‘Snog scabs’ are the unexpected consequence of a really good date

Sunlight till 10pm, three glasses of wine, and a hot and heavy snogging session in the middle of Soho. That’s what summer is all about.

But after a sizzling date, you wake up in the morning, only to take one look in the mirror and see a red, irritated rash developing on your chin.

It’s the by product of playing tonsil tennis with a man sporting a beard, stubble or even just a 5 o’clock shadow.

Often referred to as ‘beard rash’ or ‘beard burn’, these not-so-sexy souvenirs have recently been given a new name: ‘snog scabs’.

What is a snog scab?

For anyone who’s exclusively dated women or hairless men before, a snog scab is a type of skin irritation typically caused by facial hair rubbing against the skin.

Coined by TikToker by Claire Marie, she recently revealed her own ‘facial injury’ in a video.

She told Metro that this recent scab has definitely been her ‘most intense.’

She adds: ‘Usually it doesn’t crop up after just one evening of snogging, it typically takes multiple offences.’

Claire says that when you’ve been with someone for a while ‘the intensity of the snogging changes’, and therefore snog scab is less likely, but for now, she’s considering making a few changes.

‘Maybe I need to adjusting kissing styles to avoid further issues in the future,’ she ponders.

Emma Coleman, a dermatology registered general nurse (RGN), tells Metro that it’s officially known as ‘friction dermatitis’.

She explains: ‘Coarse stubble acts like sandpaper, creating tiny micro abrasions on the skin and there can be a particularly nasty reaction if the person affected has pre-existing eczema or sensitive skin.

‘In some cases it can flare into contact dermatitis or mild bacterial folliculitis if the follicles get irritated.’

While these burns tend to be localised to your face, it can occur anywhere on the body — including your neck, chest, or genitals.

The repeated rubbing strips away the skin’s protective layer and leads to inflammation.

Rovie Hernandez, 28, has had his fair share of snog scabs over the years. In fact, he shares he’s ‘currently recovering one from the weekend.’

A Londoner with a heavy appreciation for make out sessions, he tells Metro that it only happens when he kisses men with stubble as opposed to ‘full beards.’

‘Every time I’ve kissed a man with stubble I’ve had a rash pop up. It usually only lasts for a few days but it’s quite irritated,’ he shares.

There are thousands of videos on social media from girls sharing their own experiences with snog scabs — ranging from minor cases involving facial irritation to severe physical burns.

In July, one creator, @minalovesyousm, racked up well over five million views over the course of a dozen or so videos documenting her extreme beard burn.

For Mina, her snog scab was so disastrous it actually resulted in part of her chin skin being rubbed off.

How do you treat a snog scab?

If you have a thing for grizzly men, then you’re going to need to focus on curing a snog scab, rather than prevention.

Thankfully, there are some ways you can soothe your irritated chin.

Nurse Emma explains: ‘Treatment advice is to use a dermatologically-approved moisturiser, avoid harsh products and let the skin rest.’

And if you’re in some serious pain, you might need a trip to your GP.

‘Do get the rash checked if it’s blistering, painful or not settling down,’ Emma says.

‘A short course of mild steroid cream may be required in particularly bad cases.’

Other tips online include using a cold compress for 10 to 20 minutes every two to three hours, as well as utilising skincare products with ingredients such as chamomile and aloe vera.

Of course, treating the irritation is one thing, but much like the nostalgic hickey, explaining your snog scab to friends and coworkers is another story.

One romantic, Lucy*, a teacher at a secondary school in Cambridge, shared with Metro that she had been dreading going into work after developing a snog scab after a recent second date.

However, that same weekend, she crashed her bike, and while she thankfully managed to walk away relatively unscathed from the incident, the snog scab blended in perfectly with some other bruising, giving an airtight excuse for her passionate facial injury.

Every cloud, right?

Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk

MORE: People are thirsting over ‘King of the North’ Andy Burnham coming down south

MORE: This is how many times a week men should get morning erections, according to age

MORE: My wife is a stay-at-home mum — I can’t help resent her for spending my money