Parents Cautioned on Children’s Skincare Product Use

Following her daughter’s development of a rash, a mother has advised parents to verify that skincare items applied by their children are suitable for their age. Carly, residing in Sherburn in Elmet, stated that her 11-year-old daughter, who suffers from eczema, experienced an exacerbation of her condition due to certain beauty products she was using. She emphasized that social media readily sways young individuals, and parents ought to investigate the ingredients of beauty products chosen by youngsters. This caution emerged concurrently with a dermatologist in Leeds reporting a rise in children exhibiting adverse reactions to unsuitable skincare items. While her daughter’s rash was initially attributed to an eczema flare-up, Carly noted that it quickly became apparent that an external factor had aggravated it more severely than typical. “This time it was on her neck and face and it didn’t go away,” she said. Although the rash diminished in visibility after her daughter showered, her skin remained dry and flaky. “She’s 11, her skin is not supposed to be dry and flaky”. Carly stated that she successfully scheduled an appointment with a dermatologist, who inquired about the products her daughter was using. “He said those products were not designed for children’s skin.” “I felt really guilty.” “I should have done more research into what these products are before allowing my kids to be swept away by a new craze.” Even though she monitored the social media consumption of her two younger daughters, Carly observed that numerous products were promoted by content creators, making it simple for young individuals to be drawn to them. The British Association for Dermatologists issued a warning in January concerning the increasing trend of children utilizing unsuitable skincare products. Dr Faheem Latheef, a dermatologist based in Leeds, reported an observed rise in the number of younger children exhibiting reactions to skincare products. “The concern is that their skin isn’t fully developed and if they are using products designed for older skin types they are very likely to irritate younger patients.” Dr Latheef indicated that reactions might vary from dry or itchy skin to scaling or even blistering. He noted that numerous products incorporate exfoliating acids, which are not suitable for younger individuals. Furthermore, he added that a reaction could potentially result in a sensitivity to a particular ingredient later in life. “For a child you want to keep it really simple, what they need is a cleanser, a moisturiser and sun screen,” he said. Dr Latheef stated that due to social media’s role in exposing products to younger audiences, the cosmetic industry bears “some responsibility in making parents aware these products are suitable for a certain age range.” Carly additionally expressed the view that products ought to clearly indicate the age of the intended consumer. “There could be more done to raise awareness for the right age appropriateness of some of the products,” she said. “It should be clearly stated this is not for people under 16, it should be clearly labelled.” She advised that for parents encountering requests for beauty products, thorough research is essential. “What is your child asking for? Do your research and make sure it’s appropriate for their age.” Listeners can access highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, view the latest episode of Look North, or submit a story for consideration here. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not accountable for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available for review.