Dermatologist Explains Why Parents Should Think Twice About Letting Tweens Buy Viral Skincare Products (Exclusive)

All over TikTok, parents lament that their tweens are asking for expensive skin care products to add to their daily regimen.

Many adults, who grew up with minimal, if any, skincare routine, are shocked to see tweens and teens committing to multi-step rituals with products you can't find in drugstores. According to Dr. Azadeh Shirazi, board-certified dermatologist and founder of AziMD, less is generally more when it comes to tweens venturing into skincare for the first time.

"Skincare routines for tweens and teens need to be simple as their skin only requires three basic steps: cleansing, moisturizing, and applying SPF," Dr. Shirazi tells PEOPLE. 

"Once they have the basics, then look at adding a product formulated with ingredients designed to target and treat specific skin conditions such as acne or eczema.  They definitely don’t need all of these serums, masks, oils, toners, etc.. involving multiple steps."

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Dr. Shirazi says that it's important that kids old enough to be exploring skincare understand they need to "recognize the skin as a highly functional organ."  

"It’s not designed to receive multiple products or multiple steps in a given routine," he explains. "It’s also best to avoid bombarding the skin with multiple products at a time because if their skin reacts negatively, it will be harder to pinpoint the culprit. It’s best to introduce one product at a time and give it a couple of weeks before adding another."

Using too many skin products runs the risk of "skin sensitization long term," Dr. Shirazi warns. "The more exposure to products, the more likely for our skin to form a memory of skincare ingredients resulting in rashes and breakouts later in life."

The use of products meant for mature skin can also be damaging when applied to young skin unnecessarily.

"A teenager's skin has a different microbiome than mature skin. Their hormonal climate, which dictates many skin functions, is also vastly different," Dr. Shirazi explains.  

"They’re going to have more oil production and faster cell renewal rates compared to older skin. Many of the products designed for anti-aging purposes are not necessary for young skin. Not only are they needless, but they can also disrupt their skin barrier and microclimate. This, in turn, can lead to increased breakouts, dry, irritated patches, or skin damage."  

That said, Dr. Shirazi says parents should encourage an interest in skincare in tweens and teens because "establishing healthy routines early in life is important."  

"Just like brushing your teeth, it’s important to apply your sunscreen to protect against sun damage and skin cancer," he notes.

"Quality products can play an important role in treating teen skin and there are many great options at varying price points. It’s best to look for products that are gentle, non-comedogenic, and formulated without potential sensitizing agents or allergens."