If you’re a parent to a middle or high schooler, you know that there a million different things that your teens are dealing with on a day-to-day basis. Students not only have to worry about school, part-time jobs, extracurriculars, and sports, but they also have to navigate dating, relationships, friendships, body image issues, puberty, and more. As puberty ensues, teens often feel uncomfortable in their own changing bodies. With more and more content on the internet and on social media to comb through along with real-life issues, teens can feel overwhelmed, awkward, embarrassed, and unrelatable when it comes to their own bodies and insecurities.
Here are three tips to help you navigate building confidence and ensuring healthy living in your teenage children.
Understanding the Difference Between Online Personas and Real Life
60% of marketers create at least one piece of content each day. This means that there are literally millions of online pieces of content being released for the public to see each and every day. More and more teens are using social media, including Instagram, Twitter, VSCO, TikTok, Snapchat, and more. These platforms allow individuals to post content from their everyday lives for everyone else to see, like, comment on, and share. While it may be fun to scroll through or post for personal enjoyment, there are also several other factors parents need to be aware of.
Online personas are built strategically, whether users realize it or not. Your teen will see celebrities and influencers posting content that highlights only their best features. Of course, users are going to post pictures where they look their best. While this makes sense, it is also very misleading to young teens who are figuring out and learning to love their own bodies. Seeing models and influencers with “perfect” bodies can be difficult for teens to constantly see. It makes them think it’s what they need to look like, too.
With this in mind, have a conversation with your teen about online personas. Explain how social media is a platform for “perfection” to be emitted for others to see. Explain how “perfection” is not what your teen should be seeking. This conversation can be the first step in your teen understanding the beauty standards in American society and how they certainly do not need to listen or adhere to anything pertaining to it online.
Exploring Different Ways to Feel Beautiful
In 2017, the global cosmetic products market was valued at USD 532.43 billion, and it is expected to reach a market value of USD 805.61 billion by 2023. Why is this market continuing to grow? Women and men alike utilize cosmetic products to enhance their already-existing beauty as well as feel good and build confidence in themselves. Many students start to explore cosmetic products and makeup in middle and high school. Some teens want to try foundation and mascara. Some want to try using eyeshadow and eyebrow pencils, too. If your teen is interested in wearing makeup, talk to them about its use as well as other ways to properly take care of their body.
Personal and oral hygiene are two extremely important areas of care for teens. Be sure your teen has a proper showering schedule and is brushing and flossing twice a day. Aside from this routine care, makeup can bring up more areas in need of care. Show your teen which products to buy and how to properly apply them. Be sure makeup remover wipes and skin moisturizing lotions are available to your teen so their skin is properly taken care of.
Have your teen practice applying makeup at home before wearing it to school. Show them helpful techniques, and do not discourage the use of makeup products. It’s natural for teens to want to follow what other teens are doing at school or to simply try it out for their own enjoyment and self-expression. Additionally, be sure your teen understands that makeup is not needed. Rather, it is a tool to enhance already-existing beauty, express yourself, and to feel confident.
Seeking Professional Treatment
Approximately 50 million people in the United States are affected by acne each year, making it the most common skin condition evaluated by the dermatology industry. Teens experiencing the effects of puberty often have acne on their face, shoulders, back, and even other areas of the body. Be sure your teen understands that having acne is perfectly normal, especially if your child is one of the first students in his or her class who have to deal with unwanted pimples, acne scars, and red, blotchy skin.
Acne can certainly affect the way your teen sees him or herself. It can lead to feeling shame and embarrassment for a very normal and treatable skin condition. If your teen’s acne is painful, is excessive, or is causing your teen to feel uncomfortable or unattractive, consider seeking professional treatment for acne scarring like microneedling in Chicago, IL or RF microneedling – San Diego Aesthetics from a dermatologist like Ethos MedSpa – Hydrafacials or this medspa in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Another professional treatment your teen may find useful is mental health counseling. If your teen experiences depressive episodes, fluctuating mood swings, and/or uncomfortably with their body and can’t or won’t talk to a parent about it, consider discussing a session with a counselor. Talking to a professional who doesn’t play a role in their day-to-day life may help your teen build security with their own body. Professionals have the tools, resources, and experience to help your teen if need be.
The phrase “confidence is key” was coined for a reason. Be a parent that will openly discuss and offer help when it comes to these difficult topics. Parents can also attend an aesthetics seminar to know more about skin problems and treatments. Help your teens build confidence and feel comfortable in their own bodies as they navigate puberty and explore self-expression.
