Skincare for Teens
With a surge of interest in TikTok skincare influencers, Sephora, Ulta, online beauty products, and more, younger people are more invested in skincare practices than ever. Products are colorful with trendy marketing. With so many choices, ingredients, and claims out in the market, it can be overwhelming.
We’re here to help. Our dermatologists offer expert advice on maintaining healthy skin during the teen years.
Build Healthy Skincare Habits
Cleanse twice daily. Use a gentle cleanser to wash your face morning and night. Dermatologists rarely recommend scrubs for daily use. Cleansing can be done with your fingertips alone or with a gentle washcloth. Over-cleansing or under-cleansing comes with risks. Adequate cleansing removes pollutants, dirt, oil, and makeup, and if done properly with a follow-up moisturizer, can hydrate dry skin. Avoid using hot water for cleansing, which can dry out your skin.
Recommended cleansers: Eucerin Hydrating Cleansing Gel, LaRoche Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser or Purifying Foaming Wash, Cerave Foaming Facial Cleanser or Cerave Hydrating Facial Cleanser, and Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser
Moisturize. Even if you have oily skin, moisturizing is crucial. Use a fragrance-free (beware of the term unscented) moisturizer to prevent dryness and itching and to reinforce your skin barrier. This becomes especially critical during the cold and dry months. Creams are generally thicker than lotions. Lotions are more substantial than serums. Look for non-comedogenic or water-based products that won’t clog pores. Pro tip: Apply moisturizer directly to partially dampened skin after washing.
Recommended moisturizers: Neutrogena Hydroboost Gel, Cerave Lotion (for dry skin), EltaMD AM Therapy Facial Moisturizer (for oily complexion), LaRoche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer (for oily complexion)
Exfoliate in moderation. You can use a gentle exfoliant once a week to remove dead skin cells, but avoid over-exfoliating as it can irritate the skin. Remember that your skin has mastered exfoliating as part of its function. If you are being treated with retinol or retinoid, or using other acne products with salicylic acid, your skin will be exfoliated by these ingredients and no extra step is necessary.
Recommended gentle exfoliating products for acne-prone skin: SSDP Complexion Correction Pads and Cleanser
Sunscreen is essential. Always apply sunscreen every day year-round, even on cloudy days. A broad-spectrum SPF of 30 or higher protects against UV damage. Daily use protects your skin from UV rays that can cause premature aging via DNA damage and blunting your skin’s immune responses.
Recommended sunscreens: EltaMD UV Clear SPF 46, Eucerin Face Immersive Hydration Daily Lotion Broad Spectrum SPF 30, La Roche-Posay multiple options including Anthelios Melt-in-Milk Sunscreen SPF 60
Lifestyle Matters
Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated from the inside out. Drinks with caffeine and sugars can have the opposite effects on your skin—limit these!
Get enough sleep. Sleep helps with skin repair and can reduce stress, which may help prevent breakouts.
Wash your sheets. Wash your sheets and pillowcases regularly to remove dirt, oil, and dead skin cells that can clog your pores.
Eat a balanced diet. Incorporate fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to support overall skin health. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, fish, whole grains, and nuts provides your skin with essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids. Diets that contain these healthy elements help with inflammation, unlike processed high fructose-containing foods/drinks.
Listen to your skin. Choose the right products. Look for products specifically formulated for your skin type (oily, dry, combination).
Things to Avoid
Try not to touch your face. This helps prevent the transfer of bacteria and oil that can lead to breakouts.
Don’t pick at blemishes. Picking can lead to scarring and worsen acne. Instead, use spot treatments with ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Also popular these days are pimple patches containing hydrocolloid which work very well to protect the skin from external irritation, block you from picking at pimples, and hydrate the skin for faster healing.
For teens interested in skin care, less is more. Focus on the basics of healthy skin. If you have persistent skin issues that do not respond to the measures recommended above or have any questions, consult one of our board-certified dermatologists.
Any questions? Consult one of our board-certified dermatologists. Please contact SSDP to schedule an appointment with any of our physicians.
Co-Author Credit: Eric Goodney, SSDP Gap Year Team
References:
Sharma, N., Chaudhary, S. M., Khungar, N., Aulakh, S. K., Idris, H., Singh, A., & Sharma, K. (2024). Dietary Influences on Skin Health in Common Dermatological Disorders. Cureus, 16(2), e55282.
Oyetakin-White, P., Suggs, A., Koo, B., Matsui, M. S., Yarosh, D., Cooper, K. D., & Baron, E. D. (2015). Does poor sleep quality affect skin ageing? Clinical and experimental dermatology, 40(1), 17–22.