Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
beauty brand Rapidly moving to a new and controversial category: Skin care for children.
He came into limelight last week when pretty Little Liars star Shay Mitchell comes under fire after launching ReneeHer new children’s skin care line, which currently sells hydrating face and eye masks.
Although she said on Instagram that the brand aims to help care for children in a “fun, gentle and safe” way, many followers argued that she “absolutely missed the mark.” Critics accused the Canadian actor of imposing harmful beauty standards on young girls, noting that 4-year-olds do not need any type of special skin care.
Mitchell’s brand also comes in between “Sephora Kids” incidentIn which teens and early teens flock to beauty stores in search of the latest TikTok-approved products. The trend has led to 7-year-olds posting “get ready with me” videos and sharing entire skin care routines online — a development that dermatologists say is cause for concern.
“From a dermatological standpoint, young children don’t need skin care beyond the basics, like gentle cleansers, mild fragrance-free moisturizers, and excellent sun protection,” explains Dr. Shannon Humphrey, a board-certified dermatologist in Canada. Independent,
“From a developmental perspective, we want children to play rather than worry about hydrocolloid face masks. The concern is that starting a beauty routine too early may distract children from play and social development.”
Research shows that viral skin care routines may cause more harm than good. A study published in Pediatrics An analysis of 100 social media videos of girls ages 18 and younger sharing their skin-care regimens in June found that many girls were using products with an average of 11 potentially irritating active ingredients.
Dermatologists are closely monitoring the rise of these trending beauty products – most of which are not formulated for children – and warn that some items should be strictly banned.
Here are nine skin care product types that dermatologists say kids should avoid, and why.
serum with peptides
Dr Daniel Glass, consultant dermatologist and founder of The Dermatology Clinic London, says children should stay away from facial serums that contain peptides.
These ingredients are amino acids that are added to skin care products “to increase their effectiveness in forming new proteins such as elastin and collagen.” cleveland clinicThose proteins can then help ward off signs of aging, like dullness and wrinkles,
“While these ingredients may benefit more mature skin, they are not needed in children and are often too harsh for developing teenage skin, potentially causing problems such as irritation, dryness, and damage to the skin barrier,” Glass tells WebMD. Independent“Teens naturally produce collagen in abundance and do not need these powerful active substances,”
anti aging cream
Just because adults are sharing candid reviews of anti-aging creams on TikTok doesn’t mean kids should copy them.
Dr. Matthew Knight, a board-certified dermatologist in Florida, says ingredients like retinol designed for anti-aging concerns don’t apply to children.
“Anything labeled ‘wrinkle-fighting’ or ‘collagen-boosting’ is completely unnecessary in this population and will only irritate the skin without long-term benefits,” says Knights.
alcohol based toner
Humphrey emphasizes that products with active ingredients—those designed to treat specific skin concerns—are not suitable for young, sensitive skin. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it contains alcohol-based toners, which are meant to remove excess oil.
Instead of helping, she says, these toners can irritate kids’ skin and disrupt their natural skin barrier.
“Their skin barrier is thinner and more permeable, which allows ingredients to penetrate more easily and more deeply,” says Humphrey.
“This makes children’s skin more sensitive and more susceptible to irritation, inflammation or allergic reactions when exposed to products that are unnecessary or too strong for them.”
Exfoliators
Exfoliants are used to remove dead skin cells, resulting in smoother and brighter skin.
However, Humphrey says most exfoliators contain two ingredients that are “too powerful for skin growth and can disrupt the skin barrier”: alpha-hydroxy acids and beta-hydroxy acids. These are also two ingredients that have been credited with anti-aging effects that kids don’t have to worry about.
“Hydroquinone and many botanical brightening agents are unnecessary for children and carry a greater risk of reactivity,” she says.
antibacterial body wash
Since there are so many different soaps your kids can choose from, Dr. Glenn Kolansky, a board-certified dermatologist in New Jersey, is urging parents to read product labels.
They say children shouldn’t use any soap containing the antimicrobial chemical triclosan, as it can disrupt skin cell turnover, “a natural physiological process that sloughs off dead skin cells to reveal new, healthy skin cells underneath,” according to US Dermatology Partners.
Research has also found that triclosan can cause irritation to a child’s skin. A recent study published in environmental health perspective It was found that children exposed to higher levels of the chemical were more likely to develop eczema and hay fever.
Fragrances with phthalates
Kolanski urges children to avoid using any cosmetic products containing phthalates, an endocrine disruptor that can interfere with the body’s hormones. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, phthalates play a larger role in the beauty industry, as they act “as solvents and stabilizers in perfumes and other fragrance preparations.”
Kolanski explains that phthalates increase T3 and decrease T4 levels, two essential thyroid hormones.
“In addition to controlling core body functions like metabolism, these hormones play a role in maintaining moisture in the skin, the natural cycle of skin cell renewal, and collagen production. Phthalates mimic or block hormones in the body, causing excess signaling or interfering with essential signaling,” he says.
scented glitter products
Along with fragrances and body sprays, scented glow products like body butters meant to hydrate and moisturize the skin contain phthalates. According to Knight, these types of products are not only endocrine disruptors that can affect one’s hormones, but they are also “a big trigger for allergic contact dermatitis in children.”
essential oils
While essential oils like lavender are often used for their calming scent, they are also popular among adults for targeting problems like inflammation, acne or athlete’s foot.
However, Knight warns that these oils should not be used on children’s skin. “Lavender, tea tree, peppermint and citrus oils often cause allergic contact dermatitis and irritant dermatitis,” he explains, “the latter occurring when a substance directly damages the skin rather than causing an allergic reaction.”