Current:Home > StocksSephora kids are mobbing retinol, anti-aging products. Dermatologists say it's a problem-LoTradeCoin
Sephora kids are mobbing retinol, anti-aging products. Dermatologists say it's a problem
View Date:2024-12-23 20:12:30
Kids are swarming Sephora and have never been more obsessed with skincare − and it might be a problem.
Dermatologists say they're seeing more and more children as patients with several-step skincare routines, more-often filled with products they either don't need or that are harming their skin.
Dermatologist Dr. Brooke Jeffy recalls one patient, around age 11, who developed a severe rash around her eyes from retinol, an ingredient known for anti-aging, which she says the child insisted on using.
"This rash had been going on for so long and was so intense, it's probably going to take at least a month, if not more, to totally resolve," Jeffy says. "All for trying to use an anti-aging product that she doesn't need."
Now, Jeffy and other dermatologists are sounding the alarm against a beauty industry and culture that are pushing unnecessary products and fears of aging onto children too young to even drive.
"They don't understand the function of skin and that it's not just this wall you can throw anything at," Jeffy says. "It's kind of word of reason − word of their parents, sometimes, word of me or other physicians − against this huge industry of beauty and social media."
Why kids shouldn't use skincare products made for adults
Jeffy says she's seen children who use up to eight products every morning. On TikTok, where she makes videos about the dangers of adult skincare for kids, she's seen some routines as long as 12 steps.
The ingredients that are the main culprits for harming kids' skin, she says, are retinol, exfoliating acids and fragrance, which can cause irritation and the development of contact allergies.
"When the skin barrier is damaged by constant irritation like this, it gets dry," Jeffy says. "It's more prone to infection, more prone to getting rashes and more prone to breakouts." She adds irritation also makes the skin barrier less efficient at protecting the skin from environmental damage, like ultraviolet radiation or pollution.
Dermatologists will sometimes recommend retinoid products to teens and tweens to treat a specific condition, such as acne; however, these decisions, Jeffy says, are weighed by medical professionals against potential downsides.
For anti-aging purposes, retinol is unnecessary for those who haven't reached their twenties, which is when collagen begins to decrease, Dr. Danilo Del Campo, a dermatologist in Chicago, says.
"If you're below 20, there's never a need for replacing and trying to generate new collagen from an anti-aging point of view," he says. "The evidence just does not show that, at least now."
Young girls are flooding Sephora.So we talked to their moms.
Dr. Anthony Rossi, a dermatologist in New York, says the only skincare a child needs are a gentle cleanser, a light moisturizer and sun block. If a child has a condition that needs to be treated with additional products, they should consult a board-certified dermatologist first.
Rossi says he's heard from several parents whose children asked for anti-aging skincare for the holidays. Ironically, he says, kids don't seem interested in sunscreen, which is what would actually provide the most anti-aging benefit.
"We should really promote sun protection," Rossi says. "I would say, if you're going to invest money in skincare, that's the way to do it, especially at that young of a group. It'll save you years on anti-aging treatments later on."
TikTokers are using red light for skin;dermatologists say they’re on to something
Why are kids so obsessed with skincare?
Jeffy largely blames social media for kids' preoccupation with skincare and anti-aging products. She also says the pandemic, which put many work and school activities on Zoom, also likely played a role, since people are now frequently confronted with how their face looks on screen.
When Jeffy asks her young patients why they insist on using these products, she says many of them reply they like the way the products look on their shelf or vanity or by their sink.
"They're on social media and exposed to really constant marketing," Jeffy says. "Skincare and some of these brands, they've just become a status symbol."
What is a 'Hannibal Lecter facial'?Why people are sending electricity into their faces
Dermatologists and parents aren't the only ones who've witnessed the grip the beauty industry has on young children. Videos of girls flooding Sephora stores and spending hundreds of dollars on products have gone viral, with even nannies sharing horror stories of kids given unlimited budgets to go makeup shopping.
Del Campo says kids already have plenty of things to worry about. Skincare shouldn't be one of them.
"Being a kid is hard enough," he says. "They still have everything else to have to worry about: homework, school, friends, family, sleep. Skincare should be one of the foundations of healthy behavior, not something they should be stressing about."
Got retinol questions?We've got answers
veryGood! (57)
Related
- How many dog breeds are there? A guide to groups recognized in the US
- Why Milton’s ‘reverse surge’ sucked water away from flood-fearing Tampa
- In Pacific Northwest, 2 toss-up US House races could determine control of narrowly divided Congress
- ESPN signs former NFL MVP Cam Newton, to appear as regular on 'First Take'
- RHOBH's Erika Jayne Reveals Which Team She's on Amid Kyle Richards, Dorit Kemsley Feud
- 50 pounds of 'improvised' explosives found at 'bomb-making laboratory' inside Philadelphia home, DA says
- Deion Sanders rips late start time for game vs. Kansas State: 'How stupid is that?'
- Get Over to Athleta's Online Warehouse Sale for Chic Activewear up to 70% off, Finds Start at $12
- Too Hot to Handle’s Francesca Farago Gives Birth, Welcomes Twins With Jesse Sullivan
- Martha Stewart Says Prosecutors Should Be Put in a Cuisinart Over Felony Conviction
Ranking
- My Chemical Romance will perform 'The Black Parade' in full during 2025 tour: See dates
- Watch miracle rescue of pup wedged in car bumper that hit him
- Opinion: As legendary career winds down, Rafael Nadal no longer has to suffer for tennis
- Jelly Roll album 'Beautifully Broken' exposes regrets, struggle for redemption: Review
- Tesla issues 6th Cybertruck recall this year, with over 2,400 vehicles affected
- Harris viewed more positively by Hispanic women than by Hispanic men: AP-NORC poll
- Disney World and other Orlando parks to reopen Friday after Hurricane Milton shutdown
- Three-time NBA champion Danny Green retires after 15 seasons
Recommendation
-
The Daily Money: All about 'Doge.'
-
Why Full House's Scott Curtis Avoided Candace Cameron Bure After First Kiss
-
Pregnant Brittany Mahomes Shares Glimpse at Zoo Family Day With Patrick Mahomes and Their Kids
-
Gerrit Cole tosses playoff gem, shutting down Royals and sending Yankees back to ALCS with 3-1 win
-
Democrat Ruben Gallego wins Arizona US Senate race against Republican Kari Lake
-
See the Saturday Night Cast vs. the Real Original Stars of Saturday Night Live
-
Asylum-seeker to film star: Guinean’s unusual journey highlights France’s arguments over immigration
-
1 dead and several injured after a hydrogen sulfide release at a Houston plant