6 August 2026
Dermatologists and the cosmetics industry are calling for clearer warning labels on anti-ageing skincare after an ITV News investigation, published on 17 July 2026, found children as young as four using products designed for adult skin. For clinics that retail skincare or see younger patients, the story is a prompt to review retail advice, staff training and marketing before any formal rule arrives. The British Association of Dermatologists wants packaging to carry explicit warnings about irritation, allergy and longer term skin damage, and the Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association, the industry's own trade body, has told parents plainly that anti-ageing products should not be used on young skin.
What the ITV News investigation found
ITV News reported on 17 July 2026 that children as young as four are using anti-ageing skincare after copying Get Ready With Me style routines from social media. The investigation featured a 13 year old, Sienna, who developed a swollen, peeling rash that took months to heal after using adult anti-ageing products. In response, the British Association of Dermatologists called for packaging to carry more explicit warnings covering irritation, allergy and possible longer term skin damage. The trade press picked up the story quickly, with Aesthetics Journal covering the calls for warning labels on 4 August 2026.
How many children are actually using these products
The Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association commissioned OnePoll to survey 2,000 UK parents of 8 to 14 year olds in late 2025 to gauge the scale of the trend. It found that 85 per cent of parents now have regular conversations with their child about skincare, 32 per cent several times a week, and that 42 per cent believe their child knows more about skincare than they do. Alongside new parent guidance, the CTPA stated plainly that anti-ageing products and complex routines should not be used on young people's skin, since they are not designed for that purpose.
Why this reaches beyond the skincare aisle
Many aesthetic clinics retail skincare brands alongside their treatment menus, and several of those ranges include retinol, acids and vitamin C serums aimed at mature skin. The Advertising Standards Authority has reminded advertisers that ads must not exploit children's inexperience or vulnerability, and that rule applies just as much to a clinic's own website, social content and in clinic displays as it does to a national skincare brand. A poorly considered product demonstration or before and after post featuring a teenager creates exactly the exposure this story describes.
What clinic owners should review now
Ahead of any formal labelling rule, it is worth checking that retail staff know which actives are unsuitable for under 16s and have a simple line ready when a parent or teenager asks for them. Review social and marketing content for anything that could read as marketing adult actives to a younger audience. It also helps to record age and skin maturity in consultation notes whenever a parent brings in a teenager for a skin consultation, consistent with the safeguarding approach clinics already take around under-18 cosmetic procedures.
Common questions
Is anti-ageing skincare safe for children to use?
No. The British Association of Dermatologists and the CTPA both say ingredients such as retinol and acids, formulated for mature skin, are not designed for children and can cause irritation, allergic reaction or longer term damage to the skin barrier.
How many children are using anti-ageing skincare products?
A CTPA commissioned survey of 2,000 UK parents of 8 to 14 year olds, carried out by OnePoll in late 2025, found that 85 per cent of parents now discuss skincare regularly with their child and 42 per cent believe their child knows more about it than they do.
Should clinics stop selling anti-ageing skincare to younger customers?
There is no legal age restriction yet, but the CTPA's own guidance says anti-ageing products should not be used on young skin, so training retail staff to say so and reviewing marketing content is a sensible step before any formal rule is introduced.
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