Harm not skin-deep

STOP: TEENS COPYING ADULT SKINCARE ROUTINES DO LONG-TERM DAMAGE

- Hein Kaiser

Teenage skin is and always has been a minefield of hormones and a yardstick of physical shape-shifting into adulthood. Zits and oily skin are stock standard parts of growing up.

However, dermatologists and biomedical scientists are now warning that teens blindly copy adult skincare routines straight from social media are damaging their skins.

Biomedical scientist Dr Judey Pretorius said that teenagers today are facing an onslaught of comparison culture and misinformation. "Teenagers are comparing themselves to curated, filtered skin online," she said.

"They're buying high-strength products meant for mature or damaged skin and this is leading to irritation, disrupted skin barriers and, in some cases, long-term sensitivity."

Social platforms have built a culture of aesthetics that's turned skincare into an on-camera performance. Get Ready With Me videos and influencer routines make 10-step regimens look essential rather than excessive, she said.

Teens assume that using more products mean better skin, when in reality their skin is biologically programmed to need far less.

"Teenage skin is biologically different," Pretorius said.