A new study from Northwestern Medicine reveals that the skin-care routines shared by teens on TikTok could be doing more harm than good. The research, published in *Pediatrics*, is the first to explore the risks and benefits of skin-care advice from social media influencers. It found that girls aged 7 to 18 are using an average of six different products on their faces, with some applying as many as a dozen. Many of these products are marketed to younger consumers and carry a high risk of causing skin irritation or allergies.
On average, a teen’s daily skin-care regimen costs around \$168 per month, with some exceeding \$500. As summer approaches, the study highlights a concerning finding: only 26% of the skin-care routines included sunscreen, a critical product for protecting skin, especially in children.
The study also noted that the most-watched videos featured products containing an average of 11 potentially irritating ingredients, putting users at risk of skin reactions such as sun sensitivity and allergic contact dermatitis. This condition can limit the types of soaps, shampoos, and cosmetics users can apply for the rest of their lives.
Dr. Molly Hales, a postdoctoral research fellow and dermatologist at Northwestern, explained that the high risk of irritation comes from combining multiple active ingredients like hydroxy acids or unknowingly applying the same ingredient repeatedly through different products. One example from the study showed a content creator applying 10 different products in just six minutes. As she went along, she began to feel discomfort and, by the end, developed a visible skin reaction.
Beyond the potential physical harm, the videos often emphasize lighter, brighter skin, which could promote unhealthy beauty standards. Dr. Tara Lagu, a senior author on the study, noted that this messaging could contribute to consumerism and unrealistic beauty ideals.
The study’s authors argue that these TikTok videos offer little to no benefit for the teens they target. They also raise concerns about how the platform’s algorithm makes it nearly impossible for parents or doctors to monitor what content kids are watching. Dr. Hales pointed out that these beauty standards set an unattainable bar for young girls, intertwining health with ideals of beauty, thinness, and whiteness.
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