Parents in the East Midlands should 'do their research' before buying skincare for their children
Experts say it could do 'more harm than good'
Parents in the East Midlands are being warned about buying skincare products for their children this Christmas, as it could be doing 'more harm than good'.
A Loughborough dermatologist is putting it down to social media trends.
How many young people have a 'skincare routine'?
A survey by 'Girl Talk' magazine from February 2025 said 26% of under 8s use skincare. Whilst 49% of youngsters have a skincare routine.
10% of eight-year-olds are using an eye cream.
Furthermore, 55% of respondents said they were being bought the skincare products by a parent or guardian.
'Simple and gentle'
Piya Seghal's a skin specialist at Loughborough's Dermiology Aesthetics Clinic and told us how skincare can damage young skin:
"At this point in time, children need to keep their skincare simple and gentle. These expensive products can do more harm than good for young people.
"One child came to see me at about eight-years-old, with a few acne spots. We could not treat her, because her skin was too young. It is changing every single day, and so is her hormones," she said.
Advice to parents...
Piya is advising parents to do their research before gifting their children skincare this Christmas:
"Look if there are any clinical trials being done on that product. Have a look if there is enough date to prove the efficacy of the product.
"Parents need to consider whether the product is even delivering what it is promising," she said.
'They are using filters'
Piya said that social media was having an impact: "On social media, influencers might be promoting a number of products that they say should be used each day. When in reality, children should be keeping it gentle and simple.
"Also, when these kids are buying the products online. There is no information about how to use the products and protect their skin. Sometimes the products can be too harsh even for adults.
"Parents need to educate their children that what they're seeing on social media is probably far from reality. They are using filters," she said.