Using photo-editing techniques is changing people's perceptions of beauty worldwide, which may affect a person's self-esteem and trigger body disorders, a study has found.
With the spread of applications like Snapchat and Facetune, the level of physical "perfection" previously seen only on celebrity or beauty magazines is now all over social media, said researchers from Boston Medical Center in the United States.
Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is an excessive preoccupation with a perceived flaw in appearance, often characterised by people going to great – and at times unhealthy – lengths to hide their imperfections, according to the study published in JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery.
This can include engaging in repetitive behaviours like skin picking, and visiting dermatologists or plastic surgeons hoping to change their appearance.
The disorder affects around two percent of the population, and is classified on the obsessive-compulsive spectrum.