The Importance Of Teen Skincare
Good skin care should begin when you are in your teens and your body is already beginning to change dramatically. It can help you keep your skin in its best condition and stop premature aging from causing problems down the road.
An effective skin care routine is easy to implement. You just need the right products that suit your skin type, the correct techniques and the motivation to care for your skin every single day.
How Skincare For Teen And Tweens Is Different From Adults
As a dermatologist, I am often asked if a teenage girl can use her mothers products. The answer largely depends on the kind of products her mother is using.
Skincare for tweens should best be purchased separately, as the needs of the skin at that age are completely different. The priority at that age is not to treat, but to prevent.
The best tween skin care products offer the basic support to the skin to keep it in a healthy state. The skin at that age needs minimum and basic care, and going extra at any step will be overkill and could do more harm than good.
In teenagers, especially in the late teen years, some products can be borrowed from the mothers vanity. A mild but effective face wash, a sunscreen suitable for that skin type, and just maybe a vitamin C or niacinamide serum.
Teenagers skin has a very healthy turnover, so the need for exfoliants is very low unless it is acne-prone skin. Other adult products like retinoids or strong alpha hydroxy acids are not needed or routinely recommended in a teen skincare routine.
Worried About Acne Scars Reach For Retinol
Retinol an over-the-counter retinoid is an all-star nighttime ingredient to use, Dr. Love says, because it not only repairs and rejuvenates the skin, but also helps to fight acne and acne scars. Bonus? It has anti-aging properties, too!
Retinol is best used at night for a reason, though its light sensitive and can actually damage your skin when exposed to direct sunlight. So keep it to the p.m. hours, and add retinol to your routine slowly to make sure you dont cause immediate irritation, Dr. Love says. Because retinol and other retinoids, which are generally prescribed, come in varying strengths, its a good idea to spot-test them somewhere other than your face first to see how your skin reacts. You should also verse yourself on which products can, and cant, be used in tandem with retinoids. Vitamin C, for instance, needs to be spaced out from retinoids, which is why its a good idea to use Vitamin C in the morning and retinoids at night. The same goes for mixing retinoids with products that contain salicylic, glycolic, and lactic acids or benzoyl peroxide, meanwhile, shouldnt be combined with retinoids at all.
Youll also want to pick a retinol thats suited to your skin type. For normal to oily skin, Dr. Love recommends Neutrogena Repair Retinol Pro Serum, and for those with sensitive skin, she prefers Murad Retinol Cream or the Olay Retinol Cream.
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Be Mindful Of Your Diets Relationship To Your Skin
Dairy could in part be behind those breakouts, Dr. Jeffrey Hsu, MD, co-founder and co-director of Oak Dermatology, says. He pointed to studies showing the connection between drinking cows milk link and acne outbreaks.
Acne is often triggered by hormonal changes in our bodies, he says. Milk contains insulin-spiking hormone triggers that can lead to acne. And skim milk, he added, may be the bigger culprit: Skim milk undergoes a process to remove the fat, and whey protein is added to give it a creamier, thicker consistency. These proteins are shown to be a cause of acne, so while both whole and skim milk may affect the skin, skim milk can be worse.
Keep Some Home Remedies For Clear Skin In The Pantry And Away From Your Pores
Weve probably all fallen prey to a wellness influencer or two whos peddling solutions for getting clear skin naturally. Who doesnt want the key to a clear complexion to be something moms already got in the kitchen cabinet? You should exercise caution, however, before testing out these theories on your face, Dr. Purvisha Patel, founder of Visha Skincare, says.
It is important to know that some natural ingredients do not jive with acne-prone skin, like coconut oil, olive oil and almond oil, Dr. Patel says. They all feed the bacteria and fungus that can cause acne, making it worse. Its a good idea to keep an eye out for these oils in your hair products too, she adds, especially if youre breaking out for seemingly no reason.
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How To Build The Best Teenage Skin Care Routine
Teenage skin can be super sensitive and need some ultra care, since puberty hits right around that age. Teenage skin is also very prone to acne, which is why creating a teenage skin care routine during this time is important. If youre interested in learning more about why do teenagers get acne or at what age does acne go away, weve written about these topics in detail on our blog.
Finding the right routine for your individual skin can take some trial and error, but once you find the perfect routine, you can stick to it for years! You can buy acne cream online if you struggle with acne or visit an acne pharmacy to find the right products for your skin.
Heres how you can build the best teenage skin care routine for young and healthy skin:
Do Not Sleep On Acne Bacteria
Acne bacteria baby bacteria every 12 hours, so using treatments once a day at night is not enough, Dr. Baumann says. Because the ingredients can be irritating, however, many are too strong to double up on. She recommends using your big guns at night, then the next day, around mid-morning, a milder OTC treatment. Her fave: a salicylic acid spray with colloidal silver, which lowers the pH of skin and makes it less hospitable to bacteria.
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Tips For Taking Care Of Your Skin
Sometimes it may seem like your skin is impossible to manage, especially when you wake up and find a huge zit on your nose or a cold sore at the corner of your mouth. The good news is that there are ways to prevent and treat common skin problems. Here are some tips.
Keep It Simple When Navigating The Otc Aisle
I first start by reassuring parents that the best practices for a childs skincare regimen are relatively simple and that navigating the OTC aisle doesnt have to be complicated.
A childs skincare regimen should include a daily bath with a gentle cleanser, followed by application of a moisturizer. In the summer, its also important they wear sunscreen applied several times throughout the day, especially because a childs skin is more sensitive than most adults skin.
Next, I advise parents that during their trip to the drugstore, they should pick up three types of products:
As parents establish their childs skincare routine, they may be surprised to learn that the products they choose can also play a role in protecting and strengthening their childs skin barrier. By following a daily routine that incorporates a gentle cleanser and moisturizer without harsh chemicalsand staying on top of adequate sun protectionparents can help their child develop an even stronger skin barrier as they mature.
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Wash Your Pillowcase And Sheets
Are you washing or changing the sheets and pillowcases once a week? If they arent laundered or changed regularly, a build of dirt or oil from the environment and your skin and hair is transferred back to your skin.
By the end of one week, sheets and pillowcases are swarming with dead skin cells and bacteria, Dr. Thiede said. These can clog your pores, leading to breakouts.
If you have oily hair or use oily products, you may need to change your sheets more often.
Uses A Moisturizing Unscented Body Wash
“I am a moisture baby so I like the Aveeno Skin Relief Fragrance-Free Body Wash and the Dove Sensitive Skin Body Wash because a lot of the others make my skin itch and dry it out significantly,” says Dr. Downie. In addition to skin-nourishing washes, you want to make sure you’re keeping the temperature of your showers low. “I only take lukewarm showersâeven if you don’t have eczema you shouldn’t be taking hot showers” because they dry out your skin, says Dr. Downie.
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Know When To Go To A Dermatologist
If youre more or less happy with your skin and simply want to take your complexion to new, crystal-clear heights, you can likely do that on your own. Plus, pimples once in a while are totally normal. If you start to notice deep cysts and acne that is persistent, though, Dr. Kramemer says its best to see a professional. You want to avoid getting scars, so getting proper treatment is essential, she says. Don’t play around with trendy hacks and ingredients you see on the internet. Visit a dermatologist and get on a proper skincare routine remember, acne is not your fault. Its a disease and can be treated.
Benzoyl Peroxide And Salicylic Acid
Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are the two most common over-the-counter acne treatments.
Salicylic acid is commonly found in body washes, face washes, and astringents. You can sometimes find it in moisturizers, too.
The purpose of salicylic acid is to get rid of the dead skin cells that can lead to noninflammatory acne again, these include whiteheads and blackheads.
On the other hand, benzoyl peroxide is a stronger treatment for more severe breakouts, including inflammatory acne lesions. Not only does it dry up dead skin cells, but it can also help fight excess sebum and kill acne-causing bacteria.
For the occasional acne cyst, nodule, or pustule, a spot-treatment containing 25% benzoyl peroxide can do the trick.
If you have frequent, widespread inflammatory acne breakouts, you may consider using a face wash or a lotion with up to 10% benzoyl peroxide. Speak with a skin care professional to find the best product for your skin.
Since benzoyl peroxide is a strong ingredient, it can make your skin red and irritated at first. You may want to use these products once a day to start and then gradually apply up to two times daily.
Also, take care around clothing and colored hair, as benzoyl peroxide is known to stain.
Inflammatory acne thats common during your teen years may also be treated with retinoids. These are types of vitamin A derivatives that unplug clogged oil ducts to prevent cysts and nodules.
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How To Get Rid Of Acne
- Over-the-counter treatments are scientifically proven to work really hard. These contain the powerful salicylic acid , Or you can try benzoyl peroxide.
- If acne doesnt clear after using a dedicated skincare routine for at least three months to gauge the effectiveness, then it might be time to consult a dermatologist for specific prescription medications, antibiotics and to rethink your regime find one here.
Building A Teenage Skincare Routine: Steps Tips And Products
Just like any good skincare routine, the best skincare for teenage skin also consists of the essentials- cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. The addition of toner or exfoliation is optional, and serum or treatment depending on the skins condition .
Best tween skincare could essentially comprise of the same steps, similar products, but without toners, exfoliants, or products with a lot of actives.
Let us take a deeper dive about how to choose products for each step of teen and tween skincare to build a good skincare routine. I have also included what I consider some of the best teenage skin care products on the market.
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If You Use Rx Topicals
Dr. Baumann recommends starting up with a barrier-repair moisturizer prior to beginning use of a prescription acne treatment. The stronger your skins barrier function is, the less likely it is to be irritated by potent ingredients. When you do get the Rx, start sloooooowwww so skin can gradually get used to it. Use only 1/8 teaspoon at night and wait three days. If skin doesnt get red, apply it every third night for two weeks, she says. If skin tolerates that, move up to every other night. After two weeks and no redness, apply every night.
Need To Dry Out A Breakout Benzoyl Peroxide Might Be A Good Idea
Commonly used by people with mild to moderate acne, benzoyl peroxide is anti-bacterial and helps to dry out breakouts, Dr. Parks says. Its topical and can be found as a listed ingredient in everything from cleansers and lotions to gels and toners, and some prescription acne treatments use it, too. Use it sparingly, though, Dr. Parks warns, as it can be irritating which is also why it shouldnt be used in combination with salicylic acid products. And, because benzoyl peroxide can bleach everything from clothes to sheets and pillowcases, youll want to be careful with what fabric comes in contact with it.
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Skincare Routine For Teens: Four Simple Steps To Healthy Skin
Are you struggling to keep up with a skincare regimen? The foundation of flawless skin is a healthy skincare routine, which must be followed consistently. But how does one find time to develop a routine which is simple yet effective.
Here, we tell you about a basic skincare routine for teens.
The primary step of skincare is to cleanse the skin thoroughly. No matter what your skin type is, choose a cleanser with mild ingredients that will not rip off the essential oils from your skin. An oil-based cleanser is ideal for night time when you need to get rid of the excessive sweat, makeup, dirt, or grime from the skin. It should be followed up with a soap-free foam cleanser. For the morning routine, you can choose a gentle foam-based cleanser.
The second step is to use a toner that helps in the shrinking of large pores. The toner cleans and closes the pores, and rejuvenates the skin. Choose the toner carefully and avoid the ones that may contain alcohol and other chemical ingredients that could harm the skin. You may consider buying toners made of plant-based ingredients that are safe and gentle on the skin.
The next step is to lock in all the moisture with the help of a hydrating and nourishing moisturizer. A moisturizer is like food for the skin, so choose one that is light and oil-free. The ideal moisturizer is the one that suits your skin type and helps in maintaining the right moisture levels in the skin.
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Treat Mild Rashes With Cortisone And Moisturizer
My daughter would get little rashes occasionally due to stress, a product reaction or changes in weather, Dr. Pierre says. Cortisone deals with the inflammation and redness, but it works better if you put moisturizer on top. The moisturizer helps prevent moisture loss from skin, which exacerbates the reaction, he explains.
North West Shows Us Her Skin Care Routine In Latest Grwm On Tiktok
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North West is our modern day vlog queen and her get ready with me video is proof of just that. The 9-year-old is unsurprisingly everyones favorite social media influencer, maybe even giving her mother Kim Kardashian a run for her money. North from the jump has dabbled in fashion styling, hair tutorials, and now were getting the full scope of what its like to wake up and get ready in a Kardashian household .
North starts off her video jovial as ever wearing a holiday pajama set and cheetah print headband, using her mothers skin care brand Skkn and then the Vitamasques Electrolyte Watermelon Dace Sheet Mask. Although still very young and far flung from wrinkles, Northie is lightyears ahead of us all in having a thorough skin care routine.
Following up her skin care, North wraps up her beauty moment by brushing her teeth using Auntie Kendall Jenners Rose Mint toothpaste. North if anything is committed to supporting her family’s latest endeavors by blessing them with free #sponsored content!
TikTok content
This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from.
The young influencer is always making us work while watching her notoriously sped-up videos. But alas weve gathered almost all the products she used in her recent TikTok:
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Wash Your Face With Gentle Soap
Its important for teens to remove any makeup before bed, and also to wash their face every day twice a day if they have oily skin or if their face gets dirty throughout the day, like after a workout, according to Samer Jaber, MD, founder of Washington Square Dermatology in New York City.
When it comes to face cleansers, teen acne sufferers should look for gentle, non-comedogenic products, which means they wont block pores, said Mir. And cleansers with ingredients like glycolic acid, salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide can be very helpful for those with acne, said Jaber, but be careful as they can be irritating and drying.
Here are three face cleansers products recommended by the experts: