Many of the habits we develop in our teen years continue into our adult lives, so it’s important for parents to instill good habits. Healthy life habits, including skincare, are especially important to foster in young people to help them grow into healthy, thriving adults. Teens are busy. For many that means letting their skincare routines go, so they may not be very consistent with their skincare. In this blog, you’ll get recommendations for helping teens develop and maintain effective skincare routines as well as product recommendations from our trusted dermatologists.

Understanding Teen Skin

Hormonal changes in the teenage years make these young adults prone to developing a range of skin conditions, including acne, oily skin, and excessive sweating. Lack of preventive care or a belief that tan skin is cool often leads teens to skip sunscreen and experience more serious sunburns. Those who participate in athletics may be at greater risk for fungal infections due to sweat, warm temperatures, and failure to clean thoroughly. In general, the teen years are when adult skin health issues begin to develop. Teens discover whether they have oily, dry, combination, or sensitive skin. They may also develop or see more severe symptoms of chronic skin conditions like psoriasis or eczema.

Establishing a Routine

Establishing a good skincare routine for teens can prevent some of the more serious flare-ups in skin conditions or acne breakouts. Developing good skincare habits early in life also improves general skin health both now and in the future. Teens are much more likely to maintain consistent skincare if it’s part of their daily routine, so make sure to prioritize skin health as part of their hygiene routine from an early age.

Product Selection

If you’re looking for the right products for your teen, a trip to the dermatologist may be in order. They help teens pick the perfect skincare products for their unique needs. You can also explore the curated lists of skincare products recommended by our dermatologists for teens at the links below:

Teen Skincare – These are good general skincare products that help teens combat certain skin concerns and keep skin healthy every day.

Teen Skincare Gifts – These products are great for teen skin, but they are also fun or luxurious to help teens look forward to their daily skincare routine.

Daily Skincare Steps for Teens

Teens can benefit from a basic morning and evening skincare routine that includes the following:

• Cleanser (AM & PM) – A gentle cleanser may be adequate for most teens. For teens who struggle with acne or oily skin, a stronger cleanser with salicylic acid may be recommended.
• Toner (AM & PM) – Toner balances pH and deep cleanses pores, removing any residue left behind by your cleanser.
• Serums and treatments (As Directed) – A dermatologist may recommend specific serums or skin health treatments. Teens should utilize these products as directed.
• Moisturizer (AM & PM) – It may be tempting for teens with oily skin to skip the moisturizer, but without adequate hydration, skin produces even more oil. For this reason, it’s important to apply a hydrating moisturizer morning and evening.
• Sunscreen (AM) – A broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen should be applied to all areas of skin exposed to sunlight every morning. When spending time outdoors, sunscreen should be reapplied every few hours.

Dealing with Acne

Teens with acne often overdo it. They want to clear their pimples up immediately, but the best approach is to care for skin gently. Discourage your teen from popping their pimples, scrubbing at their faces, or using harsh, drying skincare products. These practices offer instant gratification that makes teens feel like they’re fixing the problem, but they only prolong the healing process, cause inflammation, and increase the risk of scarring and infection. Instead, encourage teens to maintain a consistent morning and evening skincare routine and work with a dermatologist to introduce a good spot treatment and other healing products into their routine. Epionce Purifying Spot Gel is one of the top dermatologist-recommended acne solutions for teenagers. It clears blemishes more quickly without over-drying.

Suncare for Teens

In recent years, people have gotten more knowledgeable about the potential concerns related to sun exposure. Tanning and other high-risk behaviors are much less popular than they once were, which makes a big difference. However, many teens still want tan skin or don’t want to take the extra time to apply sunscreen every day. If your teen does nothing else for their skin, daily sunscreen application is essential. One way we find teens to be more responsive to recommendations to apply sunscreen is to talk through not just the health risks like skin cancer, but instead, we encourage parents to stress the cosmetic impact of sun exposure. Specifically, the fact that repeated or prolonged sun exposure leads to premature development of fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots. The ALASTIN Skincare HydraTint Pro Mineral Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 36 is one of our favorite sunscreens for teens. It’s lightweight, noncomedogenic, and it protects against UVA and UVB rays as well as infrared radiation and blue light.

Educational Approach

It can be hard to find the line between giving your teen enough information about skincare and nagging them about their skincare routine. From a young age, make sure you are educating your teen on healthy skin habits, and most importantly, make sure you are setting a good example. In general, keep skincare recommendations simple. Overcomplicating a skincare routine makes it less likely that your teen will keep up with it. Make sure to instill healthy habits that are simple and straightforward, including:

• Wear sunscreen every day.
• Always remove cosmetics before going to bed.
• Don’t touch your face more often than necessary.
• Keep skin clean, but don’t scrub or use harsh products that over clean skin.

When to See a Dermatologist

Anyone who wants to improve their skin health should consider a trip to the dermatologist, but your teens should definitely see a dermatologist if they experience any of the following:

• Over-the-counter products aren’t managing skin health concerns
• Your teen is fighting you about skincare products or routines
• Severe symptoms of acne, eczema, or other skin health concerns are painful, cause scars, or impact your teen’s self-confidence
• You notice signs of skin cancer

Nurture Skincare Habits at Every Age

Teens who start taking care of their skin early in life and maintain a consistent skincare routine are significantly more likely to continue these routines as adults. As parents, it’s important to nurture your young adult’s skincare habits, so they will continue caring for their skin as adults and sustain healthy, beautiful skin.

Keep Exploring the Derm Skincare Site

Explore our range of teen skincare products and find the perfect skincare routine to help your teen shine with confidence! We have skincare products that will make your teen look forward to their morning and evening skincare routines. You can also visit our blog regularly for more tips and product recommendations.