Specialist dermatologist Dr Ritu Gupta was featured in The Australian for her professional take on “cosmeticorexia,” a term for an obsessive preoccupation with skincare and cosmetic products. Dr Ritu warns parents in this special post, as she has witnessed firsthand an increasing number of young patients in her Sydney clinic, with children as young as 10 years coming in due to infected rashes as a result of an elaborate skin care ritual.
She mentioned that this issue is primarily fueled by social media as well as inappropriate marketing with skincare brands targeting and exploiting young children, misinforming them of the use of trending products such as those containing retinols, peptides, and salicylic acid, in an effort to avoid ageing skin.
Dr Ritu specifically mentioned the younger generation’s obsession with K-beauty (Korean beauty), particularly achieving a “glass skin.” K-beauty is popular for its multi-step regimens, with most products containing exotic ingredients that have not been tested in humans. Not to mention, these products are mostly expensive. Children, specifically pre-teens, are still unable to distinguish between marketing hype and the real deal. Eventually, parents often end up getting these products for their children in fear that their children will be left out.
Dr Ritu ended the post with some advice to parents. What children need for skin care is very straightforward: a gentle cleanser, a moisturiser, and sunscreen. Parents must instil the habit of applying daily SPF, even on a cloudy day, to protect their child’s long-term skin health.
And if a child still insists on these products, she advises parents to take them to a GP or a dermatologist. Dr Ritu stressed that a child’s skin is fine and the only thing it needs is sunscreen, not products approved by a social media influencer.
Read the full article here: The K-beauty obsession is harming your child’s skin – The Australian
To consult with Dr Ritu, please book online, WhatsApp at 0493 766 096, or call (02) 8014 6500.
