Be careful if you see this in a public restroom

It’s something almost everyone does without thinking twice: rushing into a public restroom when nature calls.

But according to a viral claim circulating on social media, there may be a detail on the toilet paper roll that some say you should never ignore.

Small marks

Public restrooms are rarely the most pleasant places to be, and I think that applies in most countries around the world. You shouldn’t have to worry about getting sick when using these places, but several warnings on TikTok have made people take a closer look at public restrooms before using them.

It started with a TikTok user named technicolor94, who warned viewers about small marks sometimes found on public toilet paper rolls, suggesting they could be connected to drug users cleaning used needles in public bathroom stalls.

“If the roll has indents or rust-coloured marks then it’s safer to avoid using the tissue altogether,” the post claimed.

The video quickly sparked alarm online, with some users reacting strongly, according to Daily Mail.

One person commented: “This happened to me literally almost had a panic attack.”

Another added: “Not me I flip the seat up and never use paper in a public restroom. Thank you for this tho. I’ll spread the word on this.”

The concern shared in the video suggests the marks could, in rare cases, be traces of blood from contaminated needles.

Health professionals have pointed out that infections from this type of exposure are extremely rare, but blood-borne viruses could theoretically be transmitted through contaminated materials. Research has also shown that diseases such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and HIV may, in some cases, be spread through contact with even very small amounts of infected blood.

However, experts emphasize that such risks — while often discussed online — are considered extremely unlikely in everyday settings. Dr Sermed Mezher, a general practitioner with more than 200,000 TikTok followers, said that while passing on a virus through toilet paper is “very rare,” it is still “possible.”