All your skincare and beauty problems answered.
My daughter is nine years old and is required to attend school activities most of the time. I’ve noticed recently that her face is getting drier and darker. May I know, at her age now, is it advisable for her to apply moisturizer or sunblock everyday? If not, when is the best time for her to start? – Teresa
Product trainer Regenn Lee says that external aggressors such as pollution and the harshness of the sun do not recognize age. These will harm and damage the skin, regardless whether you are a child or an adult. Outdoor activities and excessive exposure to the sun are bound to cause UV damage, which appears initially as merely a darker skin tone and dehydration.
The darker skin tone is due to the overproduction of melanin. In between the epidermis and dermis, there are cells called melanocytes which, when exposed to ultraviolet radiation from the sun, will produce melanin.
This is absorbed by keratinocytes, which use it to protect themselves from the UV rays as a form of “sunshade”. This melanin response to UV becomes a natural sunscreen, providing protection to the keratinocyte cells by absorbing UV radiation, resulting in a visible tan.
This explains why your daughter’s skin gets darker after her outdoor activities. In the long run, overexposure to the sun will lead to hyperpigmentation which will be more prominent later when she becomes an adult. Prolonged exposure also causes water to evaporate from the surface, reducing the water and natural oil content in the skin.
Children may be too young for more intensive or targeted skincare. But a proper skincare regimen is recommended as soon as the child is able to be take ownership of taking care of her own skin. At different stages of our lives, our skin requires very specific needs that evolve over time.
At the tender age of nine, a child’s skin is still healthy and able to exfoliate naturally. The key is giving them the correct products to use, and this should be basic, water-based, light textured, non-comedogenic, gentle on the skin, yet able to meet her skin’s needs.
So, do use a moisturizer and sunblock every day for your daughter. She also needs to clean and tone her skin properly to keep a healthy skin.
A very mild and gentle cleanser helps to remove impurities and dirt, without drying the skin, and soften skin’s texture.
For help in choosing products that are right for your child, call Monterey Day Spa, to seek advice from our Estheticians – 831-373-2273
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