Cosmeticorexia

Recently, I was contacted by Ruth Clegg, a Senior Health and Wellbeing Reporter for BBC News. Ruth was writing an article about “Cosmeticorexia” — a newly coined term used to describe an unhealthy obsession with skincare from a young age — and asked if I would be interested in sharing my thoughts.

Having worked as a Dermatology Consultant for nearly a decade, I have certainly noticed a significant increase in the number of young girls, often pre-teens, attending both my NHS and private clinics seeking advice about skincare.

Sometimes they want to know which products they should be using. More often, however, they are looking for help to treat the adverse effects of products they have already been using — products that are increasingly being marketed specifically towards young skin.

The irony is that, at this age, your skin is already in excellent condition. The skin barrier which helps to keep irritants and toxins out while retaining moisture is naturally healthy and well preserved. It simply doesn’t need all the help that the beauty industry suggests it does.

At best, many of these products are unnecessary. At worst, they can disrupt and damage delicate young skin.

Myself and many of my colleagues, are seeing increasing numbers of younger patients presenting with acne and contact dermatitis triggered by skincare products and their ingredients. Many products contain active ingredients that can have a biological effect on skin cells, potentially altering the way the skin functions.

There is also a more concerning consequence. Once a child develops a contact allergy to an ingredient, they may not simply “grow out of it”. In some cases, that allergy can persist into adulthood, meaning they may have to avoid certain products and ingredients for the rest of their lives to prevent another reaction.

For me, the message is simple: young skin does not need a complicated skincare routine. It needs very little — and sometimes, less really is more.

If you would like to read the complete article by Ruth Clegg click on the link https://bbc.com/news/articles/cx212x41evwo