Anti-ageing skincare for children is reaching increasingly young users in Finland, with dermatologists reporting cases of minors developing persistent skin irritation after using products designed for adults. According to Finnish public broadcaster Yle, some children are using retinoids, chemical exfoliants and multi-step skincare routines promoted through TikTok and other social media platforms.
Dermatology specialist Carl Kyrklund, who works at Ihosairaala in Finland, told Yle that he has treated young patients suffering from persistent facial rashes that were eventually linked to adult skincare products.
“They are designed to treat wrinkles and signs of ageing, which children obviously do not have,” Kyrklund said. In some cases, he added, the skin improved simply after the products were discontinued.
There are no national data showing how widespread the use of anti-ageing skincare is among Finnish children. The cases reported by dermatologists therefore indicate that the phenomenon exists, but do not establish its prevalence.
Anti-ageing skincare can damage children’s skin
Among the ingredients causing concern are AHA and BHA acids and retinoids, active substances commonly found in products marketed for exfoliation, acne treatment or reducing signs of ageing.
According to Kyrklund, strong active ingredients can place excessive stress on the skin barrier, particularly when several products are combined or used incorrectly. Possible consequences include dryness, rashes and allergic contact dermatitis. Strong chemical products can also cause burns or aggravate existing conditions such as acne, atopic dermatitis and perioral dermatitis.
Retinoids are derivatives of vitamin A commonly used in adult skincare because they can stimulate collagen production and increase skin-cell turnover. For children seeking to prevent wrinkles, however, they have no anti-ageing purpose.
There are medical exceptions. Kyrklund noted that teenagers with acne may, for example, be treated with products containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide when appropriate.
The concern is therefore not skincare itself, but the use of powerful active ingredients without a dermatological need, particularly as part of increasingly elaborate routines.
TikTok skincare trends are reaching younger children
The spread of these routines is closely connected to a wider social media culture around skincare.
On TikTok, children and young teenagers reproduce formats popularised by adult beauty influencers, including “get ready with me” videos, product demonstrations and multi-stage routines involving toners, serums, eye creams and exfoliants. Some videos feature children who appear to be around ten years old.
The aesthetic promoted by many of these routines is often described as “glass skin”, referring to an extremely smooth, even and reflective complexion associated particularly with Korean beauty trends.
The issue is not confined to Finland. A 2026 paper indexed by PubMed discusses the concept of “cosmeticorexia”, or dermorexia, describing a culturally reinforced preoccupation with flawless skin that can encourage excessive or age-inappropriate cosmetic use.
The authors point to social media, appearance-focused content and the growing market for products positioned between cosmetics and dermatology as factors that may expose children to complex skincare routines at younger ages. They also stress that cosmeticorexia is not currently a formally recognised diagnosis and that more research, including epidemiological monitoring, is needed.
Sweden has already restricted some skincare sales to under-15s
The debate has already produced a concrete response elsewhere in the Nordic region.
In Sweden, pharmacy chain Apotek Hjärtat introduced an age restriction in 2024 covering several categories of advanced skincare products. Customers under 15 can only buy the affected products with parental approval or when they have a skin condition that justifies their use.
The restrictions cover products containing AHA and BHA acids, vitamin A including retinol, vitamin C and several types of exfoliants. The company said the measure was intended to prevent retailers from contributing to unhealthy skincare behaviours and beauty ideals among children.
The Swedish policy offers a possible reference point as concern grows elsewhere over the accessibility of products developed primarily for adult skin.
The debate is also moving towards how cosmetics are marketed
Questions are increasingly being raised not only about what children buy, but also about how skincare is marketed to them.
In Italy, the Italian Competition Authority (Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato) opened investigations in March 2026 into Sephora, Benefit Cosmetics and companies belonging to LVMH. The authority said it was examining possible unfair commercial practices involving adult cosmetics and young consumers, including the alleged use of very young micro-influencers and potentially inadequate warnings about products not intended or tested for minors.
That investigation does not establish wrongdoing, but it illustrates how the discussion around children’s skincare is expanding from dermatology into consumer protection and advertising regulation.
For Finland, the evidence remains limited to reported clinical cases and observations rather than nationwide statistics. What those cases show more clearly is a change in the meaning of children’s skincare: routines once associated mainly with hygiene or specific conditions are increasingly intersecting with an adult beauty culture centred on preventing ageing and eliminating ordinary imperfections.
Whether Finland follows Sweden with retail restrictions remains an open question. For now, the Nordic comparison suggests that the debate over children’s skincare is likely to involve not only parents and dermatologists, but also pharmacies, cosmetics companies, social media platforms and regulators.
