One of the biggest clichés in health and skincare is that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and this is usually the inspiration for people to get on top of their skincare routines early to avoid the need for more intense treatments late in life to maintain their skin’s glow.
This is generally meant as a call to action for people who may not have thought about their skincare seriously to develop a suitable skincare routine that is right for them or visit a skin clinic just for advice or perhaps a non-invasive laser treatment unless they have a specific concern.
Whilst some people worry about leaving it too late to look into anti-ageing treatments, it is also possible to start using them too early.
Sephora Kids
One of the biggest stories in recent weeks involving anti-ageing treatments is the restriction of the sale of “advanced skincare” products to under-15s by the Swedish pharmacy Apotek Hjärtat, as reported in The Guardian.
This means that children and teenagers will not be allowed to buy skin products which include products such as enzyme peelers, retinol, vitamin C, alpha hydroxy acid or beta hydroxy acid without parental consent or a skin condition that requires one of these ingredients.
This policy change appears to be in response to a growing social media trend of children using harsh skin products often known by the nickname “Sephora kids” and following elaborate influencer-led skincare routines.
Some aspects of this are relatively harmless outside of the costs of some products that are being showcased, but others could potentially do more harm than good for very young and sensitive skin.
The needs of your skin change dramatically as you age, and the types of treatments that are suitable at age 40 are different from the ones at age 30, at age 21, as a teenager and as a child.
For children, anything more than a very gentle cleanser, moisturising cream and SPF sunscreen is likely to be too excessive unless they have an existing skin condition.
Overly harsh products can create negative reactions and sensitivities to certain products in the long run and can accentuate existing skin conditions such as atopic eczema.
When Is The Best Time To Start With Anti-Ageing?
Whilst the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles may lead to a belief that the damage is already done, it is never too late to start an anti-ageing routine, as our skin rejuvenates and refreshes itself so often that there will be a striking and positive effect to the right ingredients.
As for too early, obviously you should not focus on anything other than the absolute basics (gentle cleanser, moisturiser, SPF) outside of anything specifically recommended by a doctor or dermatologist until the age of 18, but even this might be too early for some people to start preventative skincare.
Typically, experts in skincare recommend starting retinol and other active products in your 20s, starting with mild concentrations used infrequently before using them more often as and when you feel you need to.
