Parenting Teens: Skincare, Cosmetics, Tattoos & Piercings
Angela Oswalt Morelli , MSW, edited by C. E. Zupanick, Psy.D.Although parents no longer bathe and groom their adolescent children, parents still have an important role regarding their youths' health and hygiene. Parents will need to continue to provide guidance and education to ensure their youth continue to care for their bodies in a healthy manner.
During early and middle adolescence, parents may need to take a more active role to ensure their teen is maintaining their regular hygienic routine. It is often tempting to assume that a previously developed habit will be maintained without requiring parental oversight; but, because adolescents "live in the moment" they often fail to consider the long-term consequences of their actions. For instance, by the time children begin their adolescent period, most will have developed a regular practice of brushing their teeth without the need for a lot of parental prompting, simply because it was expected of them. However, during adolescence youth no longer do things just because they are "supposed to." So they may become lax about ordinary routines such as brushing their teeth, or even bathing. In addition, there are changes to their bodies that require special hygienic attention, and new routines and products for them to learn to use properly. For example, young adolescent girls may simply not know how to use mascara in a hygienic manner so as to prevent eye infections. Therefore, parents will need to continue to provide education, as well as clearly communicate their expectations that youth must consistently care for their bodies in a healthy and hygienic manner.
During early adolescence some teens (most commonly, guys) may attempt to avoid attending to their basic hygienic routine or they may simply fail to prioritize their hygiene when these "boring" tasks interfere with other more enjoyable activities. There's nothing particularly fun about bathing or brushing one's teeth, especially when compared to late night video game marathons with friends, or getting a bit more sleep. These teens will need to receive regular reminders to allow sufficient time to complete their basic hygiene. However, if reminders seem insufficient and a teen appears to be purposefully avoiding these activities, parents may need to reinforce the family rules about hygiene and may need to attach incentives or consequences to the regular completion of these routines.
Conversely, other teens, (most commonly, girls) may become excessively preoccupied with their personal grooming and appearance. They may spend several hours in the bathroom attending to their skin, hair, and makeup. Parents need to help these youth find the delicate balance between taking pride in their hygiene and personal appearance without becoming too fixated on their physical attributes. Adolescence is a difficult time when youth can feel like everyone is watching them and judging them at the same time their bodies are changing radically. When parents encourage youth to step away from the mirror, it helps youth to focus on other activities, relationships, and interests that offer more meaningful opportunities to build a positive self-esteem. By middle to late adolescence youth have reached a level of maturity such that they can now take over full and complete responsibility for maintaining their personal hygiene. If youth have not developed this level of responsibility by this time, and demonstrate a consistent lack of attention to personal hygiene, this could be an indication of larger problem developing. Some types of mental disorders, such as depression, can be indicated by a consistent lack of attention to grooming and personal hygiene. Parents should discuss these concerns with their child's health care provider.
Resources
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Articles
- Adolescent Parenting Introduction
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Healthy Teens: Food, Eating & Nutrition During Adolescence
- Teenage Caloric Requirements
- Nutritional Guidelines for Teens
- How Can Parents Help Teens to Develop Healthy Eating Habits?
- Common Nutritional Challenges for Teenagers: Adolescent Obesity
- Common Nutritional Challenges for Teenagers: Eating Disorders and Unhealthy Dieting
- Common Nutritional Challenges for Teenagers: Adolescent Diabetes
- Adolescent Diabetes Continued
- Healthy Teens: Exercise and Sports
- Healthy Teens: Sleep
- Parenting Teens: Clothing Clashes, Housing Decisions, & Financial Management
- Parenting Teens: Skincare, Cosmetics, Tattoos, & Piercings
- Caring for Teens: Healthcare for Teens and Young Adults
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Parenting Teens: Discipline, Love, Rules & Expectations
- Parenting Teens: Discipline, Love, Rules & Expectations
- Discipline and Guidance: Early to Middle Adolescence
- Discipline and Guidance: Early to Middle Adolescence: Time Management and Family Commitments
- Discipline and Guidance: Early to Middle Adolescence: Socializing, Dating and Driving
- Discipline and Guidance: Older Adolescents and Young Adults (18 Years and Older)
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A Parent’s Guide to Protecting Teens’ Health and Safety
- A Parent's Guide to Protecting Teens' Health & Safety
- Understanding the Risks of Adolescent Drug Use: Part II
- What Can Parents Do to Prevent Teenage Alcohol and Drug Use?
- Steps Parents Can Take to Protect Their Children from Alcohol and Other Drug Use
- Steps for Parents: Part II
- Driving Privileges and Safe Driving Practices for Young Drivers
- Parental Guidelines for Teen Driving Privileges: The Family Driving Contract
- Protecting Teens from Abusive Relationships and Dating Violence
- Protecting Teens from Teenage Fights, Gang Violence, Exposure to Sexual Predators and Graphic Internet Violence
- Protecting Teens from Teenage Bullying
- Protecting Adolescent Safety: Independent Living
- Personal Security While in Public Places
- Adolescent Parenting Summary & Conclusion
- Adolescent Parenting: References & Resources
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Questions and Answers
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Book & Media Reviews
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Links
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Videos
- Feeling down? Let's talk - Prevention of suicide among adolescents
- Teen Drug Use: 2014 Monitoring The Future Survey Results
- NPW 2017: Suicide and Substance Use in Young People
- Are We Feeding Early Puberty
- Why Teens Are Attracted to Vaping
- Is My High School Student Ready for College? (And Is My College Student Ready to Go Back?)
- Advice to Parents | Drugs & College 101
- Teen Depression Screening
- Let’s talk about depression – focus on adolescents and young adults
- The Flu Shot- Who Really Gets It
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45 more
- Child Development: Stepping Stones - Lesson 21: Adolescence: Biosocial Development
- Child Development: Stepping Stones - Lesson 22: Adolescence: Cognitive Development
- Child Development: Stepping Stones - Lesson 24: Adolescence: Summary
- Are Your Kids Addicted to Social Media?
- Is My Child Too Young to Get the HPV Vaccine?
- Do Boys Need the HPV Vaccine?
- The Perils of Adolescence
- Tackling Concussions
- Adolescent Risk-Takers: The Power of Peers
- Energy Drink Sparking More ER Visits
- Children and Social Media: What Every Parent Should Know
- Drugs: Shatter The Myths
- The Impact of Changing Social Behaviors on Teen Drug Use
- Teen Substance Use
- Youth Suicide Risk
- Take Healthy Habits to College
- What Boys Want to Know About Puberty
- Am I Normal (Girls and Puberty)
- Money Tips for Millennials
- E-Cigarette Use in Middle and High School Students
- Teens Using E-cigarettes More Likely to Start Smoking Tobacco
- Tips For Teens With Diabetes: Be Active
- Help Teens Lower Their Risk for Type 2 Diabetes
- Adolescence: Preparing for Lifelong Health and Wellness
- Back to School: A Good Night's Sleep
- How to Talk to Teens: A Developmental Approach
- Bedtime Wake Up Call
- Game Change! Focus on Families - Engaging Young Adults and Their Families
- Endocrine System
- Behavioral Health on College Campuses
- Notebook: Sexual Harassment
- Flu Shots: Young Adults Need Immunity
- Most Teens Need a Rest
- Screen Time vs. Bedtime
- What is Puberty? Decoding Puberty in Girls
- All About Boys Puberty
- Inside Puberty: What Are the Stages of Puberty?
- Puberty Explained - What Is Happening To Your Body?
- Another Reason for Teens to Eat Their Vegetables
- Dangers of E-Cigarettes
- HPV Vaccine: A Pediatrician’s Recommendation
- Healthy Weight
- Getting through to your teenager with ADHD
- Back-to-School: A Time to Think about Health & Academics
- Impact of Cyberbullying: Addressing the Needs of Children and Youth
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