The TikTok skincare trend among little girls is costing them their health

TikTok trends for skincare by children and teenagers offer little to no benefit, researchers have found, adding that instead they increase the risk of skin irritations and lifelong allergies in children.

The team behind the study says there has been an increase in young women sharing videos of complex skincare routines with moisturizers, toners, acne treatments and anti-aging products.

In the first study of its kind, researchers analyzed such videos on the platform and found that the trends are not only troublesome, given that some girls wake up as early as 4:30 a.m. to fit into their routines, but also costly, unnecessary, and potentially harmful.

"The risks associated with using these products, especially in young girls, outweigh any benefits they may have," says Molly Hales, the author of the research.

Hales added that while social media can be a place for fun and self-expression, young girls don't need such 'regimes'.

“The danger is when girls get the message that this is something they need to do to take care of their skin and protect their health,” she said.

Instead, she said that a normal cleanser and application of sunscreen are sufficient.

Writing in the journal Pediatrics, Hales and colleagues report how they created two TikTok accounts, and collected a sample of 100 videos of skincare routines filmed by young people.

The team discovered that they were all girls and their ages ranged from 7 to 18 years old.

The team found that many of the ingredients in the products featured, such as citric acid, carry a risk of skin irritation and sun sensitivity, meaning they increase the chance of sunburn and other skin damage.

Hales added that using products with multiple active ingredients, or layering products with the same active ingredients, increases the risk of skin irritation.