryland-based board-certified dermatologist, each imagine is going on to those Dior clients. “Sure vegetation—particularly citrus fruits, celery, and carrots—could cause pigmentation adjustments when uncovered to daylight,” Dr. Weaver says. “It’s the identical factor that occurs when somebody spills lime juice on their pores and skin whereas vacationing within the solar and develops a rash in that space.” The signs of the pores and skin situation Dior clients are reporting align vastly with the signs of any such rash, they each say.

However right here’s the place issues get a little bit complicated: Dior’s system doesn’t include lime juice or some other comparable fruit or vegetable juices, as Dobos factors out. When you ask her, “That is extra probably about how sure substances are interacting with particular person sensitivities and solar publicity over time.”

What’s sure, although, is that continued use of the product even after gentle irritation has occurred is making the situation tougher to deal with. “In melanin-rich pores and skin, something that irritates—zits, bug bites, or on this case, a lip oil—could cause hyperpigmentation,” Dr. Weaver says. “When somebody continues to use the issue, the pigmentation deepens.” Dr. Mariwalla agrees: “The longer it persists, the more durable it’s to deal with.”

To stop lip irritation like this, Dr. Gohara recommends sporting a lip balm with SPF each day, particularly beneath shiny lip merchandise. In case you are experiencing hyperpigmentation you assume is likely to be brought on by extended use of Dior’s lip oil, she and Dr. Weaver each advise ceasing use and getting in contact with a health care provider. Dr. Mariwalla warns towards the temptation to deal with the issue with aggressive exfoliants. “That usually worsens the pigmentation,” she says.