A social media trend targeting children has preteens following regimented skin care routines, begging parents for retinol products and dreaming of trips to beauty supply stores. The craze has grown so much that these skin-obsessed youth are called the “Sephora Kids.”
While most dermatologists would welcome the attention to skin health, the trend has some experts raising concerns.
“What I've seen the most is patients that come specifically to ask me about a certain product,” said Carla Torres-Zegarra, MD, associate professor of dermatology and pediatric dermatology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. “And 90% of the time my answer is, ‘You don't need that because you don't have the problem this active addresses. This product targets skin changes that develop in adulthood.’”
What these youth should be doing instead, Torres-Zegarra said, is focusing on acne breakouts and sun protection. She offers more insights and advice in the following Q&A.