Study from University of São Paulo Warns Against Early Use of Makeup, Citing Risks of Premature Adultification

With the growth of social media, it is increasingly common to see children sharing and consuming content related to the use of makeup, personal care and skincare . In the United States, the phenomenon is so common that there are reports of children visiting cosmetics stores every day and abusing the use of beauty products intended for adults. Professor Luciana Caetano, from the Institute of Psychology (IP) at USP, analyzes the factors that are influencing this process of early adultification of children around the world and discusses practices that can prevent this behavior.

According to the expert, the first factor that explains this phenomenon is the withdrawal of children’s right to be children, since they are gradually becoming concerned with topics that are not in keeping with the world of children and are part of the daily lives of adults, such as concern with beauty and appearance, for example. She emphasizes that children need adults to be able to experience all aspects of a healthy childhood, including reading, building friendships and playing, especially outdoors.

The second factor reported by the professor is the widespread presence of marketing and advertising strategies aimed at children, who have not yet developed inhibitory control skills to make the best decisions. She says that the market aimed at children is very rich and generates a lot of profit, so they are bombarded with advertisements for this niche and often end up being influenced by what is offered.

According to Luciana, the third factor is responsible for grouping the first two and consists of parental relationships. “Adults need to be responsible so that children can reclaim the concept of childhood, build appropriate values ​​and experience a healthy environment, where they are not subjected to inappropriate stimuli, such as the use of cell phones, screens and constant access to influencer channels and social media,” she says.

Consequences

For the professor, the process of early adultification of children is nothing new and has been going on for a long time, as in the fashion market, for example, where it is common to see children wearing clothes made for adults. She says that television also contributes negatively to this phenomenon, as in the case of old children’s programs with an erotic appeal or subscription channels that broadcast programming 24 hours a day, even today.

According to the expert, when a child does not adequately experience the processes of healthy childhood development, the risks to their future are enormous and may even involve mental illness. She highlights the high rates of people suffering from anxiety and depression and reinforces that these problems may be the result of inadequate procedures during a young age.

“Another very explicit consequence of this process also concerns children’s lack of interest in school, literature, the construction of knowledge and science. This also generates excessive concerns with values ​​that are not ideal for children to build; this excessive appreciation of appearance prevents the construction of other values ​​that are so important for humanity,” he points out.

Signals

According to Luciana Caetano, parents or teachers can observe signs that a child is showing signs of this adultification process in their daily lives. One of the most common signs, according to her, is when the child stops doing and showing interest in outdoor activities and spends long periods of time in front of cell phones, computers or television screens. She emphasizes that this behavior can be acquired and reproduced by the child when they observe that their parents have the same attitudes.

“Parents need to be more involved with their children in the sense of having time to eat meals together, to walk together in the park, and to do a series of more interesting activities together with their children. In addition, the school could help with family guidance and also restrict the use of cell phones in the educational environment,” he says.

Dermatological risks

Paula Yume, a graduate of the USP School of Medicine (FM) and a volunteer doctor in dermatological surgery at the Hospital das Clínicas (HC), explains that, from a dermatological point of view, the risks that the use of adult makeup can cause to children’s skin are worrying. She states that a child’s skin is not fully mature and, because it is thinner, it has difficulty performing its natural function of hydration, retaining water and protecting against external aggressors, which is why some products that come into contact with this tissue have a greater potential to cause allergies and dermatitis.

Furthermore, the doctor explains that cosmetics in general contain some substances that are potentially irritating to adults, and therefore can cause even more serious impacts on children’s skin. She indicates that some of these products may contain fragrances, dyes, preservatives and metals, such as traces of mercury, lead and rubber derivatives, for example.

“So, in addition to always trying to use makeup that is appropriate for the child’s age, that is hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, from a reliable source and approved by regulatory agencies, it is also important that, when removing makeup, removers for sensitive skin are used, which will not harm the child’s skin, which is already more delicate”, she states.

Skincare

According to the expert, the practice of using skin care products, called skincare , with adult cosmetics, is dispensable for children, but some other products are essential for the healthy development of children’s skin. She states that the skin of a young person is rich in collagen and elastic fibers and the loss of these substances only occurs when the person approaches thirty years of age.

“What we see on social media of children using adult cosmetics and anti-aging creams is not necessary and will not prevent aging in the future, because it is caused by natural factors, such as exposure to ultraviolet radiation, for example. Therefore, a child’s skin care routine basically involves washing their face with a soap suitable for sensitive skin, using a moisturizer and sunscreen. But it is also important to emphasize that some children who have an atypical skin condition need to use specific products,” she points out.