Are your skin habits influencing your teenager’s skin health?

Whether you have a good or bad skin routine, your teenager is probably watching – and learning. Skin is just as important for them as it is for you. However, your child’s skin is different to yours, and it need to be treated with care. So, what’s the difference between teenage and adult skin? And how can you ensure their skin routine is supporting their skin health?  

What makes teenage skin different?  

Your teenager’s skin is, in many respects, at its prime. It hasn’t yet been impacted by 30 to 50 years of UV and environmental damage, along with hormonal influxes native to pregnancy and menopause. Teenage skin is pure, undamaged, and bouncing with collagen – so we, as parents, need to help to protect and preserve its integrity for as long as possible.

Our integumentary system (skin and derivatives) is the largest organ in our body. It protects the body from external factors and works as a sensor, sending messages to our brain that help it to understand the outside world. If your teenager’s skin is prepared for the challenges it will face over its lifetime, then its will be armed to fight incoming battles better than most.

What are the basics steps to healthy teenage skin health?

At Skindepth Perth, we encourage teenagers to keep it simple.

1)    Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen – we love Dermaceutic K Ceutic SPF 50, available in clinic.

We say this to our clients – and even more so to our teenagers ­– apply sunscreen. Every single day – rain, hail and (especially) sunshine! Even if they are inside all day or only travel to school in a car – they’ll still be exposed to UV.

Hot tip: monkey see, monkey do.  If you are putting on sunscreen, your teenager will likely ask you why and want to do the same.

2)    Gentle cleanse – we love Rationale #4 The Cleanser, available in clinic or online at rationale.com using our unique doctors code 16185-RA10

If your teenager has mastered the art of putting on sunscreen every day before school, then they can begin cleansing their face at night. The cleanser should be gentle and milky. If the cleanser is too soapy and exfoliating it can dry the skin, leaving your teens skin feeling tight. 

Encourage a double cleanse (approx. 30sec) before they go to bed each evening. This will help to clean off the sunscreen, dirt, and environmental debris of the day, and allow the skin to relax and heal while they sleep. They’ll wake feeling clean and fresh!

3)    Moisturise – we love Avene Tolerance Skin Recovery Cream, available in clinic.

It’s  not always necessary for teenagers to apply moisturiser because their skin barrier is less damaged. Moisturisers play a role to adding hydration to the skin and stopping hydration leaving the skin. The skins hydration is related to the integrity of the skin barrier (stratum corneum).  If your teens skin barrier is intact, they are less likely to need moisturiser.

However, if your teenager is active – playing sport (especially outside), wearing helmets or other head gear, wearing performance makeup, swimming or anything else that might affect the skin barrier – then using a moisturiser post-cleanse will help hydrate and strengthen their skin during the night.

4)    Skin assessment

If your child has started to struggle with skin issues like acne, whiteheads or blackheads then a skin assessment by a qualified skin professional at Skindepth Perth is a good next step. We will be able to help them better understand their skin type and help you suggest appropriate skincare allowing them to feel confident in their skin.

Book a skin assessment for your teenager today!

Skindepth Perth Teen Skin consultation and assessment is $125 and includes a 9 minute Healite Treatment.