>another stupid fad - people will do anything to distract themselves from reality
Totally
> no-one actually cares how you look - at least, no-one whose opinion should matter in the slightest to you
I think people do these things because it makes them feel better about themselves, first and foremost. Only as they get older do they realize how shallow it all was. Sadly, some never gain any wisdom, remaining infatuated with their own looks and continue chasing fads till the end without having learned anything about their existence.