Beauty routines shared on social networks could encourage adolescents and pre-teens to use anti-aging and exfoliating products, a practice denounced which is not without danger.
The Order of Chemists of Quebec has raised a “red flag” regarding the use of products including anti-aging and exfoliating molecules on the developing skin of young people.
The growing popularity of beauty routines on social media would encourage teens and tweens to use products designed for an adult clientele.
Young people are not aware of the side effects of these products, which are also not effective on young skin.
“It can cause irritation on young skin. Some minor burns can occur. We have dehydration of the skin, we can have regrowth, acne breakouts,” warned the president of the Order of Chemists of Quebec, Michel Alsayegh, in an interview with Quebec Morning, THURSDAY.
If this use gives the opposite effect to that expected for adolescents, the products have not been tested on young skin, which would increase the risks.
Chemicals
“By using them, they take a risk on some of these molecules, whether retinoids, alpha-hydroxyls (AHAs) and beta-hydroxyls (BHAs) of the different acids that are used there. Then there is a long, long list of chemicals, again, that have not been formulated,” Mr. Alsayegh said.
The president of the Order of Chemists of Quebec reiterated that the concentrations in these products are not designed for children. “These are concentrations for adult skin and not developing skin,” he added.
Skin irritation
Anti-aging treatments, such as retinol, are formulated to limit the irritating effects on adult skin and not for younger skin, which may be more sensitive, the Ordre des chemistes du Québec said in a press release.
As for exfoliating treatments, the products aim to “clean the skin by chemical abrasion and stimulate cellular regeneration, which decreases with age”, we can read. Besides irritating younger skin, its use would not be helpful, as young skin regenerates quickly.
Natural products
Even natural, organic and vegan products would not be without risks, the president warned. “Well, just because it’s a natural product, vegan or whatever, doesn’t mean it’s not harmful. You have to be very careful, says Mr. Alsayegh. There are molecules that are present in nature that are not necessarily good for us.”
The order also raised alarms about misinformation present on social media with influencers on TikTok.
“These people, our children listen and then our children are sponges. They will listen to what they say, then they will say: “Ah, since she uses it or he uses it, it must be correct.” This is not true. So, we also have a duty of education as parents to tell our children to be careful,” concluded Michel Alsayegh.
