Researchers at Northwestern University found that the popular teen skin care procedures on Tiktok put young users at dangerous levels of skin irritation that could trigger permanent allergies.
Research that examined these viral beauty videos for the first time shows that young girls use an average of six facial products a day, some of whom apply more than a dozen in elaborate routines, costs up to $500 a month. These complex regimens contain ingredients known to cause allergic contact dermatitis, a condition that limits what users of soaps, shampoos and cosmetics can use safely for the rest of their lives.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emisuy8ehto
Virus Beauty’s Hidden Price
What makes these Tiktok routines particularly worrying is not only their complexity, but the accumulated irritating chemicals. Top videos contain on average 11 potentially harmful active ingredients, creating a perfect storm for skin damage.
The authors of the study and a board-certified Dermatifiend permatifiend permatifience Section ternevestern feorinsector and Northwester School of Northwestern School, when the active ingredient was found in three, four, and five different products, using multiple active ingredients simultaneously, such as hydroxy acids, and unknowingly applying the same active ingredient without realizing it. ”
The team found something unsettling: Despite the increased risk, these products are sold specifically to young consumers. The average cost of the program is $168, which usually lasts for a month, causing enormous financial stress on the family while potentially damaging the child’s skin.
When beauty habits become dangerous
A video analyzed in the study shows the real-time consequences of these excessive routines. A content creator applied 10 products to her face in just six minutes. The results are direct and worrying.
“When she applied the product, she began to express discomfort and burn, and in the last few minutes she had a visible skin reaction.”
This example illustrates why a dermatologist emits an alert. The study found that 20 common inactive ingredients used in these products are included in the Children’s Baseline Series, a specially designed test panel designed to identify substances that cause allergic reactions in children.
Key research results:
- On average, girls aged 7-18 use 6 products in each case.
- Some routines include more than 21 potential stimulus components
- Average cost of $168 per plan, some of which are over $500
- Only 26% of the daytime routine include sunscreen
- Average number of views per video
- The age of content creators ranges from 7 to 18 years old
Worry about the sunscreen gap for experts
Perhaps the most concerned thing for dermatologists is what is missing from these carefully crafted routines. Only 26% of daytime skin care regimens include sunscreen, the most important skin care product of any age, but is especially important for developing skin.
This supervision becomes even more important considering that many of the active ingredients in these routines, especially hydroxy acids, increase the sensitivity of sunlight. Young users essentially make their skin more susceptible to UV damage while skipping one product that can protect them.
How algorithms form beauty standards
Researchers found something besides the ingredient list that added red flags. To conduct the research, they created the Tiktok account that constituted a 13-year-old and analyzed what the algorithm provided.
What they found reveals how to show young audiences the disturbing patterns of beauty. “We have seen that in some cases, racial languages with priority codes do emphasize lighter, brighter skin,” Lagu observed. This bias towards lighter skin tones in skin care content sends powerful information about beauty standards to an impressive audience.
The research method itself (the researchers must create fake teen accounts to access this content), is a crucial issue. Thanks to the sophisticated algorithms with personalized content feeds, parents and pediatricians can hardly monitor what their children are watching.
Beyond the skin depth: psychological cost
Dr. Hales has attracted attention, far beyond dermatology. The psychological effects of these intensive beauty habits can be as damaged as physical effects.
“It’s a problem to show girls so much time and focus on their skin,” Hales explained. “We set a high bar for these girls. The pursuit of health has become a virtue for us.”
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