TikTok Skincare Trend for Kids Worries Dermatologists, Parents
Teenagers« skincare obsession proves both expensive and harmful to their skin.
On TikTok, a dangerous beauty trend is gaining popularity that can seriously harm the skin. Children and teenagers are mass-using expensive skincare products that are categorically unsuitable for them. Young bloggers film their beauty routines in videos — the clips spread across the internet, garnering millions of views. Doctors sound the alarm, and parents are horrified when they see the receipts. NGS turned to a dermatologist to explain the risks of such a hobby and give recommendations for caring for young skin.
Viral videos on the platform spark widespread concern among parents and experts.
There Is a Problem
The beauty trend gains traction and goes viral among young users.
Doctors express serious concern about the trend on TikTok that can harm children«s skin. Young bloggers aged 7 to 17 show how they apply adult cosmetics containing acids, niacinamide, and fragrances to their skin. These products are categorically unsuitable for their immature skin. These components, especially in complex »cocktails,« can disrupt the skin barrier, causing irritation, provoking acne, and increasing skin sensitivity to the sun.
Nevertheless, young TikTokers popularize the practice by filming their multi-step morning procedures, and after cleansing, they layer on decorative makeup. Meanwhile, their skin looks flawless, which misleads the audience. The videos gain a huge number of views and raise important ethical questions: how much does content on social networks influence children and teenagers, shaping distorted ideas about the need for skincare and prompting unjustified spending.
What the Doctor Says
Doctor — dermatologist-cosmetologist Irina Barchukova explains that adolescence is a time of significant changes, and often the skin is the first to react to the body«s hormonal restructuring. There is no specific age to start skincare, as puberty proceeds differently for everyone.
“Everything depends on the type and condition of the skin and the individual case. The main factor is the establishment of hormonal levels. The main signal is changes in the skin: increased oiliness, the appearance of the first breakouts, or a change in its type. If the skin is normal, there is no need to overload it with any cosmetic products to avoid worsening it,” says Irina Barchukova.
The basis of safe care is a minimalist routine: gentle cleansing with a foam without alcohol, soothing toning to restore pH, and light hydration with a non-comedogenic cream. Even oily skin needs to maintain moisture balance.
Particular caution should be exercised with aggressive products. Alcohol-based lotions and toners roughly destroy the protective barrier, leading to chronic dryness and irritation.
“Often, teenagers start using alcohol-based lotions. This overdries the skin, and it becomes sensitive and irritated,” the doctor warns.
Active acids and scrubs without a doctor«s prescription cause micro-injuries and inflammation. Also, it is not worth overloading the skin with multi-step rituals with many serums and patches — this often provokes new breakouts.
Which Cosmetics to Choose
The optimal choice will be pharmacy dermatological cosmetics. You need to choose those whose lines are clearly divided by skin type and problem areas, and a dermatologist can help select the care.
“Non-comedogenic formulas do not clog pores, and the balanced composition is rich in restorative components: panthenol, vitamins A and E, thermal water. The lines include everything necessary: from cleansing foams to protective creams,” explains the expert. This approach allows you to assemble the entire necessary routine from compatible products of one brand, minimizing risks.
Additional Tips for Healthy Skin
It is important to follow simple rules: wash with warm water, regularly change pillowcases and wipe gadgets, adapt care to the season. But the main rule remains unchanged: for persistent problems, the first step should be a consultation with a dermatologist.
“Treatment and corresponding care are prescribed only after consulting a doctor. Independent experiments often lead to a deterioration in skin condition,” emphasizes the specialist. Healthy care for teenage skin, in her opinion, is conscious minimalism, gentle cleansing, and adequate hydration.
Parents« Stories
The daughter of NGS reader Anna shared how her 13-year-old daughter, following beauty trends from TikTok, independently assembled an entire arsenal of products: serums, toners, patches, and creams.
“When I saw this collection and found out that its total cost is about 7,000 rubles (approximately $70 at current rates), I was shocked,” shares Anna. “But what worried me most was the composition: somewhere alcohol in the first lines, somewhere incomprehensible acid complexes. I photographed all these bottles and went with the child to a cosmetologist.”
The specialist, after analyzing the composition, explained that half of the products are not suitable for teenage skin, and their simultaneous use creates a load comparable to an aggressive chemical peel. Instead of a set of seven products, three basic products from a pharmacy line were recommended.
Natalya shared how her daughter at 15 struggled with breakouts and stubbornly relied on favorite beauty bloggers when choosing skincare products.
“Her grandmother gave her money, and she bought a series of products to fight breakouts. Plus, there was a set of three different scrubs and cleansing masks based on clay. After a month, the skin condition noticeably worsened: inflammation increased, painful micro-cracks appeared,” the woman says.
Natalya made an appointment for her daughter with a dermatologist. The doctor saw that the teenager«s skin was severely dehydrated, with micro-damages due to frequent peeling.
“They explained to her that mechanical friction spread the infection. We gave away all the purchased «artillery.» The specialist selected for Alina micellar water, a zinc gel for spot treatment, and a light moisturizing fluid — all products were from one hypoallergenic pharmacy line and cost three times cheaper than the previous set,” concluded Natalya.
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