🔥 Talk about a hot topic! 🔥

READER RESPONSES HERE: Should beauty filters be banned? I must say, {NAME} — this community NEVER fails to deliver! The other day, I came to you with a controversial question: Should beauty filters be banned on social media? And as soon as I pressed “send,” the responses started to roll in from BOTH sides of the spectrum… So it only seemed right to share a few with you today! (After all, I find this to be an incredibly important topic — as both a father AND a cosmetic surgeon.) Now in case you missed my original message, this entire issue centers around mental health. See, beauty filters on social media are becoming more and more advanced, and therefore MUCH HARDER to distinguish from real life. The problem? Many people are concerned these AI filters can have a negative impact on self esteem — especially in young women — as users compare themselves to unrealistic (and digitally enhanced) beauty standards. I have to say, it seems many of your fellow subscribers agree with this perspective. Take Yvette, who took a hard stance against beauty filters.  “I strongly believe filters should be stopped. They create self-image problems for so many who believe they are less than the fake pictures presented.” Then there’s Jan, who brings up another valid concern. She says beauty filters don’t just have the potential to impact mental health… They’re designed to give everyone the same features (like bigger lips, a slimmer jawline, and brighter eyes) — creating a generalized definition of what’s considered “beautiful.”  “I’m all for taking the best care of ourselves and optimizing solutions for looking our best. But I can’t imagine homogenizing ourselves to conform to someone else’s idea of perfection. I guess I like my own unique style. So my answer is that beauty filters should be banned.” Such a great point, Jan… But this begs the question: what can realistically be done to limit the negative impacts of beauty filters? Well, I thought Thea had an interesting idea…  “I wish every enhanced image had to include a disclaimer — whether the photoshopped cover of a magazine or the use of beauty filters online. If we could just be fully informed about the images we’re seeing, it might help decrease the negative impact of the enhancements, and help us be more realistic and compassionate with ourselves and each other.” So true, Thea! At the end of the day, knowing altered images are fake means less pressure to emulate them. But of course, not everyone agrees banning filters is the answer. Some mentioned beauty filters can be great in a pinch — like when you want to look your best but don’t have time to put on makeup. Then there’s Ness, who shared another school of thought:  “I honestly don't think BANNING will help at all. When in human history did banning something actually work? I understand the danger of beauty filters… but I believe the only way to deal with this issue is to teach people not to believe everything they see… and to stop putting so much energy into chasing unrealistic beauty ideals.” I certainly see where Ness is coming from. After all, the heart of the issue isn’t that this filtering technology exists… It’s how we, as a society, let it affect us. If we teach kindness, acceptance, and empathy — perhaps these filters wouldn’t impact mental health nearly as much… And that’s exactly where Patrice went with her message:  “Perhaps another approach is to reinforce inner beauty… kids and young adults think that their only value is to be perceived as beautiful in the eyes of others. By reinforcing, rewarding, and praising each child's individual brilliance and talents more than their physical features, maybe their self-esteem would be enhanced.” Preach, Patrice! No matter where you stand on the issue, I think we can all agree: This world could use more positivity… And that goes for the way we treat ourselves, too. With that, I’ll sum it up with some wise words from Jacqueline:  “I think it all boils down to loving and respecting yourself — and being your best YOU!” {NAME}, I hope today’s email serves as a reminder to give yourself grace… Because the fact is, the images we see online aren’t always reality. As always, thanks for being a part of the BHMD community. Your responses never fail to provide great perspective, and reading them really brings a smile to my face. :) Your Beverly Hills MD, Dr. John Layke   �     This email was sent to {EMAIL} by jlayke@beverlyhills-md.com [Edit Profile]( | [Manage Subscriptions]( | [VIP Discounts]( | [Join Text Club]( | [Subscribe](  8391 Beverly Blvd., #471, Los Angeles, CA 90048   [Report Spam](  These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Â