At what age should my child start taking care of their skin? Dermatologists respond

Does your child see you putting all kinds of creams on your face and want to imitate you? It is common among children to want to do like adults and use a whole bunch of products to smell good or to have a luminous skin. With the emergence of social networks, and partly TikTok, children sometimes seem to be better informed than their parents about the products to use. This is the case of “Sephora Kid” who claim to be true experts in the field. But from what age can children take care of their skin without risking weakening it?

Dr Dendy Engelman, dermatologist in the United States, specifies that each product must be studied carefully before being used on young skin. The important thing is to check the composition and to ensure that the products do not contain abrasive ingredients which could irritate or even burn children’s thin skin. To avoid any form of allergy, it is recommended to test products beforehand to ensure that your child does not react badly to the creams.

Which products are suitable for my child and from what age?

The universal product that can be used at any age is undoubtedly the Solar cream, states Dr. Engelman. “Children as young as 6 months can wear sunscreen”, she explains. For effectively protect children’s fragile skinhe recommends a SPF minimum of 30 and gentle formulations. “To avoid any potential irritation or rashes, look for ingredients like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, as they are hypoallergenic. Additionally, look for broad-spectrum coverage to ensure protection against both UVA and UVB”, specifies the dermatologist. Using sunscreen from an early age helps delay the appearance of wrinkles and age spotsunderlines dermatologist Jeannette Graf.

In addition, it is possible to prevent dry skin and treat it with light moisturizer non-comedogenic. Dr. Jody Levine advocates a gentle, fragrance-free formula, “Moisturizers can be used at any age to maintain skin hydration and prevent drying out.”, the key is to use a moisturizing cream with the most impeccable composition possible. For optimal hydration, the dermatologist recommends applying the cream after the shower to start and then deepen the hydration by applying cream morning and evening. THE lip balm is also a good starting point if your child wants to build a skincare routine. To apply without moderation, it is useful if your child suffers from dry lips. However, it is necessary to pay attention to the composition because the balm is in direct contact with the child’s mouth. Dr Kautilya Shaurya advises switching to products “without harmful additives or allergens”.

And for skin with imperfections?

If your child begins to have imperfections due to puberty, it is entirely possible to opt for a routine adapted to acne provided you pay attention to the ingredients. You can start gradually by incorporating a gentle cleanser to your routine in order to remove impurities. THE solid soaps based on tea tree or goat’s milk are perfect for treating imperfections without damaging the skin. Dr. Levine recommends starting facial cleansing starting at puberty (between 10 and 13 years old). Before this age, the dermatologist says that cleansing is useless and is more likely to damage the child’s skin. “If cleansers are used too soon, they can destroy/disrupt the skin’s natural barrier and cause irritation.”, she declares.

If during puberty your child begins to have acne, you can opt for a anti-acne cream to use in the evening to treat imperfections. However, attention must be paid to the components and proscribe products based on retinol which are especially suitable for mature skin and which are very harmful to the skin if exposed to sunlight. If your child’s skin is prone to blemishes and excess oil, Dr. Shaurya recommends the use of salicylic acid creams or “low concentration” benzoyl peroxide from the age of 14-15 years old. The dermatologist, however, emphasizes the undesirable effects of this type of treatment and advises gentle, alcohol-free products. It is best to consult a specialist before venturing into this type of product so as not to aggravate the problem.