Is Looksmaxxing Bad for Teens and Young Men? What New Research Says

Is looksmaxxing bad for you? The honest answer is that it depends on what kind. Looksmaxxing means trying to get the most out of your looks. Some of it is plain self care, like sleep, skin care, a good haircut, and lifting weights. Some of it is risky, like hitting your face, black market drugs, or crash diets. Doctors wrote about this trend a lot in the fall of 2026. Here is what they found and how to tell the healthy parts from the harmful ones.

What supporters say

Many people online say looksmaxxing changed their lives. They say:

Working on their looks gave them a goal and a daily routine
They got more confident and were treated better after a glow up
The basic tips, like fixing skin, hair, posture, and fitness, really work
It is better to face the fact that looks matter than to ignore it

There is some truth here. Looks do affect first impressions, and simple habits like exercise, sleep, and grooming are good for your body and mood.

New research (September and October 2026)

A pediatrics journal warning (September 2026). Doctors at Northwell Health in New York wrote in the journal Pediatrics that looksmaxxing is an "emerging pediatric concern." They describe teens coming to checkups asking about injectable peptides and mewing, and using words like "canthal tilt" that their parents have never heard.
A study of TikTok videos (October 2026). A study shared in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry looked at 65 looksmaxxing videos. About 6 in 10 tied looks to social rank, using words like "mogging" or number scores. About 1 in 5 were selling a product or service.
A study of online reach (October 2026 issue). Researchers at the University of São Paulo tracked looksmaxxing posts for a year. Searches for "bonesmashing" rose about 5,000 percent from the year before. Tutorial posts got more engagement than other posts, and most posts about bone smashing were neutral or positive in tone. The authors say this is how dangerous habits start to seem normal.
A long news report (October 11, 2026). ABC News in Australia found paid looksmaxxing programs that sell "hormone protocols" and even bone smashing guides for a monthly fee. One researcher said many paid face rating apps start with a harsh score, which leaves room to sell you a plan to "fix" it.

What people who tried it say

Stories shared online show both sides.

One young man said he got hooked on rating his face every day. It made him feel worse, not better, and he ended up in therapy. Now he sticks to basic grooming, lifting, eating well, and dressing well, and says that healthy level is enough.
A woman in her late 20s said she had a good self image and a happy marriage before she found jaw analysis videos. After a short time she was checking her profile in mirrors and using rating apps. A surgeon told her she did not need jaw surgery, but the worry would not stop. A reply suggested a therapist who treats body image problems, and pointed out that cutting the checking and muting the content helps.
A 20 year old in the ABC report tracks his blood pressure, body fat, and blood sugar every day and takes many supplements. He says his confidence went up a lot. He also admitted he almost tried a livestock steroid and that it is "easy to hyper-fixate on one feature."

Lesser-known tips

Use the "can it be undone" test. A body image researcher quoted by ABC says a good line is whether a choice can be reversed. A new haircut or a gym plan can be undone. Steroids, bone injuries, and some surgeries can cause changes that last for life.
Watch for checking loops. Doctors at Weill Cornell say it may be turning into body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) when it becomes obsessive, causes shame or anxiety, gets in the way of daily life, or leads to self harm. People with BDD often spend 3 to 8 hours a day on these thoughts and habits.
Surgery does not fix BDD. The same Weill Cornell psychiatrist says cosmetic treatment almost never helps BDD and can make it worse. Therapy and some medicines do help.
Be careful with apps that sell the fix. If an app gives you a low score and then asks you to pay for a plan, it has a reason to keep you feeling flawed.
For parents. A Johns Hopkins teen doctor suggests talking about how feeds and influencers make money, and helping teens build on what they are good at, like sports, art, or school.

Positives

Healthy habits. Sleep, skin care, exercise, and good grooming are good for almost anyone.
Goals and routine. Some young men find structure and motivation.
Real small wins. A better haircut or clothes that fit can make a clear difference in photos.

Negatives

Mental health harm. Doctors report more eating disorders and body image problems in teens.
Dangerous practices. Bone smashing, steroids, unapproved peptides, and stimulant misuse can cause harm that lasts.
Narrow, harsh rules. Rating culture tells people their worth is a number.
Money. Coaching, apps, and products profit from keeping you insecure.

A healthier way to use it

Keep the habits that help your health and drop anything that hurts your body or your mood. If you want to know how your photos come across, ask real people rather than chasing a score. The Face They See lets people of the opposite gender rank your photos for free, so you can see which of your own photos people like best without a harsh rating of your face.

If thoughts about your looks take up hours of your day or make you feel hopeless, in the US you can call or text 988 any time.

Bottom line

Looksmaxxing is not all bad. The basic self care parts can help. But new research from 2026 shows that a lot of the content pushes risky practices, ties your worth to a ranking, and sells fixes. Keep the healthy habits, skip anything that cannot be undone, and get help if it starts to take over your life.

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