Latest news with #Pediatrics
Washington Post
2 hours ago
- Health
- Washington Post
Majority of working dads in study took under 2 weeks' family leave
Research points to paternal leave as good for both dads and babies — yet just 36 percent of fathers reported taking more than two weeks of leave when their child was born, and 64 percent said they took two weeks or less, according to a new analysis. Published in Pediatrics, the study is part of a first-of-its kind initiative that measured fathers' behavior and health in the months before and after their children's birth.
Medscape
a day ago
- Health
- Medscape
Skin Care Routines Can Cause Teens More Harm Than Good
Mary Margaret Gorman is no stranger to the skin care trends of teenagers. As the mother of two adolescent daughters, she said she noticed face masks becoming popular birthday party favors and gifts among her daughters' friends a few years ago. 'They each have probably three times the skin care products that I have,' said Gorman, who lives in New Orleans. Largely driven by viral videos on social media, elaborate skin care routines have become a craze among teenagers and even children. Social media videos walk people through 12-step routines that often include applying toners, cleansers, and moisturizers meant for adult skin. But dermatologists are warning these products offer little to no benefit for youth and can even be harmful. Researchers from Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, recently published findings from an analysis of 100 skincare videos from content creators between the ages of 7 and 18 years. Products often included ingredients like citric acid and glycolic acid, which can lead to sun sensitivity and irritation. Only one quarter of daytime routine videos included products with sunscreen. One of the most common ingredients was hydroxy acid, which can treat acne. But for teens without the skin condition, the risk for allergic contact dermatitis outweighs potential benefits, the researchers reported in Pediatrics. Deirdre Hooper, MD, dermatologist at Audubon Dermatology in New Orleans, said she has seen her preteen and teen patients, and her own daughter, adopt 'complex, multistep regimens that are being promoted by social media and not by board-certified dermatologists.' At best, the products are usually a waste of money, Hooper said. (The average cost of skincare regime in the Northwestern study, for example, was $168, but one exceeded $600.) 'When you are young, you have such good natural protection and resilience to your skin, you don't need to buy a bunch of products,' Hooper said. More Harm Than Good Many products designed for adult skin are too potent for younger people. Products that contain hydroxy acids, such as popular ingredients like glycolic or lactic acid, are chemical peels meant to strip older skin but are too harsh to be used on adolescent skin, Hooper said. Most retinol is also not medically necessary or appropriate for people younger than age 20, since these products are meant to build collagen to reduce wrinkles, not a problem most teens have, said Amina Ahmed, MD, pediatrician at Stanford Children's Health South Bascom Pediatrics in Los Gatos, California. While some products are too harsh for younger skin, others, including moisturizers meant for older skin, are too thick and can easily clog pores in adolescents who naturally produce more sebum as a result of hormonal changes, Ahmed said. Layering products can have the same effect. Many of Ahmed's patients also have conditions such as perioral dermatitis, which appears as a red rash on the face and can be the result of a disrupted skin microbiome. 'Sometimes all these products upset the natural pH and microbe balance, which can make you more susceptible to things like dermatitis,' she said, noting that when patients stop using too many products, dermatitis usually goes away. Personal care products containing fragrance or preservatives are also a source of allergic contact dermatitis, which can lead to the development of allergies to these ingredients. In the Northwestern study, half of products featured in videos contained added fragrance. Another ingredient from one of the TikTok videos was a vitamin C serum, an antioxidant that can help protect the skin from pollution and sun damage, but is not necessary for young skin, Hooper said. 'If you try an antioxidant and it doesn't irritate your skin, it's OK with me as a morning routine. But the ones I know work are expensive, and I don't think I would recommend it to kids because they don't need them,' she said. Which Skin Care Products Should Teens Use? Both Ahmed and Hooper said that, like most things related to health, skin care is not one-size-fits all. 'A lot of patients think, if it works for my friend, it should work for me. But everyone's skin type is different; you may be using something that is causing more acne on your face,' Ahmed said. But teens should follow some general guidelines. Ahmed said all young people should put on sunscreen in the morning and wear it throughout the day, especially if kids are playing sports outside. 'Most sun damage happens when you're young,' she said. And teens can use a gentle cleanser — but just one. Twelve-step routines 'usually have multiple cleansers. They don't need to do all of that, they just need a mild cleanser to remove the excess sebum and dirt from their faces,' Ahmed said. Hooper said if the skin is dry, kids and teens can wash their face only at night and use a light moisturizer. Ahmed said a parent could put a spin on their child's skin care routine from beauty-focused to that of being focused on health. 'It's not a bad thing to take care of your skin,' she said. A previous version of this article ran on WebMD.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Sephora kids' are using anti-aging creams. A new study says harms aren't just skin deep
If you've recently witnessed a 10-year-old smear their face with an $80 anti-wrinkle cream — either in real life or in any number of "Get Ready With Me" TikTok videos — you're probably already aware of the "Sephora kids" skin-care trend that has young people clamouring for anti-aging products thanks in part to what they see on social media. Now, a new study published in Pediatrics this month, the first peer-reviewed paper of its kind, found that skin-care solutions promoted on TikTok not only offer little to no benefit for children and teens, but they can actually be harmful. And the risks go beyond skin damage (although, there is that, too), the authors note. "It's problematic to show girls devoting this much time and attention to their skin," corresponding author Dr. Molly Hales, a postdoctoral research fellow and dermatologist in the department of dermatology at Chicago's Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said in a news release. "We're setting a very high standard for these girls. The pursuit of health has become a kind of virtue in our society, but the ideal of 'health' is also very wrapped up in ideals of beauty, thinness and whiteness." The authors in the study analyzed 100 unique videos by content creators between the ages of seven and 18, with an average 1.1 million views each. On average, each regimen featured six products, totalling about $230 Cdn. On the higher end of the scale, some of the girls used more than a dozen products on their faces, the authors said. WATCH | Explaining the 'Sephora kids' trend: They found that only a quarter of the skin-care routines included sunscreen use, the most popular videos contained an average of 11 irritating active ingredients for young skin (such as hydroxy acids) and the content creators often layered multiple active ingredients or the same one over and over in multiple products. In one video, the authors say, one girl applied 10 different products on her face in 10 minutes. The videos also sometimes had racially encoded language that emphasized "lighter brighter skin," the authors noted. The problem with 'Sephora kids' The "Sephora kids" trend, where children as young as eight or nine use anti-aging skin-care products purchased from beauty retailers such as Sephora, started rising in popularity last year — and so have attempts to stop it. In California, for example, Alex Lee, a member of the State Assembly, has been pushing a bill that would ban the sale of anti-aging products that contain potent and harsh ingredients to kids under the age of 18. In May, CBS reported that the bill quietly died without a vote. And last December, Quebec's Order of Chemists published a warning that some skin-care products designed for adults and popularized on social media should be avoided by children because the active ingredients can be harmful to young skin. The products often contain strong active ingredients that young skin isn't properly equipped to handle, said Dr. Julia Carroll, a dermatologist and lecturer at the University of Toronto, who was not involved in the current study. WATCH | Quebec chemists warn about skin-care products and tweens: Younger skin is typically more sensitive, so ingredients like alpha-hydroxy acids and retinoids can cause irritation, drying, peeling and dermatitis, Carroll told CBC News. "It can actually sensitize their skin and give them a lifelong allergy to an ingredient," she said. The trend also creates a dependency where kids think they need a 10-step routine, Carroll added, "when really they just need a gentle cleanser, a moisturizer and a sunscreen." Gen Alpha drives sales Canadians spent almost $9 billion US on beauty and personal-care products in 2024. According to Statistics Canada, households started spending "substantially" more on personal care after the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing by 30 per cent in 2023 compared with 2021. Meanwhile, Generation Alpha continues to drive skin-care sales in the United States, according to recent Nielsen data. A global Mintel marketing intelligence report this year noted that this digital-first generation also has spending power projected to reach $5.5 trillion US by 2029, when the oldest of the cohort will be 19 years old. Members of Gen Alpha, who were born roughly between 2010 and 2024, see beauty influencers and their routines as sources of inspiration, the Mintel report says. "However, this acceleration into adult-oriented skin care often results in routines that prioritize appearance over health — a gap that the beauty industry must address," it adds. For now on TikTok, where there are some 18.3 million "Get Ready With Me" videos, Gen Alpha influencers show off their skin-care routines and "hauls" on videos with millions of views and comments. In the Pediatrics journal study, the authors found that these products tend to be marketed heavily to younger consumers. They also expressed concern that it's "nearly impossible" for parents and pediatricians to track exactly what children or adolescents are viewing. "We're seeing kids as young as eight or nine who are using anti-aging ingredients they picked up on TikTok," Carroll said. "You're setting kids up for an unrealistic beauty standard that isn't really appropriate for an eight-year-old, nine-year-old, 10-year-old. They already have usually pretty perfect skin, so to set them down that road that early can be quite harmful." LISTEN | How do cosmetics affect my skin health?:
18-06-2025
- Health
'Sephora kids' are using anti-aging creams. A new study says harms aren't just skin deep
If you've recently witnessed a 10-year-old smear their face with an $80 anti-wrinkle cream — either in real life or in any number of Get Ready With Me TikTok videos — you're probably already aware of the "Sephora kids" skin-care trend (new window) that has young people clamouring for anti-aging products thanks in part to what they see on social media. Now, a new study published in Pediatrics (new window) this month, the first peer-reviewed paper of its kind, found that skin-care solutions promoted on TikTok not only offer little to no benefit for children and teens, but they can actually be harmful. And the risks go beyond skin damage (although, there is that, too), the authors note. It's problematic to show girls devoting this much time and attention to their skin, corresponding author Dr. Molly Hales, a postdoctoral research fellow and dermatologist in the department of dermatology at Chicago's Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said in a news release (new window) . We're setting a very high standard for these girls. The pursuit of health has become a kind of virtue in our society, but the ideal of 'health' is also very wrapped up in ideals of beauty, thinness and whiteness. The authors in the study (new window) analyzed 100 unique videos by content creators between the ages of seven and 18, with an average 1.1 million views each. On average, each regimen featured six products, totalling about $230 Cdn. On the higher end of the scale, some of the girls used more than a dozen products on their faces, the authors said. WATCH | Explaining the 'Sephora kids' trend: Début du widget Widget. Passer le widget ? Fin du widget Widget. Retourner au début du widget ? They found that only a quarter of the skin-care routines included sunscreen use, the most popular videos contained an average of 11 irritating active ingredients for young skin (such as hydroxy acids) and the content creators often layered multiple active ingredients or the same one over and over in multiple products. In one video, the authors say, one girl applied 10 different products on her face in 10 minutes. The videos also sometimes had racially encoded language that emphasized lighter brighter skin, the authors noted. The problem with 'Sephora kids' The "Sephora kids" trend (new window) , where children as young as eight or nine use anti-aging skin-care products purchased from beauty retailers such as Sephora, started rising in popularity last year — and so have attempts to stop it. In California, for example, Alex Lee, a member of the State Assembly, has been pushing a bill that would ban the sale of anti-aging products (new window) that contain potent and harsh ingredients to kids under the age of 18. In May, CBS reported (new window) that the bill quietly died without a vote. And last December, Quebec's Order of Chemists published a warning (new window) that some skin-care products designed for adults and popularized on social media should be avoided by children because the active ingredients can be harmful to young skin. The products often contain strong active ingredients that young skin isn't properly equipped to handle, said Dr. Julia Carroll, a dermatologist and lecturer at the University of Toronto, who was not involved in the current study. WATCH | Quebec chemists warn about skin-care products and tweens: Début du widget Widget. Passer le widget ? Fin du widget Widget. Retourner au début du widget ? Younger skin is typically more sensitive, so ingredients like alpha-hydroxy acids and retinoids can cause irritation, drying, peeling and dermatitis, Carroll told CBC News. It can actually sensitize their skin and give them a lifelong allergy to an ingredient, she said. The trend also creates a dependency where kids think they need a 10-step routine, Carroll added, when really they just need a gentle cleanser, a moisturizer and a sunscreen. Gen Alpha drives sales Canadians spent almost $9 billion US (new window) on beauty and personal-care products in 2024. According to Statistics Canada, (new window) households started spending substantially more on personal care after the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing by 30 per cent in 2023 compared with 2021. Meanwhile, Generation Alpha continues to drive skin-care sales (new window) in the United States, according to recent Nielsen data. A global Mintel marketing intelligence report (new window) this year noted that this digital-first generation also has spending power projected to reach $5.5 trillion US by 2029, when the oldest of the cohort will be 19 years old. Members of Gen Alpha, who were born roughly between 2010 and 2024, see beauty influencers and their routines as sources of inspiration, the Mintel report says. However, this acceleration into adult-oriented skin care often results in routines that prioritize appearance over health — a gap that the beauty industry must address, it adds. For now on TikTok (new window) , where there are some 18.3 million Get Ready With Me videos, Gen Alpha influencers (new window) show off their skin-care routines and hauls on videos with millions of views (new window) and comments. In the Pediatrics journal study, the authors found that these products tend to be marketed heavily to younger consumers. They also expressed concern (new window) that it's nearly impossible for parents and pediatricians to track exactly what children or adolescents are viewing. A girl poses in front of her phone with a sheet mask on her face. Most tweens just need a gentle cleanser, a moisturizer and a sunscreen, says a Toronto dermatologist. We're seeing kids as young as eight or nine who are using anti-aging ingredients they picked up on TikTok, Carroll said. You're setting kids up for an unrealistic beauty standard that isn't really appropriate for an eight-year-old, nine-year-old, 10-year-old. They already have usually pretty perfect skin, so to set them down that road that early can be quite harmful. LISTEN | The Dose: How do cosmetics affect my skin health? (new window) Natalie Stechyson (new window) · CBC News · Senior Writer & Editor Natalie Stechyson has been a writer and editor at CBC News since 2021. She covers stories on social trends, families, gender, human interest, as well as general news. She's worked as a journalist since 2009, with stints at the Globe and Mail and Postmedia News, among others. Before joining CBC News, she was the parents editor at HuffPost Canada, where she won a silver Canadian Online Publishing Award for her work on pregnancy loss. You can reach her at X (new window) Instagram (new window)
CBC
18-06-2025
- Health
- CBC
'Sephora kids' are using anti-aging creams. A new study says harms aren't just skin deep
If you've recently witnessed a 10-year-old smear their face with an $80 anti-wrinkle cream — either in real life or in any number of "Get Ready With Me" TikTok videos — you're probably already aware of the "Sephora kids" skin-care trend that has young people clamouring for anti-aging products thanks in part to what they see on social media. Now, a new study published in Pediatrics this month, the first peer-reviewed paper of its kind, found that skin-care solutions promoted on TikTok not only offer little to no benefit for children and teens, but they can actually be harmful. And the risks go beyond skin damage (although, there is that, too), the authors note. "It's problematic to show girls devoting this much time and attention to their skin," corresponding author Dr. Molly Hales, a postdoctoral research fellow and dermatologist in the department of dermatology at Chicago's Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said in a news release. "We're setting a very high standard for these girls. The pursuit of health has become a kind of virtue in our society, but the ideal of 'health' is also very wrapped up in ideals of beauty, thinness and whiteness." The authors in the study analyzed 100 unique videos by content creators between the ages of seven and 18, with an average 1.1 million views each. On average, each regimen featured six products, totalling about $230 Cdn. On the higher end of the scale, some of the girls used more than a dozen products on their faces, the authors said. WATCH | Explaining the 'Sephora kids' trend: Breaking down the 'Sephora kids' trend 1 year ago Duration 8:18 Social media is abuzz about the number of tweens obsessed with makeup and skin care in a trend dubbed 'Sephora Kids.' CBC's Anya Zoledziowski explains how they're getting hooked and why experts have mixed opinions on whether we should be worried about it. They found that only a quarter of the skin-care routines included sunscreen use, the most popular videos contained an average of 11 irritating active ingredients for young skin (such as hydroxy acids) and the content creators often layered multiple active ingredients or the same one over and over in multiple products. In one video, the authors say, one girl applied 10 different products on her face in 10 minutes. The videos also sometimes had racially encoded language that emphasized "lighter brighter skin," the authors noted. The problem with 'Sephora kids' The "Sephora kids" trend, where children as young as eight or nine use anti-aging skin-care products purchased from beauty retailers such as Sephora, started rising in popularity last year — and so have attempts to stop it. In California, for example, Alex Lee, a member of the State Assembly, has been pushing a bill that would ban the sale of anti-aging products that contain potent and harsh ingredients to kids under the age of 18. In May, CBS reported that the bill quietly died without a vote. And last December, Quebec's Order of Chemists published a warning that some skin-care products designed for adults and popularized on social media should be avoided by children because the active ingredients can be harmful to young skin. The products often contain strong active ingredients that young skin isn't properly equipped to handle, said Dr. Julia Carroll, a dermatologist and lecturer at the University of Toronto, who was not involved in the current study. WATCH | Quebec chemists warn about skin-care products and tweens: Quebec chemists warn about children using certain skin-care products 7 months ago Duration 2:02 Quebec's Order of Chemists is warning that some skin-care products, designed for adults and popularized on social media, should be avoided by children because the active ingredients can be harmful to young skin. Younger skin is typically more sensitive, so ingredients like alpha-hydroxy acids and retinoids can cause irritation, drying, peeling and dermatitis, Carroll told CBC News. "It can actually sensitize their skin and give them a lifelong allergy to an ingredient," she said. The trend also creates a dependency where kids think they need a 10-step routine, Carroll added, "when really they just need a gentle cleanser, a moisturizer and a sunscreen." Gen Alpha drives sales Canadians spent almost $9 billion US on beauty and personal-care products in 2024. According to Statistics Canada, households started spending "substantially" more on personal care after the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing by 30 per cent in 2023 compared with 2021. Meanwhile, Generation Alpha continues to drive skin-care sales in the United States, according to recent Nielsen data. A global Mintel marketing intelligence report this year noted that this digital-first generation also has spending power projected to reach $5.5 trillion US by 2029, when the oldest of the cohort will be 19 years old. Members of Gen Alpha, who were born roughly between 2010 and 2024, see beauty influencers and their routines as sources of inspiration, the Mintel report says. "However, this acceleration into adult-oriented skin care often results in routines that prioritize appearance over health — a gap that the beauty industry must address," it adds. For now on TikTok, where there are some 18.3 million "Get Ready With Me" videos, Gen Alpha influencers show off their skin-care routines and "hauls" on videos with millions of views and comments. In the Pediatrics journal study, the authors found that these products tend to be marketed heavily to younger consumers. They also expressed concern that it's "nearly impossible" for parents and pediatricians to track exactly what children or adolescents are viewing. "We're seeing kids as young as eight or nine who are using anti-aging ingredients they picked up on TikTok," Carroll said. "You're setting kids up for an unrealistic beauty standard that isn't really appropriate for an eight-year-old, nine-year-old, 10-year-old. They already have usually pretty perfect skin, so to set them down that road that early can be quite harmful."
