Best boy- friendly ways of dealing with blackheads?

[generalhaig]

ds2, nerly 12 and just off to secondary school has suddenly developed blackheads on his nose - no spots, no enlarged pores, just a few blackheads but as he's always had luminously perfect skin up until now he's quite upset. As he's painfully shy I don't want him having any more reasons to feel unconfident, especially as he's going to be meeting loads of new people in the next few weeks...

In the past his 'skincare routine' has consisted of using a damp flannel to remove any chocolate stains . I've given him some clearsil pads to clean his face with but these have made no discernible difference. Any recommendations for skincare stuff that an 11 year old boy might be happy to use?

[AllThreeWays]

my DP loves using pore strips

[way2serious]

I would also be interested what advice mumsnetters can offer. My son is 11 and also about to go to secondary and suddenly over the summer has developed spots around the Tzone area. I have told him he needs to wash thoroughly more than once a week but wondered if there were any suitable 'products' out there that could help.

[Ooopsadaisy]

Wow! Your boys are way ahead of mine!

My DS has just turned 15 so going into year 11 and his face has only just erupted.

He's got deep cleaning lotion that is slightly astringent and some cotton wool pads (that his sister is not to know about cos he thinks they're girly). I have also stressed the need for thorough washing with soap and water and plenty of fruit and vegetables and water to drink.

He's old enough to make his own decisions on these things and thankfully eats and drinks very healthily and is faiirly hygenic (for a teenage boy!).

It's only a phase but it's an embarrasing one, so I only mention it when I ask if he needs any lotion from the shops.

[Nagoo]

You mean they don't let you squeeze them?

:(

[TaudrieTattoo]

My ds1 is 13 and his skin really has erupted over the summer.

I'm forever buying him stuff, but trying to get him to use it is like pulling teeth. He just doesn't seem to care - a good thing, I suppose - he's not upset by it like I was.

About three times a week I persuade him to let me give him a facial, but he makes such a fuss especially when I pin him down for a squeezing session

It's a right pain. I hate seeing his peachy skin all hormone-ravaged

[Pinot]

DS1 starts school tomorrow...they're not babies anymore are they :(

[TaudrieTattoo]

No, they're not.

I caught him full frontal accidentally the other week. That was a shock, I can tell you.

Nearly had my eye out.

It used to be a little prawn...I used to pick sweetcorn off it...

[Ooopsadaisy]

Oh tawdry! I haven't seen DS like that for years.

Even seeing hair under his armpits make me want to weep!

And his voice!!!!!!!!! The floor vibrates before the sound hits you.

[TaudrieTattoo]

The hair...I know...it's like a blow to the windpipe...

I know we should be pleased they are growing up, and happily he has actually become a bit easier to live with ( a bit awkward to say the least from 4-13 )...but...my little boy...all squidgy...gone.

[Byeckerslike]

A kirby grip is amazing, the little looped end surrounding the little worm which sqeezes out and holds on to it for you to admire.....

[TaudrieTattoo]

What a fantastic idea!

[CointreauVersial]

DS1 is also just about to start secondary school and literally overnight has developed a nose-ful of lovely spots (nowhere else, just on his nose). The little blighter won't let me squeeze them, although I just had to pin him down and operate on one which was threatening to obscure his vision.

He is quite keen to find some sort of magic potion to get rid of them, so I will get him some cleanser and cotton wool. He's quite into the whole grooming thing, so will probably give it a go.

[MrsSchadenfreude]

DD1 ha a veritable forest of blackheads on her nose, and flawless skin everywhere else. I got her a Tweezerman blackhead extractor from Amazon, which has done a brilliant job (Tatty linked to it on here a few weeks back). It works on the kirby grip principle, like a little hook to pull them out with. She does it at night, her nose is red for a few hours and looks fine in the morning. (It also has a bigger hooky end bit for the full on pus explosion zits. )

[Hoto]

aha yes the Implement Of Joy. I got one from the Body Shop. What pre-teen boy would not be fascinated by what can be extracted?

[LordOfTheFlies]

The pore strips are quite strong IMHO. I used them years ago (about 15 years ago when the first came out and they were free in the magazine adverts).

They pulled tiny blond hairs out as well...! Can't be good

[Nagoo]

The pore strips were crap on me, I was too clean.

My BF at the time, my word, It was impressive. They came out with stalks about 3-4mm. It was amazing.

[hadagutsfull]

Reading this with interest - DS(14) also has a face full of blackheads! I love nothing more than having a good squeezing session - I usually say I'll give him 10p per zit but never pay up. I tried to pin him down earlier but he wasn't having any of it

Maybe I should invest in some cleanser for him or the Tweezerman thing. I keep stressing the importance of plenty of fruit & veg but it's falling on deaf ears ...

[CointreauVersial]

DS's spots aren't blackheads, they are lovely little white numbers. Oooo so squeezable. I must try the bribery approach.....