People Are Actually Starting to Praise ‘Caveman’ Skincare: Here’s What the Experts Say
Main image – @tiazhaker/TikTok
It’s been almost six months since 22-year-old TikToker Tia Zakher announced she was eschewing all skincare (yes, even water and SPF) to try what has been dubbed the ‘caveman’ method.
And it’s also been a short month since the content creator nearly broke the internet sharing her journey – complete with a ‘cornflake-like’ skin appearance, which some TikTok derms say could be down to ‘dermatosis neglecta’ (a condition more commonly found in the homeless and those who can’t regularly wash).
@tiazakher my worst nightmare happened in the end & people walked in
In the last week though, something unexpected has happened; Zekher’s daily TikToks seem to show that her skin is noticeably improving.
And while some commenters have, rather cruelly, suggested that she’s simply been faking the whole thing all along just for attention, others are adamant that her caveman routine is real, and what’s more; it’s working.
Videos of Zhaker sporting smoother skin have even prompted a new wave of praise for the trend, raising concerns that others may now try this routine that derms have almost universally condemned as unwise.
We take a look at the trend one month on, and speak to experts Dr Stephanie Taylor, board-certified dermatologist and senior consultant at Medpak Solutions and dermatologist at Kopelman Hair Restoration, Dr Hannah Kopelman, on the benefits, the risks and the alternatives.
What is the ‘caveman method’?
In short, it’s when skincare goes on strike. “The caveman method is basically a complete skincare shutdown,” explains Dr Kopelman.
“You stop washing your face, using moisturiser, applying sunscreen—some people won’t even let water touch their skin. The philosophy is that by leaving the skin entirely alone, you give it a chance to “reset” and restore its natural balance. But in practice, that can be pretty problematic.”
Dr Taylor adds, “People think it allows the skin to heal itself naturally. As a dermatologist, however, I know skin needs assistance.”
The backstory to the TikTok drama
In 2024, Zakher, a former acne sufferer and self-confessed over-exfoliator and skin picker, took to Reddit to first share that she was experiencing a damaged skin barrier due to incessant skin picking and over exfoliation.
To anyone who has healed a very damaged barrier; does it get worse before it gets better?
by inSkincare_Addiction
She also detailed her first attempt at trying the caveman method, which she later told her TikTok followers she abandoned due to finding it difficult to deal with the subsequent dead skin buildup.
On February 8th this year, Zakher shared that due to bad acne and scarring, she had tried things like retinol, subscision filler, microneedling and peels to help fix the problem.
It was around this point that the content creator, who lives in Canada, began to use nothing on her face at all – including water. On April 15th, she posted an unapologetic video explaining her decision. “After 8 years of picking and over exfoliating, I’m healing my skin barrier by doing the one thing I have never tried before…absolutely nothing.”
@tiazakher it’s SO tempting to not pick at it but so far so good ?
She then gave an update on April 24th saying she was 6 weeks into her new routine and explained, “I’ve stopped all skincare, I’m not using any water and I’m just letting my barrier rebuild itself naturally.”
@tiazakher Replying to @purppanther 6 weeks in & THANKFULLY haven’t picked ?
At the end of April, she posted again. “It looks bad temporarily, but it’s fixable,” she said. “My skin’s shedding cycle was disrupted for a long time from years of over picking and removing texture manually. My skin used to rely on picking to ‘exfoliate.’ When I stopped, my skin had to learn how to shed on its own. All the dead cells that should have shed naturally over time have built up temporarily. The thick, flaky look, is part of resetting my barrier.”
She then posted a video saying that she had listened to comments telling her to use water and that she was going to begin using water again on her face, although still no products.
She also later responded to claims she is ‘ragebaiting’ and faking her skin condition, writing, “God forbid a girl has skin texture while healing her barrier” with The Commodores’ ‘Easy Like Sunday Morning’ song in the background.
Understandably though, this caused a lot of backlash, with some of the dermatologists we respect the most like Derm Angelo and Dr Dray warning that not using any skincare can cause issues like the aforementioned ‘dermatitis neglecta’.
@dermangelo #stitch with @tia zakher Not a fan of the “Cave Man Method”. #dermreacts #skincare #dermatologist #reaction #reactionvideo #dermangelo
Many TikTok users later also posted negative comments accusing Tia of being irresponsible or even faking the issue posting comments like, “Hi I’m an esthetician. Please stop.” and “Y’all if she wants to be known as both yucky and a pathological liar LET HER, she won’t get far”.
Meanwhile, there were others who believed she should be allowed to do what she wants with her skin without being criticised. “Good luck in your journey through healing from the dermatillomania aftermath ??” one user wrote.
As of now though, the tables seem to have turned once again, and recent videos not only show Zhaker’s skin looking smoother, but commenters are even beginning to praise her actions.
@tiazakher i sound grumpy im just hungry
Although on May 19th Zheker mentioned a new brand deal with a skincare line- leading some to speculate that this was why her skin was improving- others now seem to believe that caveman skincare is the reason her skin is clearing up.
“It’s clearing up because she gave it time to regulate itself exactly like she said in the beginning,” one commenter wrote.
“Can’t believe this method worked…” said another.
“Girly I was skeptical about what exactly what you were doing to your face but my brother just had surgery 3 weeks ago on his nose and he is been healing and hasn’t washed his nose and he has the same crusty skin,” added one.
While another said, “I was on the fence but what you was saying was making sense. now i see it fully!! you go girl!!?”
And even some who previously doubted Zhaker’s actions seem to have changed their minds, “I never comment negatively when I’m not 100% sure of what’s going on, and especially with you I’m glad I didn’t because your skin is looking way better and I was very wrong doubting you!??”
But does this mean we should all now be trying this (frankly pretty unusual) trend?
Where did the caveman skincare trend come from?
“From what I’ve seen, this trend actually started years ago in online acne forums, but like many things, TikTok brought it back into the spotlight,” explains Dr Kopelman. “I imagine people liked the simplicity of it, just stop doing anything and hope your skin will get better,” adds Dr Taylor.
Dr Kopelman agrees. “It seems to attract people who feel overwhelmed by skincare routines or who think their products are doing more harm than good,” she says. “I get that impulse—I’ve had patients come in feeling defeated by complicated regimens—but going to the opposite extreme usually backfires.”
Is it harmful?
Bad news cavemen – both Dr Kopelman and Dr Taylor say that it actually is mostly harmful. “For most people, yes,” Dr Kopelman warns.
“I’d never recommend completely abandoning skincare, especially sunscreen. That’s a non-negotiable if you care about preventing sun damage, early aging, and skin cancer. And not cleansing your skin means you’re leaving behind sweat, pollution, oil, and dead skin cells—all of which can trigger breakouts or irritation. I’ve seen patients try this and end up with clogged pores or inflamed skin that takes weeks to calm down.”
And even though Zhaker may have had some results from her own experiment, Dr Taylor adds, “I have patients try it and have returned to me with worse rashes or acne,” she says.
“If you have pre-existing conditions such as rosacea or eczema, it could worsen. Your skin is something that needs to be cared for, particularly if your skin is already sensitive.”
Are there any benefits at all?
It seems that scaling back on your routine can indeed be beneficial to the skin, but to this extreme? Really? “At times, if there are too many harsh products being used, cutting back will quiet the skin slightly,” Dr Taylor says tentatively. “This is often because the products are irritating to begin with. However, you don’t have to go to the other extreme. A simple, gentle regimen is better and healthier for the skin.”
“I’ve had patients come in with red, irritated, peeling skin from using too many products, and in those cases, I often recommend scaling back to a very minimal routine,” adds Dr Kopelman. “But doing absolutely nothing? That’s rarely the answer. You still need to cleanse gently and protect your skin from the sun.”
What are the best alternatives to the caveman method?
Ok so cutting everything out clearly isn’t the answer for overwhelmed, over-worked skin. So how can we meet in the middle? “What I often suggest is what I call a “skin detox lite,” says Dr Kopelman.
“Instead of going cold turkey, try a back-to-basics routine: a super gentle cleanser, a plain, fragrance-free moisturiser, and a good mineral sunscreen during the day. That’s it. I’ve found this helps reset the skin barrier without abandoning common sense. Skincare doesn’t need to be 10 steps, but it also shouldn’t be zero.”
The takeaway
We contacted Tia Zakher for a comment and haven’t heard back but boy oh boy, she sure is brave. Not only for trying out the caveman method in the first place but also for documenting it so honestly on a public forum. Whatever you think of her or the look of her skin, you’ve got to applaud her for fronting out the constant comments on her appearance from a load of strangers.
The experts however do not recommend you try this at home. They say that not applying the necessary ingredients, not protecting your skin from the sun and not cleansing away dead skin and oil can do the skin more harm than good. And, sorry Tia, but we are inclined to agree.
If you want to detox your skin, by all means scale back your routine by reducing your steps and using gentle products that won’t strip your skin. You can still reset your skin barrier by doing this and you won’t have to experience that infamous textured, thick skin finish in the process.
Meet the experts
Dr. Stephanie Taylor, Board-certified Dermatologist and Senior Consultant
Dr Hannah Kopelman is dermatologist at Kopelman Hair Restoration
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