Anti-aging products social media trend impacting young girls

The Spark

A new social media trend has been circulating showing children as young as ten years old using antiaging and skincare products. Dr. Kate Berry, Dermatologist at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center says it’s concerning.

“I think it's a big issue. These social media trends really can create a lot of problems as children are buying these products that are really appropriate for adult skin and not children's skin and can create both short term and long-term issues. There's a lot of key differences between children's skin and adult skin, which is not always well advertised on these social media platforms. A lot of people are receiving information without really going into the effects or the science behind skin care. So, they're not really understanding what they're putting on their skin, “said Dr. Berry.

According to Dr. Berry, this trend may not be life threatening, but it could be counterproductive in the long run.

“Their skin is, as I said, different. They don't need to address concerns like decreased collagen. Their skins are already continuing to increase the collagen content. That's not going to max out until they're in their mid-20s or mid-30s. So, anything that's going to increase their collagen is redundant. So, if that product then causes irritation, that's really all they're getting from it. They're not getting any of the benefit that an adult would get. So, I think that's the biggest issue is that people are using products or kids are using products that really have no possible benefit for them and really just harm, “said Dr. Berry.

Lex Remillard, Licensed Clinical Social Worker for Altior Healthcare says this trend is more than skin deep.

“If I'm if a child is comparing their insides to someone else's idealized outsides, it's going to create a huge problem because we're not dealing with reality. At all, “said Remillard.

The social media #Sephorakids and Get ready with me trends is linked to social media influencers with online popularity. According to Remillard, it’s important to explain to kids, the trends are made from a sales standpoint from the beauty industry.

“it's interesting because a lot of the kids that are watching the videos, they don't understand commerce. They don't understand like how. The system works. And, I mean, the key and I would say this about any mental health topic is talk to your child. Just talk to your child and you have to sit down, “said Remillard.

However, Dr. Berry stresses the importance of visiting a dermatologist before trying those products seen online.

“So, dermatologists have a lot of training in about being able to evaluate your skin, see what it needs, and then address those needs. So, children, for example, have a much faster cell turnover rate than adults. So, their skin in general is naturally going to be more soft, smooth and radiant. And that cell turnover slows down as we age. So, gives us things like dullness and not even texture. And so, for them, as we get older, these brightening products can be really helpful because it's going to increase that cell renewal rate. But are unnecessary for children. So being able to assess where somebody's skin is and see any issues there and then be able to recommend appropriate products, “said Dr. Berry.

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