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A increasing phenomenon on social media is pushing teenagers to “enhance” their appearance.

Referred to as the looksmaxxing craze, the movement centers on pursuing the “ideal” face and body. It is related to comparable social media phenomena, called its two main subtypes, which advocate for everything from rigorous grooming routines to cosmetic procedures and extreme body modification.

While proponents claim these behaviors can be confidence-building, psychologists alert they can provoke body dysmorphia, anxiety, and other unhealthy patterns.

One therapist described this trend as a “social media-driven body image disorder trend.”

“Adolescents fall into this illusion of acceptance, and what they believe women want from them,” he said. “They can get caught up in possibly long-term struggles with feeling not being good enough and handling that inadequacy.”

He went on to explain that “Individuals will devote their time on improving their body based on emotions of low self-worth or inadequacy.”

“Individuals can get stuck in a cycle of trying to ‘optimize’ their appearance, but as therapists, we know that if you’re feeling inadequate or less than, those are the core problems to address with a trained professional.”

Exploring the Differences Among the Three Main Movements?

While the terminology varies, the trends all have one thing in commonality: the drive to obsessively change one’s looks.

“Looksmaxxing is essentially personal development put on steroids. It’s recasting the male body as something to be designed,” the counselor explained.

While softmaxxing involves more gradual changes to one’s appearance, frequently accomplished through grooming and lifestyle adjustments, the extreme version is more intense.

“It involves drastic methods to transform your looks, including rhinoplasty, Botox, hair transplants, and chin surgery. The clear issue with this is that once you unlock that Pandora’s Box, it’s hard to go back,” he pointed out.

Another licensed therapist summed up the key distinctions.

“There’s nothing wrong with a desire for self-care, and caring for your appearance can boost self-esteem and be gender affirming. But the major difference is that this trend is rooted in self-loathing and trying to fit in, at the cost of your health and security,” she stated.

“Hardmaxxing, meanwhile, appears to be dipping its toe into dangerous territory, particularly some of its linked behaviors, like intentionally injuring facial bones with a blunt object.”

Why This Trend Is Particularly Prevalent Among Young Men

Why does this movement appear to be connecting with young men in particular?

One therapist explained that young men, especially adolescents, are typically at a stage of their lives when they are still discovering who they are, and many may be seeking ways to portray what they perceive as “the ‘correct’ expression of manhood.”

He also suggests movements like this one may be connected to incel culture and the manosphere.

“It gained traction several years ago, with male gurus promoting certain ideals of masculinity. These types of ‘masculine’ influencers have guided some men astray,” he commented.

Another therapist offered a additional viewpoint about possible underlying causes.

“Mental health issues and loneliness are also prevalent currently, making young men especially vulnerable,” she added.

The Line Separating Positive Self-Care and Unhealthy Behaviors

Recognizing the boundary between taking pride in your appearance and an damaging fixation with how you look can be challenging for many individuals.

“Self-improvement practices turn harmful when fear is the primary driver; when your rituals are consuming so much headspace that you can’t be present in your life and connections,” one therapist said.

There are several risks associated with these types of detrimental behaviors.

“Eating disorders and self-harm behaviours are often associated with body dysmorphia, anxiety, and poor self-worth,” she continued.

“Males are at risk of feeling embarrassment around their physiques due to cultural pressures that they must be fit and fit. And for some men, it can feel like a challenge to their masculinity and self-esteem.”

The other expert noted that, for some individuals who try to make purely superficial modifications to their body, it can lead to damaging, compulsive psychological needs.

“It can spin out of control, and you may feel you must do something to improve your mood rather than being content in your own skin.”

In the end, he stated, positive self-improvement typically doesn’t look like the type of improvement content that’s trending on apps like TikTok and Instagram.

“It’s about taking care of yourself from the inside out,” he emphasized.

Strategies for Cultivating Body Positivity

Developing greater self-acceptance isn’t something that happens quickly, but there are positive actions you can take to start that process.

Firstly, having complicated feelings about your body is normal and natural.

One specialist suggested “exploring” that and finding an outlet for it.

“Creativity is a great way to express those emotions in a way that might even be fun. Try sketching, collaging, or making a journal to document your experiences,” she suggested.

Although social media use can worsen unhealthy habits and feelings, there are ways to reduce these risks.

“Subscribe to profiles that promote body positivity and healthy masculinity. Or follow people who don’t fit into the limited view of masculinity perpetuated by the mainstream,” she