In Kerala,schoolchildren,especially girls,are getting hooked on cosmetics at a worrying rate. This trend,called 'Cosmeticorexia,' shows a growing obsession with beauty products that's changing childhood and sounding alarms among educators and mental health pros.
Aliya,an eighth-grader,shows this shift . Every morning,she carefully puts on brightening cream,kajal,and lip tint,thinking her value depends on her looks . When a teacher took her makeup,she was crushed,not just upset. Her mom,a daily wage earner,struggles to grasp why her daughter is so distressed,questioning why young women always have to look good.
For eight-year-old Sarah,it started simply,with videos on her mom’s phone. After trying makeup at a friend's party,she got hooked and soon had more beauty products than schoolbooks. Her parents,first okay with her interest in organic products,now are consulting a child psychiatrist as Sarah's obsession grows.
Experts warn this beauty fixation isn't just a phase but a serious issue with mental and physical fallout. Teachers notice changes: some girls withdraw from social events,wrapped up in their looks. A teacher recalled a student who used a mystery green cream,causing severe skin reactions at an outdoor event. The unmarked cream,from a relative,underscored dangers of unregulated products.
Schools have become a battleground with cosmetics taking center stage over studies. Teachers face a tough choice: confiscating makeup could mean harassment charges,so they hesitate to act . This creates culture of silence where issues go unchecked.
Social media fuels this trend,with platforms full of beauty ideals swaying young minds. Jijo Joseph John,senior pediatrician,says exposure to looks-focused content links to more body dissatisfaction and anxiety in kids . Recent raids by Kerala's Drugs Control department exposed a health hazard: face creams from Pakistan with toxic metals,far above safe limits. These can cause serious skin and health issues .
Dr. John urges collective effort to tackle this crisis,advocating for healthy body images and critical thinking about online content. Kids should focus on abilities and character,not appearance,to build a balanced self-view.
Child psychiatrists report more cases of kids obsessed with their looks,often hiding faces or constantly checking reflections. Jitha G.,a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry consultant,says many kids have skewed body views,leading to anxiety and even anorexia. Social media misinformation worsens these problems,leaving kids without safe spaces to talk.
As Cosmeticorexia spreads,it raises urgent questions about pressures on young kids. The mix of beauty standards,mental health,and digital media influence needs urgent attention from parents,teachers,and health professionals .
