Social Media Is Fueling a Tween Skin Care Craze. Some Dermatologists Are Wary
Carol Cheng, a pediatric dermatologist on the University of California, Los Angeles, says she’s additionally seeing extra youngsters and adolescents are available in with rashes attributable to layering on too many merchandise in pursuit of a flawless, poreless look promoted on Instagram and TikTok as “glass skin.”
“Unfortunately, that can backfire, causing redness, peeling, flaking, burning,” Cheng says. “And so we see patients coming in for these concerns more than we did a couple years ago, at younger ages.”
In some circumstances, she says sufferers as younger as 8 or 9 are coming in with dangerous reactions to those magnificence merchandise.
One downside is that children — together with their mother and father — might not understand that a few of these viral magnificence merchandise embrace lively components, resembling chemical exfoliants generally known as AHAs and BHAs, which assist take away useless pores and skin cells and oil. While these components could be applicable for teenagers with oily pores and skin, Cheng says they’re too harsh for the thinner pores and skin of preteens who’ve but to undergo puberty.
“Their skin barrier can be compromised more easily,” Cheng says. “Their skin is more sensitive, you know — the skin’s not as robust. And so, any of these products can affect their skin more easily or cause irritation.”
Jayden Galamgam, a pediatric dermatology fellow at UCLA, says he has additionally seen youngsters are available in with allergic contact dermatitis attributable to repeated publicity to lively components. “If your skin repeatedly comes into contact with an ingredient, it can become sensitized to it and you can develop allergic rashes from it,” he explains.
So what ought to a pores and skin care routine seem like for a tween or younger teen? Houshmand says to maintain it easy.
“Basic skin care for that demographic should just be just a very mild, gentle cleanser. Maybe some moisturizer and a sunscreen — nothing more,” Houshmand says.
She says for teenagers battling zits, over-the-counter merchandise with components like benzoyl peroxide are high quality, although it’s a good thought to examine in with their pediatrician or a dermatologist.
Cheng notes that although most of the viral magnificence merchandise promoted to teenagers on social media include hefty worth tags, good pores and skin care doesn’t should value a lot.
“Drugstore products are completely fine and have the same sort of benefits as the fancy ones you can find at Sephora or some of the department stores,” Cheng says.
Parents needs to be alert to the lively components within the merchandise their kids are utilizing, Cheng advises, to allow them to steer their youngsters away from potential irritants.
Houshmand says there are upsides to this social media-fueled curiosity in pores and skin care. For one factor, youngsters are studying concerning the significance of utilizing sunscreen at an earlier age. And it’s additionally a possibility to teach teenagers and tweens that good pores and skin begins with healthy habits.
“I always tell patients, I can’t give you beautiful skin unless you are healthy and you take care of yourself, because the skin really reflects what’s going on internally,” Houshmand says.
She says exercise, a balanced weight loss plan and a good night time’s sleep can all play a function not simply in good health however in good pores and skin too.
