# Children’s cosmetic obsession alarms mental health experts 2026-08-14T03:46:35+00:00 | Health & Science | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The Hindu reports that children as young as eight are developing clinical dependency on cosmetics, a phenomenon experts call ‘cosmeticorexia.’ Social media feeds and young influencers drive multi-step skincare routines and adult make-up use among children. Teachers say the obsession is not a phase but a dependency, causing academic disengagement, anxiety, and body dysmorphia. One eighth-grader said without make-up her face ‘looks dirty and dark.’ A parent whose eight-year-old collected ₹3,000 worth of ‘safe’ organic products now consults a child psychiatrist. A teacher in Malappuram recounted a student whose unmarked whitening cream caused severe skin reactions under sunlight. Schools face a dilemma, confiscating cosmetics risks accusations of harassment under child rights rules, while ignoring the problem allows the addiction to grow. The rush of harsh chemical products, especially unlabelled ones, poses physical and psychological dangers that experts say are reshaping modern childhood. ## Coverage - thehindu.com Tags: body image, child mental health, cosmetics addiction, Malappuram, school discipline, social media impact Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/childrens-cosmetic-obsession-alarms-mental-health-experts/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/childrens-cosmetic-obsession-alarms-mental-health-experts/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.