Get inspired by a weekly summary that you live well, made simple. Sign up for CNN’s life but better newsletter For information and tools designed to improve your well -being.
When Iva Penya received a phone at 10, her interest in skin care jumped.
At first, she contacted him with her mother Giselle Penya. Together, they would have spa days with face masks and take random shopping travel to try new products. But when the mother of Rod Island found a face cream for an aging of $ 300 in the drawer of Iva’s medicine, this gave her a pause.
“I was very upset … She’s 15 years old,” Pena said. “It says that it makes your skin outdated, improves fine lines, wrinkles and firmness. I was like,” It’s not for you, a girl. “
Peña is one of the growing number of parents concerned about how the content of social media platforms affects children and teens to try complex, often -arranged skin care products. Now a study published on Monday in Pediatrics magazine can confirm the concerns of these parents.
After analyzing the beauty combinations of 100 videos of Tiktok from the creators of a content aged 7 to 18 years, researchers have discovered an average of 11 potentially irritating active ingredients among their regimes, many of which are at risk of developing skin allergies and increased sensitivity to the sun. However, only a quarter of the long products lists contained sunscreens.
“Most of the (children) presented in these videos did not have visible acne. They had perfect, clear skin,” says Dr. Molly Hiles, the first study author and a Dermatologist certified at the Department of Dermatology at the Northwest University Medical School. “For many of them, damage is likely to exceed any potential benefits.”
Among the dozens of casual serums, humidifiers, toners and cleaners presented in the videos, the average routine was six steps long, costing about $ 168 – with some more than $ 500 – for a one -month product, according to the study.
“When you have children who wake up at 5:30 in the morning on the school day to have enough time to put on these complex regimes, I think it becomes less for health and more (for) the pursuit of an idea of beauty that is unrealistic and problematic,” said Hiles, who is also a friendly research contributor to Fineberg. The findings raise serious ethical questions about how content on social media affects young people in their daily lives, she added
Tiktok spokesman, noting that this type of content is “common in all media,” said the platform is only for users aged 13 and older and all creators who are suspected of being under 13 years of age. They also said that Tiktok works with third -country doctors and experts in the development of adolescents to apply protection policies.
Red flags in teenage skin care
The greater part of the studied skin care routine lacked the form of sunscreen, but contained products that could increase the sensitivity of the sun and the risk of skin cancer, the authors found.
Common active ingredients found in the recommended skin products are alpha hydroxy acids or AHA, light chemical scrubs that help to remove the best layers of skin cells, Hiles said. Although they have the predicted effect of evening skin tone and create a more young appearance, they are known to make the skin more vulnerable to the ultraviolet rays of the sun.
“I would recommend the daily use of sunscreen for all ages and schemes, but especially for those who use these (AHA),” Hiles said. “This is a necessary step to prevent permanent skin damage.”
These AHA, as well as vitamin -based ingredients such as niacinamide, are also considered to be potential irritants that carry side effects such as redness and dryness, especially with excessive use.
“In many cases, girls may not understand that they are applying the same active ingredient over and over again, which simply increases the risk of irritation,” says Dr. Lagu, a senior study and assistant speaker in medicine and medical sciences in Feynberg.
More than half of the products contain aroma – a common cause of allergic contact dermatitis – and 20 other inactive ingredients that are known allergens, according to the study.
“The misinformation is a big problem on social media, but especially for these creators of content, younger than 18 years,” says Dr. Sonal Shah, certified by the board of Dermatologist at Cleveland and director of pediatric dermatology at Rainbow Babies & Pediatric Hospital University Hospitals. Chess did not participate in the study.
“These are sources that may not have scientific origin and are not well read in science behind many of these products, how they work or what risks they carry,” said Shah, adding that there are Tiktok -certified dermatologists who could offer more credible advice.
Others about the trends that chess has observed in their practice but are not mentioned in the study, include mechanical scrubs such as cleaning sticks or cleaners containing plastic germs that are often too rough for the skin of the face.
The study also notes that many creators offer tips related to those with lighter complexions that can exclude the unique reasons for skin care of the darker complexion, while continuing the harmful ideals of the “slicer” skin associated with whiteness.
What skin care should teenagers use?
Both chess and Hiles recommend to children under 18 years of age who do not engage in acne, use a gentle cleaner without active ingredients, paired with a moisturizer without aroma and daily mineral sunscreen.
In general, children will not take advantage of anti -aging products that promise to enhance the elasticity of the skin or remove the fine lines, said Shah. In these young ages, the production of collagen is the highest that will ever be.
However, as children reach puberty, they can produce more hormones that cause acne. In these cases, Shah recommends adding a non -prescription product with salicylic acid or a low percentage of benzoyl peroxide.
“Their skin care should not be complicated and it shouldn’t be very expensive,” Shah said. Parents “can talk to a board -certified dermatologist or pediatric dermatologist if there are skin concerns that are significant or do not respond to over -the -counter treatment.”
The greater picture
After all, if the parents are concerned about the skin care regime of their child, they should talk about it, said in a statement, Jennifer Hariger, Professor of Psychology at Peparchi University, who studies childhood development.
“I think it is always best to have open conversations with children about the messages they see on social media, as well as your own intentions to buy specific skin care products,” says Hariger, who did not participate in the study.
It is also important to maintain an open mind, understanding the social dimension of youth beauty and wellness content, Hiles said.
“These videos show a kind of playful self -expression, which is very attractive to this age group,” Hiles said. “These are girls who are just beginning to develop their own sense of independent identity, how they present (themselves) in the world, their gender identity, and in many cases what it means to be a girl in our society.”
For more CNN news and newsletters, create an account at CNN.com