Discerning the upsurge of interest in skincare commodities in children, it is crucial for parents to understand that where the products can work wonders for adults, they can have a damaging effect on the skin of children
Dr. (Major) Gurveen Waraich Garekar, Garekars M.D. Dermatology Clinic shares if it is advisable for kids to use adult skincare products
The rise of social media trends in recent years has given impetus to the surging allure of adult skincare products among kids. Popularizing the trend of adopting a skincare regimen as part of their daily routine, kids nowadays are actively seeking expensive skincare products. Children as young as 7-8 years of age are experimenting with adult skincare routines, giving rise to a phenomenon called ‘Sephora Kids.’ The term is used for kids heavily influenced by TikTok and Instagram videos harbouring the urge to try adult skincare brands and products.
Discerning the upsurge of interest in skincare commodities in children, it is crucial for parents to understand that where the products can work wonders for adults, they can have a damaging effect on the skin of children. The skin of children structurally differs from that of adults, where they have thinner skin, lacking the full development of protective barriers. With the adult skincare products containing active anti-ageing ingredients such as retinoids, AHAs, and BHAs, peptides, etc., to name a few chemicals, they can give rise to issues of eczema, allergies, and dehydration in children. Stripping off the natural oil from the skin, the chemicals have a far-reaching effect where they can damage the protective barrier of the skin in children.
Responsible for skin irritation, the strong chemicals can cause rashes and breakouts in kids. As a result, before complying with the skincare demands of the children, parents should make them realize that their skin is working perfectly. All the mechanisms are in place that exfoliate the skin without the need for any fancy skincare products.
In case, kids are indulgent in taking care of their skin, they can follow a basic, hygienic skincare routine consisting of a cleanser, moisturiser, sunscreen, and lip balm. The routine is sufficient for healthy skin, and anything beyond this is unnecessary and can potentially harm the skin. Parents should also be cautious about exposing children to fragrant products. Using such products at a young age increases the risk of developing atopic eczema or result in dermatitis later in life, culminating in blistering, oozing, crusting, or flaking of the skin.
Moreover, the repercussions of the trend are not just limited to skin problems but go beyond to have a detrimental impact on the mental health of children. The influence of social media can make children overly concerned about their appearance and the ageing process. Creating a skewed perception of beauty, it can place an unnecessary burden on them to meet the beauty standards trending across social media platforms.
Therefore, to prevent kids from being carried away by the whims of beauty trends, parents and children should be educated about the risks associated with using adult skincare products on young skin. It is essential to make them cognizant of the age-appropriate skincare routines that prioritize health and safety of their skin.