Pediatric Skin Care Regimens on TikTok.

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Social Media Analysis
• Pediatric Care

Background:

• Online video platforms increasingly feature young influencers demonstrating complex skincare routines.
• This trend may influence pediatric skincare practices and product choices.
• Content creators as young as 7 years old are observed performing multi-step regimens.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically analyze TikTok videos featuring skincare regimens.
• To assess content created by individuals aged 18 years or younger.

Main Methods:

• Investigators created TikTok accounts posing as 13-year-olds to access relevant content.
• 100 unique videos were compiled, collecting data on creator demographics, product count, cost, and ingredients.
• Ingredients were analyzed for potential risks of allergic contact dermatitis using the Pediatric Baseline Series.

Main Results:

• Videos averaged 1.1 million views, featuring an average of 6 products costing $168 per regimen.
• Only 26.2% of videos included sunscreen.
• The most-viewed videos contained numerous potentially irritating active and inactive ingredients, some listed in the Pediatric Baseline Series.

Conclusions:

• TikTok skincare regimens targeting pediatric populations are costly and often inappropriate.
• These routines frequently contain ingredients that risk skin irritation, allergic reactions, and sun sensitivity.
• The observed regimens provide little to no demonstrated benefit for children's skin health.