Many of us are in an endless battle for flawless skin, with various cleansers, toners, and tinctures filling our bathroom cabinets. The newest victims? Girls are barely old enough to have pimples. TikTok users’ comprehensive skincare procedures highlight the broad interest in anti-aging products.
Jessica DeFino, a beauty writer, refers to this condition as “dermorexia.” The pressure to maintain youthful skin, similar to diet culture, can lead to health issues such as skin disorders and compulsive behavior. Not to mention the wasted time and money that comes with unmet promises. Here’s how we got here and how we can get out of being dermorexic.
Women have had skincare rituals for generations, but not to the level we do now.
According to a poll, Gen Z spends the most money on skincare, which is also the most popular beauty category. Subscriptions to the popular Reddit thread, r/SkincareAddiction, have surged by almost 60 percent in the last year.
How did we move from our grandmother’s two-step skincare regimen to our complicated regimens today?
Many factors contribute to the popularity of skincare, including its prevalence on social media (e.g., GRWM videos), the rise of celebrity skincare companies, the branding of skincare as self-care, and the medicalization of skincare, which has made everyday consumers familiar with specific ingredients such as niacinamide and retinol.
So, how can you know whether your 10-step skincare routine is a problem?
Dermatologist Whitney Bowe, MD, explains that it stems from the idea that more is better. She claims that layering too many cosmetics, which might include harsh active ingredients, “does not promote skin health, but rather causes irritation and a damaged skin barrier in many cases.”
Damage to the skin barrier reduces its ability to retain moisture and block out allergens. This can aggravate disorders such as acne, eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis.
The pressure to fulfill unattainable beauty standards also has a negative impact on our mental health.
“The more we focus on our skin, the more it becomes a cause of self-consciousness and self-hatred, especially among young females,” DeFino explains. DeFino cites a short research that suggests a “substance-related problem concerning cosmetic operations.”
We all have or will get wrinkles. The cosmetics industry perpetuates the misconception that you can anti-age your skin. Dermatologist Sophia Reid, MD, suggests discussing realistic expectations, particularly with young females.
Additionally, accepting aging may improve overall health.
It’s also vital to realize that what works for one influencer may not work for another.
“The crucial thing is to tailor your skincare program to your specific skin demands,” Reid explains. Consider consulting with a doctor, and Bowe recommends getting back to basics and using “a mild cleanser and a nourishing moisturizer without aroma or essential oils.”
No one will judge you if applying under-eye patches or steaming your face is the highlight of your day. However, for many people, the never-ending quest for young skin may be psychologically and physically exhausting (not to mention financially depleting). Remember that your sophisticated skincare routine will not avoid the inevitable.
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