When You Should Consider Skincare for your Tween or Teen

In an Instagram live last night the topic of skincare in tweens (8-12 year olds) came up and I wanted to provide a bit more information about it. Specifically, some commonly asked questions around this topic.

What conditions benefit from skincare?

It’s not uncommon for children as young as infancy to develop skin conditions. Often these are attributed to factors that might be going on internally as well as externally such as the use of soaps and detergents being used in the household, allergies, food sensitivities, history of antibiotic use and genetic predisposition’s. If your child is suffering from rashes, eczema or dermatitis there are topical non-steroidal products that might be able to help. These conditions can impair the skin microbiome and barrier so protective creams or balms rich in fatty acids can be soothing, calming and healing to delicate skin.

At what age should I be considering skincare?

While there is no particular age to start, hormones can start kicking-in in children as young as eight or nine and the first signs of pore blockages can occur at this age. If there is an acne genetic predisposition in the family these can be early signs of acne. A gentle cleansing formula such as the Bare Roots Gentle Foaming Cleanser used once a day can be a good way to remove excess debris build-up on and in the skin and for removing residues from sunscreen, dirt and sweat that can build up in the pores during the day. If you are noticing these signs in your child it might be a good time to start.

What type of skin care should I start with?

For pre-teen and teen skin I use and recommend Bare Roots. A cleanser once a day is a great place to start and teaches your child about important skin hygiene practices and habits. Just like brushing your teeth!

What about skin treatments?

While there is no harm in tweens having a gentle mini-facial, the teen years (13+) are a better time to consider occasional skin therapy so they can be educated on how to care for their skin and potential problems that can occur through puberty. It’s all very normal and ok but knowing this and navigating through the challenges associated with hormones and skin can be very helpful for teens and their parents.

Remember that skincare is not always the solution to the problem rather than a tool for your toolbox. More often than not, getting back to basics and addressing dietary health is necessary to see skin improvement. These are things that can be discussed and addressed with a well-versed in skin and gut health, health professional.

As always, if you are considering skin care for your pre-teen or teen, it’s very important to seek the assistance and guidance of a qualified skin professional. If you’d like to know more or have any questions please feel free to get in touch.