Here's Why Dermatologists Are Debunking the Term "Sushi Face"

On TikTok, skincare misinformation is just as prevalent as dermatologist-backed education. With how rife buzz words and uninformed advice is on the platform, navigating skin concerns is becoming increasingly tricky. Recently, one creator coined the term "sushi face" to describe the facial bloating that occurs from sodium intake — and as a result, skin experts along with other beauty fans began to express major concern about misleading skincare ideologies that do more harm than good.

In a now deleted video, an influencer advises her viewers to stay away from sushi and similar foods with a high sodium content, citing their ability to cause what she calls "sushi face." In response, TikToker Eunnuri Lee made a video not only rejecting the term but classifying it as a microagression, claiming that "both dermatologists and dietitians have a name for [sodium bloat or water retention], that doesn't utilize racialized language." Furthermore, the creator claims that using Asian descriptors to describe beauty flaws wrongly places a negative connotation on Asian culture.

Although "sushi face" isn't exactly a scientific term, dermatologists say that the puffy appearance caused by salty foods is far from a new phenomenon. "When you consume a lot of sodium, your body pulls extra water into your tissues to balance out the salt in your bloodstream," Melanie Abeyta, aesthetic nurse practitioner and owner of Harmony Aesthetics Center says. "It's not an allergy and it's not inflammation from the fish — it's simply fluid retention triggered by excess sodium."

@eunnuri_lee only AMERICANS drown SUSHI GRADE FISH in soy sauce