A New Study Just Found That This Social Media Craze Is Damaging Kids' Skin (2025)

• A new study found that popular skincare routines shared on social media platforms like TikTok may put teens and tweens at risk for allergic skin reactions.
• Doctors worry that the inflammatory response may result in permanent changes to kids' skin and the types of products they can use in the future.
• Experts recommend a gentle, streamlined routine that can benefit skin of all ages without causing irritation.

It’s no secret that tweens and teens are more into skincare now than ever. But while you might think it’s cute when an influencer who can't even drive raves about their go-to regimen on TikTok, new research suggests this growing obsession young people have with skincare could be doing more harm than good.

That’s the major takeaway from new research published in the journal Pediatrics, the first peer-reviewed study to analyze the potential risks and benefits of teen and tween skincare routines shared on social media. Here’s exactly what the study found, plus why dermatologists recommend being wary of letting the kid, tween, or teen in your life dive into skincare products designed for adults.

Meet the experts: Hallie McDonald, MD, dermatologist at Central Texas Dermatology and founder of ERLY Skincare; Gary Goldenberg, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital; Tara Lagu, MD, MPH, study co-author, adjunct professor and health services researcher at Northwestern Medicine’s Feinberg School of Medicine

What did the study find?

For the study, two researchers at Northwestern University each created a new TikTok account, claiming to be 13 years old. They monitored their For You tabs until they compiled about 100 unique videos, looking closely at posts from content creators who were 18 or younger. Some girls as young as seven showed their own multi-step skincare routines, and each video had average of 1.1 million views.

The researchers created a list of the products used in the videos, along with their active and inactive ingredients. They matched those up with the Pediatric Baseline Series used in patch testing for allergies to look for ingredients with a higher risk of causing allergic contact dermatitis in kids. Researchers found that each regimen featured an average of six products (with some including more than a dozen products), costing about $168 total. Only 26.2 percent of the videos included sunscreen in those regimens.

The top 25 most-viewed videos contained an average of 11 and a max of 21 potentially irritating active ingredients. The researchers also discovered that 20 of the inactive ingredients in these products are included in standard allergy testing for kids. “These products are being touted as the best thing for skin health and they may be putting their health at risk,” says Tara Lagu, MD, MPH, study co-author, adjunct professor and health services researcher at Northwestern Medicine’s Feinberg School of Medicine.

The big concerns.

One of the most alarming things about these regimens, researchers notes, are their cost. But dermatologists still don’t recommend following these routines, even in families that can afford to regularly shell out for these products. “A lot of adult skincare is packed with powerful active ingredients like retinoids, acids, and strong exfoliants because it’s designed to target things like wrinkles, dark spots, and sun damage,” explains Hallie McDonald, MD, dermatologist at Central Texas Dermatology and founder of ERLY Skincare. Kids and teens, on the other hand, have different skincare needs, she points out.

“Their skin is more delicate and tends to be more reactive, so using products that are too strong can cause irritation, allergies, dryness, or even trigger breakouts,” Dr. McDonald says. “Just because something works for your 45-year-old skin doesn’t mean it’s safe for your 13-year-old’s.”

Gary Goldenberg, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, agrees. “Some of the skincare products are simply inappropriate for kids,” he says. Many ingredients in these skincare routines may even cause sun sensitivity and many are used repeatedly across several products kids layer on, raising the risk of sun damage, Dr. Lago points out. Given that they’re also not applying sunscreen, they could be setting themselves up for having a bad reaction to the sun, she says.

The long-term impact.

While kids and teens using adult products can cause short-term skin issues, Dr. McDonald says it can also lead to long-term issues. “Think of young skin like a brand-new white T-shirt. It’s fresh, clean, and hasn’t been exposed to much yet,” she says. “If you spill a strong dye or harsh chemical on it early on, that stain can set in permanently.” Similarly, when young skin is exposed to irritating ingredients like fragrances and essential oils too soon, it can become “stained” with sensitivity, she explains.

“Once that reaction is triggered, the skin can remember it for years and overreact even to the tiniest exposure later on,” Dr. McDonald says. “Young skin is still developing its tolerance to outside exposures, so it’s more likely to become sensitized to ingredients.”

Using the wrong products may also interfere with the skin’s natural barrier, Dr. McDonald says. “This is what keeps moisture in and irritants out,” she explains. “Once that barrier is compromised, the skin becomes more prone to redness, inflammation, and even scarring or discoloration, especially in more melanin-rich skin.”

It's ironic, but Dr. McDonald points out that using too many intense products can backfire on skin. “It creates a frustrating cycle where the more you try to treat the problem, the worse it can get,” she says. “This can take a toll not only on your skin but also on your confidence and mental health.”

What should kids and tweens do for skincare?

Doctors recommend keeping it simple “There’s no need for a 10-step routine at this age, or at any age really,” Dr. McDonald says. She recommends using a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser, a lightweight moisturizer, and a daily mineral sunscreen. “If there’s acne or oiliness, a product with niacinamide is helpful and safe for teens and tweens,” she adds.

But for kids and teens without skin disease, Dr. Lago says there’s really no need to use any special products beyond sunscreen. Still, she also recognizes that skincare routines are a big thing with younger kids now. “If you’re going to use a skincare regimen, make sure that one of the products you use is a sunscreen and apply it every day,” she says.

Dr. Lago also stresses the importance of parents reviewing kids’ skincare regimens and making sure that an active ingredient is only used once. “There’s no need to put something like alpha-hydroxy acid on seven times,” she says. It's also best to avoid scented products, too. “The risk of allergy is most associated with fragrance,” she says.

Ultimately, if you or your child is concerned about their skin, it’s worth consulting a dermatologist. “It’s really about building healthy habits and protecting the skin—not about jumping into advanced treatments too soon,” Dr. McDonald says. “When in doubt, less is more.”