A woman has been backed online after refusing to help her sister-in-law when she developed "chemical burns" from her skincare products.
Reddit user u/Educational-Rest4256 shared a post online on December 15 explaining that her sister-in-law, aged 16, often turns up unannounced and "has trouble taking no for an answer." During one of her recent visits, the teen showered and helped herself to the OP's toiletries, including her prescription skincare.
At first, the post details how angry the 26-year-old was to find that nearly all of her expensive hair products were gone, and her skincare was left scattered around the bathroom. She asked her sister-in-law to bring her own products the next time she visited as she wasn't happy about how much she'd used after one shower.
"She'd used almost $50 worth of hair products, and all of my skin stuff, including my prescription skincare stored in a pharmacy bag," u/Educational-Rest4256 wrote.
That didn't go down well with the 16-year-old, who called the Reddit user "selfish in a passive aggressive way."
Things became even worse a few days later, when the sister-in-law's skin turned red, started peeling and breaking out severely. This led to apparent "chemical burns on her face."
The post continues: "At dinner with my in-laws Tuesday, she blamed me for not warning her about my skincare. I explained I hadn't expected her to dig through my drawers and use prescription products, which are expensive and took my skin weeks to adjust to.
"My father-in-law said I should pay for a doctor's visit, but my husband refused, arguing that at 16, she should know better and that it was inappropriate for her to look through my medicine bag to even find the prescription product that was likely the culprit for the irritation," she wrote.
She said the teenager made her look "really bad" in front of everyone, so she shared the experience online to ask internet users if she was at fault for not warning her about what could happen if she applied the products.
According to board-certified dermatologist, Dr. Angela Brimhall of Sage Dermatology, the harsh chemicals used for mature skin can lead to adverse reactions when applied to younger skin.
She explained to Newsweek that young skin is still developing and "can be particularly sensitive" to certain products if applied incorrectly or in generous amounts.
"I am increasingly concerned about the trend among young people to gravitate toward aggressive skincare products, including anti-aging creams and serums that contain strong ingredients that can damage their sensitive skin," Brimhall said.
"While these potent ingredients are effective for treating specific skin conditions, they can cause significant side effects, including dryness, irritation, and even chemical burns."
Indeed, the desire for flawless skin can often lead young people to try anti-aging products, but Brimhall says they could "ultimately harm rather than help." Aggressive chemicals can damage the skin barrier and increase the risk of sensitization, leading to allergic reactions or contact dermatitis.
Rather than making misinformed choices, she encourages teens to focus on nourishing their skin instead.
"I encourage teenagers to focus on maintaining a healthy skincare routine that prioritizes gentle cleansing, hydration, and sun protection. Simple products can help keep their skin balanced, without the risks associated with potent treatments," Brimhall told Newsweek.
What Do Reddit Users Think?
In the days since the Reddit post was shared, it has amassed over 29,000 upvotes and 2,900 comments online.
Many people have backed the poster and insisted that she's not at fault because the sister-in-law should know better.
Among the thousands of responses, one comment reads: "This is a valuable lesson for her to respect other people's property. You're not responsible for her actions or the consequences of misusing your products."
Another person wrote: "She is old enough to read a label and see cream is prescription. Definitely need to set boundaries here with her."
While another Reddit user added: "It's dangerous to use someone's prescription medication. Why was she messing around with your medicine period?"
Newsweek has contacted user u/Educational-Rest4256 via Reddit for comment. We could not verify the details of the case.
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