A dangerous trend is going viral on TikTok, promoting the use of cyanide through fruit and seeds to clear acne. Now, doctors are racing to warn naïve teens as they fear the fake trend may cause actual deaths.
Secret Cyanide Dosing
One TikTok video features a young woman claiming that she has been “secretly” feeding her boyfriend seeds containing the poisonous chemical, which she says has cleared up his acne.
A Clear Complexion But No Clear Conscience
Meanwhile, other clips see women claiming that their clear complexion might be due to eating at least five apricot kernels as a child.
Fake News
None of these claims have any scientific weight. However, these videos doing the rounds could have serious and deadly effects.
The Science Stuff
Amygdalin, which is naturally found in apricot pips, cherry seeds, and raw nuts, converts into cyanide once consumed. In concentrated amounts, it attacks the heart, respiratory system, and central nervous system, and can kill a human in minutes.
The Scary Effects
Dr. Neel Patel, of LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor, has warned against the trend, saying, “This trend could be highly dangerous. Long-term symptoms of cyanide poisoning include coma, high or low blood pressure, loss of consciousness, lung injury, seizures, and even death.”
The Deadly Apricot
He also added, “You should be careful with apricot kernels. These are the seeds inside the apricot stone. Usually, you would need a pair of pliers to crack open the stone and extract them. Eating more than three kernels in one sitting can exceed the recommended safe level.”
A Fake and Deadly Video
Despite the warnings, some TikTok users are still promoting the use of apricot kernels for skincare. One user, Graceattakk, who posted a video with over 473,000 views and 80,000 likes, explained that her clear skin could be due to eating apricot kernels as a child.
A Superfood of Death
A TikTok video by superfoodsguy, which has gained over 250,000 views, encourages people to eat the seed inside the apricot pip instead of throwing it away. The video claims that the seed is “packed with health benefits” and is “super tasty.”
Tribal Claims
A TikTok video posted by thectgirl claims that apricot seeds can reduce wrinkles and prevent cancer. The video, which has gained over 13,000 views, suggests that a tribe in Pakistan eats the seeds and uses the oil from the apricot seeds, which helps them “never get cancer” and “women never wrinkle.”
Don’t Believe Everything You Read
However, doctors are urging people not to believe everything they see on social media and to seek advice from a medical professional before trying any home remedies. As Dr. Patel said, “This trend could be highly dangerous.”
The Internet Responded
One person added, “Apple pips contain cyanide, too, which is why you should not let your dog eat apple cores.”
Another wrote, “And how many kernels would you have to eat to be ill? Remembering they are like stone.”
More Harsh Internet Comments
This person said, “Isn’t mercury supposed to leave a most pleasing complexion? Good one for the Thick Tockers.”
And finally, “How seriously stupid are people! This is what happens when you don’t listen to your parents and your grandparents! Mine told me when I was a kid about poisonous things in the garden and the wild and how to do first aid etc!!! All these life skills are lost on generations of idiots!”