There has recently been a lot of media coverage about the increasing number of young children and teenagers using skincare products designed for adult skin. Social media is filled with videos of young girls (some as young as 8 or 9) showing off their latest skincare “hauls”, which often include serums packed with powerful active ingredients, chemical exfoliants, anti-ageing moisturisers, and more.
Experts have highlighted the dangers of applying adult skincare products to young skin, and parents are being urged to monitor their children’s and teenagers’ purchases and educate them about the risks. Not only can these products cause skin sensitivity, redness, dermatitis, and breakouts on young skin, but they can also lead to long-term damage that is difficult to correct.
But it’s not just the physical effects of anti-ageing skincare that parents should be concerned about. More and more young people are developing what experts are now referring to as “cosmeticorexia”, the unhealthy fixation or obsession with attaining flawless skin.
@9news Parents are being warned of the dangers of allowing their children to use expensive #skincare products, made popular on social media. #health #medical #youth #socialmedia #9News ♬ original sound – 9News Australia
Although it is not (yet) a medically recognised condition, leading Italian researchers who studied the phenomenon and published a paper on the topic (read more about it here) suggest that cosmeticorexia “may represent a clinically relevant medical disorder.” One of the paper’s co-authors, Associate Professor Giovanni Damiani, noticed an increase in irritant and allergic contact dermatitis among young patients in his practice.
Not only did he notice that these young patients were using age-inappropriate skincare products, such as retinoid serums and alpha-hydroxy acids, but he also noticed a worrying behavioural trend. These patients were obsessed with skincare and beauty-related social media videos, and many of them displayed insecurities, such as not wanting to leave home without makeup.
This new obsession has now been compared to that of body dysmorphia. A well-known mental health condition, body dismorphia sees patients obsess over bodily imperfections, often to a point where it has a damaging effect on their day-to-day lives.
@styleishpod #tweens #skincare #tweenskincare #teenager #retinol #acne #activeskincare #skinbarrier ♬ original sound – styleishpod
It is widely believed that the cosmeticorexia phenomenon is fuelled by social media influencer culture, marketing campaigns targeting minors, and peer pressure. When children spend a lot of time online, and are presented with flawless faces and unrealistic beauty standards all day, it starts to affect their perceptions. Young people are, unfortunately, learning to fear imperfect skin and ageing.
If you spend time on social media, you may also have come across an internet subculture known as “looksmaxxing”. This trend focuses on maximising one’s physical appearance. The trend is categorised into “softmaxxing”, which refers to accessible self-improvement routines like dressing well, maintaining a good skin and hair regimen, and exercising, and “hardmaxxing”, which involves extreme and oftentimes drastic measures such as surgery, medical modifications, and the misuse of substances to alter body composition.
The term “looksmaxxing” originated on forums and online platforms that form part of the “manosphere”, a network of online communities that uphold strict and often aggressive definitions of traditional masculinity. In these communities, it is often communicated that physical attractiveness dictates success in life, resulting in a hyper-fixation on appearance in young people (mostly young men).
Cosmeticorexia is essentially the skincare-specific manifestation of the broader looksmaxxing culture.
@drbtheheartdoc Why kids shouldn’t use adult skincare products! #skincare #skinhealth #eczema ♬ original sound – Dr. Arash Bereliani, MD
How does cosmeticorexia affect people of different ages and genders?
People of all ages and genders can be affected by cosmeticorexia. Among children and teenagers, this obsession with flawless skin often leads them to purchase and use age-inappropriate skincare products.
Be aware if they show distress over non-existent problems, such as fine lines, pore size, or freckles. They may also display signs of anxiety if their regimen cannot be followed or if they run out of a particular product.
Check what products they are buying and using. Spending large amounts of money on skincare or following an elaborate regimen may indicate an unhealthy relationship with skincare.
@nontoxicdad Tweens and teens love to focus on how they look, but their go-to skincare routines are likely TOXIC! Here’s why: 👉 Their skin is still developing, so it’s more permeable. This means their skin absorbs toxins like a sponge, causing skin hardening and more dangerous health problems… A UC Berkeley study found that adolescent girls using conventional personal care products had significantly higher levels of hormone-disrupting chemicals in their urine, like: 😳 Phthalates 😳 Parabens 😳 Triclosan 😳 Benzophenone-3 Since their bodies are still developing, these toxic chemicals can lead to potential issues like hindered thyroid function, poor adrenal gland function, possible infertility down the road, and, of course, other surface-level problems like skin rashes and other allergic reactions. Skincare routine trends on social media are huge right now, but they are often doing more harm than good. Parents, we need to be cautious and help guide our teens and tweens towards healthier skincare routine options, like: ✅ Tallow-based or coconut oil-based skincare products that are all-natural and free of petroleum-derived chemicals, fragrances, or toxic stabilizers. However many skin experts encourage tweens to use nothing at all; “even all natural” is not needed or even helpful. Don’t forget to share this with the moms and the parents you know! This small change can help protect our kids’ bodies before their health gets compromised. #SkinCare #SkinCareRoutine #SkinCareTips #ParentingTips #NonToxicLiving
What can parents do to protect their children?
Education is the most powerful tool anyone can have in their arsenal. Parents need to educate themselves and then their children on the dangers of age-inappropriate skincare. Explain the risks to them, but also highlight the importance of maintaining a healthy skincare regimen from a young age. Tweens and teens should cleanse their skin with a gentle cleanser and apply an age-appropriate moisturiser and sun protection daily. Their skin does not need anything else.
Monitor their skincare purchases. When possible, accompany them to the store and help them to select age-appropriate products. If you see them using a product you are unfamiliar with, check the ingredients to ensure it is suitable for them.
Talk to your children openly about social media. They must understand that the flawless, filtered faces they are presented with are not real and that the unrealistic beauty standards showcased on these platforms should not be pursued.
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