{"id":25671,"date":"2025-06-10T15:02:12","date_gmt":"2025-06-10T15:02:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=25671"},"modified":"2025-06-10T15:02:13","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T15:02:13","slug":"why-tiktok-teen-skin-care-craze-is-harmful-new-study","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/why-tiktok-teen-skin-care-craze-is-harmful-new-study\/","title":{"rendered":"Why TikTok Teen Skin Care Craze Is Harmful: New Study"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">A new study by Northwestern Medicine warns of the harmful effects of TikTok-promoted skin care routines on teens, revealing a high risk of skin irritation and urging the importance of sunscreen.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b0ffac9c wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a new study <a href=\"https:\/\/publications.aap.org\/pediatrics\/article-abstract\/doi\/10.1542\/peds.2024-070309\/202103\/Pediatric-Skin-Care-Regimens-on-TikTok\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">published<\/a> June 9 in the journal Pediatrics, researchers from Northwestern Medicine have examined the skin care routines promoted by TikTok influencers and found alarming results. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Girls aged 7 to 18 are using an average of six different skin care products, with some applying more than a dozen in their daily routine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The study highlights that these products, which are heavily marketed to younger demographics, pose a substantial risk of skin irritation and allergic reactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each routine costs, on average, $168 per month, with the potential to exceed $500. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite these costs, only 26% of daytime skin care routines included sunscreen, the researchers emphasized. Sunscreen is not only crucial for general skin health but particularly vital for younger skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The research shows that the most popular TikTok skin care videos contain, on average, 11 active ingredients that could potentially irritate the skin. This exposure increases the risk of developing not only sun sensitivity but also allergic contact dermatitis, which can severely limit future product choices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;That high risk of irritation came from both using multiple active ingredients at the same time, such as hydroxy acids, as well as applying the same active ingredient unknowingly over and over again when that active ingredient was found in three, four, five different products,\u201d corresponding author Molly Hales, a postdoctoral research fellow and board-certified dermatologist at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said in a news release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In one video, the creator applied 10 different products within a span of six minutes, resulting in noticeable discomfort and a visible skin reaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;As she\u2019s applying the products, she begins to express discomfort and burning, and in the final few minutes, she develops a visible skin reaction,\u201d added senior author Tara Lagu, an adjunct lecturer of medicine and medical social sciences at Feinberg and a former Northwestern Medicine hospitalist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Beyond Skin Damage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The study also pointed out deeper issues related to the skin care routines promoted on TikTok. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;We saw that there was preferential, encoded racial language in some cases that really emphasized lighter, brighter skin,\u201d Lagu added. &#8220;I think there also were real associations between use of these regimens and consumerism.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The researchers concluded that the videos offer minimal benefits for young audiences. With TikTok algorithms making it challenging for parents or pediatricians to monitor viewed content, the risks remain largely unchecked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;It&#8217;s problematic to show girls devoting this much time and attention to their skin,\u201d added Hales. &#8220;We&#8217;re setting a very high standard for these girls. The pursuit of health has become a kind of virtue in our society, but the ideal of \u2018health\u2019 is also very wrapped up in ideals of beauty, thinness and whiteness. The insidious thing about \u2018skin care\u2019 is that it claims to be about health.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Investigating the TikTok Phenomenon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the study, Hales and a fellow researcher created new TikTok accounts, listing their age as 13. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They compiled and analyzed 100 unique videos by examining the demographics of the content creators, the types and costs of products used, and the active and inactive ingredients involved. Ingredients were assessed for their potential to induce allergic contact dermatitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:13px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/news.northwestern.edu\/stories\/2025\/06\/tiktok-teen-skin-care-routines-are-harmful\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Northwestern University<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a new study published June 9 in the journal Pediatrics, researchers from Northwestern Medicine have examined the skin care routines promoted by TikTok influencers and found alarming results. Girls aged 7 to 18 are using an average of six different skin care products, with some applying more than a dozen in their daily routine. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[45],"class_list":["post-25671","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-health","tag-northwestern-university"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"In a new study published June 9 in the journal Pediatrics, researchers from Northwestern Medicine have examined the skin care routines promoted by TikTok influencers and found alarming results. Girls aged 7 to 18 are using an average of six different skin care products, with some applying more than a dozen in their daily routine.&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25671","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25671"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25671\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25706,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25671\/revisions\/25706"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25671"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25671"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25671"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}