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When Ayva Peña received the phone at the age of 10, its interest in skin care increased dramatically.
Initially, she tied it with her mother Giselle Peña. Together, they will have a spa for days with face masks and occasionally will take place shopping trips to test new products. But when Rhode island’s mother Ayva found a $ 300 face cream in a drawer, she gave her a pause.
“I was very upset. … She’s 15,” said Peña. “It says that your skin has not been frustrated, improves small lines, wrinkles and firmness. I was, ‘It’s not for you, girl.’
Peña is one of the more and more parents who care about how the social media platforms have an impact on children and adolescents to try complex, often inappropriate skin care products. A study published on Monday in Pediatrics on Monday can confirm the concerns of those parents.
After analyzing the beauty procedure from 100 Tikal videos performed by the creators of 7-18 -year -old content, researchers have identified an average of 11 potentially irritating active ingredients between their regimes, many of which risk developing skin allergies and increased solar sensitivity. However, only a quarter of the lists of long products were the sunscreen.
“Most (children) shown in these videos had no visible acne. They had perfect, clear skin,” said the first study author and Board certified dermatologist dr. Molly Hales, in the Dermatology Unit of the Feinberg Medical School of Northwest University. “For many of them, the damage probably exceeds any potential benefit.”
Among the dozens of daily serums, moisturizers, toner and cleaners displayed in videos, the average routine was six steps in length and cost around $ 168 – with just over $ 500 – for a single monthly product, according to the study.
“When you have kids waking up at 5:30 in the morning, school day to have enough time to run these sophisticated schemes, I think it becomes less health and more (about) seeking an idea of unreal and problematic beauty,” said Hales, who is also a post -study researcher in Feinberg. Conclusions raise serious ethical questions about how social media influences 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 13 years and older users, and any developers suspected of being under 13 are suspected. In addition, they stated that “Tiktok” works with third -party doctors and adolescent development experts to implement protection policy.
Red Flag Adolescent Skin Care
The authors found that most of the researched skin care routines were lacking in the form of sunscreen, but they contained products that could increase the risk of sun and skin cancer.
The usual active ingredients found in the recommended skin products were alpha hydroxy acids or AHA, a mild chemical dandruff that helps to remove the upper layers of skin cells, Hales said. Although they have the intended effect of the tone of the evening skin and create a more youthful appearance, they are known to make the skin more vulnerable to the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
“I would recommend using the daily sun protection for the use of any age and regimes, but especially for those who use these (AHAS),” Hales said. “This is a necessary step to prevent permanent skin damage.”
Those AHA, as well as vitamin -based ingredients, such as niacinamide, are also considered as possible stimuli with side effects such as redness and dryness, especially in excess.
“In most cases, the girls may not have realized that they were applying the same active ingredient over and over again, which only increases the risk of irritation,” said dr. Tara Lagu, senior study author and additional medical and medical social sciences lecturer in Feinberg.
According to the study, more than half of the products were an aroma – a common cause of allergic contact dermatitis – and 20 other inactive ingredients that are known to allergens.
“Disinformation is a big problem in social media, but especially for these content developers under the age of 18,” said Dr. Sonal Shah, Cleveland Board Certified Dermatologist and Dermatology Director of Rainbow Babies & Children’s University Hospital. Shah did not participate in the study.
“These are sources that may not have a scientific education and are not well read in many of these products, how they work, or at what risk they are,” Shah said, adding that the council is certified by dermatologists who could offer more reliable tips.
Others related to trends have seen Shah in their practice, but were not mentioned in the study, include mechanical flaking products such as scrubbing sticks or cleaners containing plastic germs that are often too rough for the complexion.
The study also notes that many developers offer tips on those who have lighter face faces, which may not include unique skin care aspects associated with darker colors while commemorating harmful “brighter” skin ideals associated with whiteness.
What skin care should teenagers use?
Both Shah and Hales recommend children under 18 years of age who do not encounter acne, use a mild cleaner without active ingredients paired with moisturizing cream without odor and daily mineral protection.
In general, children will not benefit from anti-aging products that promise to increase skin elasticity or remove fine lines, Shah said. In this young age, the production of collagen is the highest as it will ever be.
However, when children reach puberty, they can cause more acne -causing hormones. In such cases, Shah recommends adding an over -the -counter product with salicylic acid or a low percentage of benzoyl peroxide.
“Their skin care does not necessarily have to be difficult and must not be very expensive,” Shah said. Parents can “talk to a Board certified dermatologist or pediatric dermatologist if skin concerns are relevant or do not respond to treatment with over -the -counter treatment.”
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After all, if parents are concerned about their child’s skincare regimen, they should talk about it, said Jennifer Harriger, a professor of psychology at the University of Pepperin, who is studying childhood development.
“I think it’s always best to talk to children openly about the knowledge they see in social media, as well as their intentions to buy certain skin care products,” said Harriger, who did not participate in the study.
It is also important to maintain an open mind and understand the social aspect of the beauty and wellness of young people, Hales said.
“These videos show a kind of playful self-expression that is very attractive to this age group,” Hales said. “These are girls who are just beginning to develop their sense of independent identity, as they (themselves) are in the world, their sexual identity, and in many cases what it means to be a girl in our society.”
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