What if the biggest threat to teen skin isn’t acne — but TikTok? A new study warns that social media’s obsession with beauty may be leaving permanent scars, inside and out.
Key Points at a Glance
- Teens are using an average of six skincare products daily — some over 12
- Most popular regimens contain multiple irritating active ingredients
- Only 26% of routines included sunscreen, the most crucial skin protector
- Long-term risk includes lifelong skin allergies and chronic irritation
- Algorithms and encoded beauty standards make this trend hard to control
Teen skincare routines have become a cultural phenomenon on TikTok, with videos racking up millions of views under hashtags like #grwm (get ready with me). But according to a new peer-reviewed study published in Pediatrics, these routines might be doing more harm than good — and in some cases, causing irreversible skin damage.
Northwestern Medicine researchers analyzed 100 top-viewed TikTok skincare videos from creators who appeared between ages 7 and 18. The results were startling. On average, these teens used six different products per routine, with some routines including over a dozen. These weren’t gentle cleansers and moisturizers either — the products often included high concentrations of hydroxy acids, retinoids, and other actives known to irritate young, developing skin.
“The cumulative exposure is what’s so dangerous,” said Dr. Molly Hales, the study’s lead author. “Many of these teens are layering the same active ingredients multiple times without realizing it, which significantly increases the risk of reactions.”
In one particularly troubling video, a teen applied 10 products in just six minutes, ending the video visibly uncomfortable and visibly red from an acute skin reaction. But this isn’t just about a single episode of burning or redness. The long-term risk is allergic contact dermatitis — a chronic condition where the immune system becomes permanently sensitized to certain ingredients. Once that happens, the user must avoid any future contact with those substances, which may include common items like shampoos, soaps, and even medications.
The study also noted the role of consumerism and subtle racial messaging in these trends. Many videos used encoded language suggesting that “lighter” or “brighter” skin is healthier, feeding into harmful beauty ideals. “We’re watching girls as young as 7 being taught that their natural skin isn’t enough — that it has to be polished, perfected, and filtered,” said senior author Dr. Tara Lagu.
Adding to the concern is the low use of sunscreen. Only 26% of the daytime routines included SPF, even though it’s the single most effective product for preventing skin aging and cancer. Instead, kids are reaching for exfoliating acids and skin-lightening serums promoted by influencers and algorithm-driven feeds.
Parents might not even be aware of the risks, since TikTok’s algorithm quickly personalizes content based on viewing history. The researchers created 13-year-old accounts to conduct the study and were inundated with beauty content within minutes.
This isn’t a fringe phenomenon. With some of these routines costing upwards of $500 per month, the pressure to conform is immense — and lucrative for brands targeting vulnerable users.
While skincare can be an empowering self-care ritual, the study urges pediatricians and caregivers to intervene when routines become extreme. As Dr. Hales put it, “We’ve medicalized beauty. And in doing so, we’ve wrapped health, worth, and identity into a bottle of serum.”
It’s time to rethink the message we send our teens: that taking care of your skin doesn’t have to mean changing who you are.
Source: Northwestern University News
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