Safe Skincare for Preteens

Young and younger- people are getting into the skincare game, which provides no shortage of options, many highlighted on social media by influencers. How do you know what’s safe (and what’s not) for your preteen?

Teresa Wright, MD, chief of Pediatric Dermatology at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, offers helpful information surrounding skincare and what’s appropriate for preteens to use.

Ingredients to Avoid

Many of the beauty products on the market aren’t safe for preteens, as they contain ingredients that are too harsh for young skin. This raises the risk side effects like irritation, contact dermatitis and allergic reactions. However, none of that risk is communicated in advertisements or TikTok videos sometimes.

“I think there are a variety of different trends, so to speak. But in general, what they all have in common is just this emphasis on needing to have all these different products, these expensive name brand products. That's not really needed for younger kids,” cautions Wright. “These are products that were developed for adult people who have adult skin concerns like fine lines and wrinkles or sagging skin or discoloration from age spots and concerns like that.”

One ingredient to avoid is retinol, which works to exfoliate dead skin layers. Preteens have youthful, plump skin and not necessarily many extra dead skin cells to eliminate. Another potentially harmful ingredient is hyaluronic acid, which draws moisture to the skin—but it is a form of acid.

Niacinamide and Vitamin C are used for brightening the skin and helping to fade dark spots, but these can be irritating, especially to young skin that tends to be thinner and more sensitive. Peptides, an anti-aging ingredient, are another common skincare ingredient that can cause irritation and isn’t necessary for young skin.

Which Products CAN Preteens Use?

It’s natural for preteens to start to see early signs of acne, such as small blackheads and oily skin. The best approach, says Wright, is to use a mild cleanser and mild moisturizer that has sunscreen built into the formula. If the acne starts to progress, she says it’s fine to add in a cleanser that contains salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.

“If they're just getting a few little blackheads, that'll be enough to treat that. But really, it's all about just mild cleanser, some kind of moisturizer with sunscreen and maybe some lip balm. You can buy all of those items at the drugstore. There are really good skincare product lines available at the drugstore,” she assures. “You don't have to go and spend a lot of money on these fancier product lines.”