Woman Suffers Second-Degree Burns from TikTok Shapewear Purchase

A woman has sustained second-degree burns after wearing shapewear purchased from TikTok Shop, which she claims “melted” into her skin. Molly-May Watson, a 27-year-old executive assistant from Kennington, London, bought the shorts for £8.57 in May 2024. She wore them for the first time under a dress at her sister’s baby shower on July 27, 2024, where she began to feel an intense burning sensation on her upper right thigh.

Initially thinking a bee had entered her dress, Molly-May quickly rushed to the restroom. Upon inspection, she discovered that the elastane fabric of the shorts had adhered to her skin. In a desperate attempt to relieve the pain, she had to rip the shorts off, resulting in severe burns. The following day, she sought medical attention at St Thomas’ Hospital in London, where doctors warned her that she might be “scarred for life.”

Molly-May had only worn the shorts once prior to the event, briefly trying them on to check the fit. After enduring pain throughout the baby shower, she decided to visit the hospital when her condition worsened. “I thought ‘I’ll just leave it,’ but it was agonizing and had gotten worse,” she explained. “I had to go to A&E on the Monday and had to be treated in the urgent treatment centre for burns.”

Medical professionals confirmed that she had suffered both first and second-degree burns, though they were uncertain whether the cause was a heat burn or a chemical reaction. Since the incident, Molly-May has been bandaged and advised to monitor her burns closely.

In her efforts to seek compensation, Molly-May contacted TikTok Shop, providing photos of her injuries and the damaged shorts. She reported receiving a response that offered her a £10 coupon as compensation, which she found inadequate and insulting given her experience. “I don’t feel comfortable accepting a coupon from you,” she stated.

Molly-May expressed her frustration over the incident, noting that she cannot find the seller’s page online, raising concerns about its legitimacy. Many of her friends and colleagues have also shared their own experiences with similar products, indicating a growing awareness and apprehension about third-party sellers on social media platforms.

“It’s just made me overly aware now,” she remarked. “You think ‘that’s a nice little bargain,’ but it could leave you like me scarred for life. Any sort of budget or third-party sellers I won’t ever order from them again. I’m starting to scar already from some bits of the burn.”

As she recovers, Molly-May has been working from home and has been instructed to consult her doctor if her burns show any changes. TikTok confirmed that the listing and seller page associated with the product were removed from the platform in June 2023. A spokesperson for TikTok stated that they had already responded to Molly-May’s complaint and had provided compensation.

This incident raises questions about the safety of products sold through social media platforms and highlights the need for stricter regulations to protect consumers.