What parents need to know about skincare for kids

Skincare is an important part of self-care and good hygiene. But these days, kids receive all kinds of messages about skincare routines and beauty products from social media.

Jenny Francis, M.D., Adolescent Medicine Specialist at Children's Health℠ and Associate Professor at UT Southwestern, shares recommendations about skincare for kids.

“I always ask about skincare during visits, which can bring up a laundry list of routines,” Dr. Francis says. “Kids and teens are seeing young social media influencers going through extensive and expensive skincare routines. Talking about skincare often leads to a larger conversation about beauty standards and fitting in.”

Do kids need a skincare routine?

Dr. Francis has a “less is more” philosophy when it comes to skincare. For kids under 10, this can start with basic hygiene:

• Shower daily, with a gentle cleanser like an unscented bar of soap

• Use moisturizer if their skin gets dry

Use sunscreen that’s at least SPF 30 and reapply often when they spend lots of time outdoors.

When kids reach their “tween” years, around ages 10-12, Dr. Francis recommends adding a gentle daily facial cleanser. If they start to develop acne that bothers them, a cleanser with benzoyl peroxide can help.

Can using too many products irritate the skin?

Yes, using many different skincare products can cause irritation. To avoid this:

• Try fragrance-free or unscented products

• Check product labels and see if you’re using multiple products with the same active ingredient

“Sometimes skincare routine videos include a bunch of products with the same active ingredient,” Dr. Francis says. “You don’t generally need multiple products with the same active ingredient since that can irritate the skin.”

At what age should kids start a skincare routine?

There’s no right or wrong age to start a skincare routine. But many kids will start becoming more interested in skincare when they hit puberty. Every kid is different and their skincare needs and motivations can vary. Depending on the situation, here are ways you can respond:

• If you’re concerned about acne, but your teen isn’t: Try to avoid pushing a skincare routine. Instead, offer gentle support and let them know you’re available if they want help in the future.

• If your teen is interested in using a lot of skincare products: Sit down together and listen to your teen. Try to understand the reason behind their desire to use the products. Explain how too many products can irritate the skin instead of helping it.

• If your child expresses wanting to fit in with their peers: Let them know that it’s okay to be curious about trends – everyone feels that way sometimes. Talk about ways they can stay true to themselves while making friends. Remind them they don’t have to go along with something that doesn’t feel right to them.

Keeping your child’s skincare routine healthy

Using a few different skincare products can be good when:

• It feels like positive self-care

• It feels like a helpful and relaxing part of a daily routine

• Your child has a skin condition like eczema that needs certain care

“It’s always a balance,” Dr. Francis says. “I don’t recommend avoiding products entirely because self-care is important and skincare routines can be a part of it. But I remind kids and teens that they don’t need a lot of products to bond or feel beautiful and confident.”

When skincare might signal a deeper concern

Some teens are interested in skincare routines due to concerns about their appearance. But how do you know if your child is overly focused on their skin or appearance?

Some signs to look for include:

• A sudden or dramatic change in behavior or mood

• Withdrawing from friends or activities they used to enjoy

• Seeming anxious about their appearance and asking to follow complex skincare routines

• Constant scrolling or talking about skincare and beauty trends

“For me, it's less about the amount of screen time or social media and more about the way the child behaves off the screen, and what kind of content they are consuming,” Dr. Francis says. “If you notice that what they’re watching is starting to change how they behave or feel about themselves, that’s a good time to check in or talk to their health care provider.”

Having conversations about skincare with your child

If your child shows an interest in skincare and beauty products or a particular influencer talking about skincare, asking open-ended questions can help you understand why they’re interested.

These questions can also start conversations about the importance of self-love. Some questions you could ask your child might include:

• Can I watch this video with you? I want to learn more about it.

• Tell me more about this influencer. What do you like about them?

• How do you feel when you use this product?

• Does having a skincare routine make you feel like you fit in? What does fitting in mean to you?

• What does beauty mean to you?

“These can be really powerful questions,” Dr. Francis says. “And sometimes teens will just ignore them and not respond. But sometimes they can give you really clear insight into what they are thinking and their motivation behind using these types of products.”

Skincare can be a healthy part of your child’s routine when it’s approached with balance. Whether they’re dealing with dry skin, early acne or just want to try what their friends are doing, your guidance is essential.

Learn more

The Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Program at Children’s Health supports kids ages 11–21 with specialized care for acne and other skin conditions. We also help promote healthy self-esteem and decision-making – and provide support for kids who struggle with anxiety, depression or substance misuse. Learn more about our program.