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Parenting a preteen can be a minefield. Find support here.

Parenting a preteen can be a minefield. Find support here.

Preteens

Spots on face of pre teen.

16 replies

NanaNina · 07/05/2012 15:03

My grd/dght just turned 12 has crops of spots all over her brow, a few by her nose and chin. She is not bothered at all but I suspect she will be as she gets older. My DIL is very good and ensures she cleans her skin properly and does use some products but I think it is her own Elemis that she uses. I bought a lot of T tree products and she says she has used those too. My friend says this happens when there is a hormone surge.

She is quite big built for her age and her breasts are beginning to swell (and she is acutely embarrassed about this.) Her mom started periods when she was 11 and I think this can be hereditary.

I get so upset at seeing these ugly spots on my beautiful grd/dghts face. I found some products on line and were very expensive and I mentioned this to my DIL and she said "aah no - she just has to go through it" -DIL is very level headed and is much less worried about things with my gr/dhtr than I am and is a great believer in teaching your childen the skills they need to cope with difficulties through life. I know she is so right, but I just worry about my precious girl!

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3teenhell · 07/05/2012 18:55

My 13 year old son is the same and i agree with your DIL they have to go through it.
I make sure he washes with pore cleaning facial wash and uses an exfoliating glove, it seems the most effective thing so far. He has spit cream too to put on after

NanaNina · 07/05/2012 22:31

What is spit cream 3teenhell and yes I know my DIL is right really - I'm just a doting nan that wants to shield her from anything unpleasant!! I've read that they can occur more in boys because of testosterone. Is he bothered by it?

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3teenhell · 08/05/2012 12:11

spot cream silly iphone!
No he's not bothered at the moment but then he is also at the stage of not being bothered about having a bath smells unless i nag

3teenhell · 08/05/2012 12:11

Have to say as well sometimes we sheild them too much imo and they are not prepared for real life

NanaNina · 08/05/2012 12:37

I thought spit cream sounded a bit yuk! Yes I agree with you avout shielding them too much. I wasn't like this with my boys growing up, just took everything in my stride, but it's different with my grd/chdrn. I worry about them much more, so it's a good job my DIL is sensible. Mind my gr/dgr is an only child (not through choice) she was conceived by IVF and many more tries brought about a pregnancy each time, followed by miscarriage in the first 12 mths. Fortunately my DIL's sister lives next door and had a boy the same age as GD and they have been brought up live sibs really. Sorry I'm waffling on.

I think it's a funny stage in adolesence (around 13) because girls have their growth spurt earlier than girls don't they, and the girls look about 15 and the boys about 10!! Bit of an exaggeration but you know what I mean I'm sure. Mind it doesn't seem to bother either the boys or the girls. I love people watching and notice the young teens in the park engaging in pre-mating behaviour, which seems to consist mostly of play fighting. Not like that in my day - if the boys chased us we would scream in mock terror!
Sorry I'll leave you in peace now - although you obviously have 3 teens so don't suppose peace is something you feel very often!

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shuffara · 09/05/2012 12:14

My 12 year old has spots on her forehead and we use zynerit from the gps to get rid of them. To be honest, they bother ME much more than they bother her so I just try and stay out of it rather than constantly nagging her to wash her face.

NanaNina · 09/05/2012 15:10

Oh thanks for that shuffara - and same here - they bother me more than her. Doe this cream from the GP help at all. Mind I don't think my DIL would got down that route. I find myself looking at girls aged about 12 and noticing that they all seem to have clear skin and yet I gather 80% of adolescents have this problem at some point.

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sphil · 09/05/2012 15:16

Ds1 has just started getting spots - and he's not 11 yet! And yes, they bother him not one jot. Atm I am just stressing thorough face washing, but am wondering whether he would benefit from a special face wash. He is going through a huge growth spurt so I guess it's all hormones.

NanaNina · 09/05/2012 19:50

Yes sphil it sounds like he is having a hormone surge which I'm told is the time that the spots appear. I have read that boys are more affected by girls because of their testosterone - and it is definitely hormonal. I have bought the T tree face washes for my g/dghtr as they are meant to be good. It's wierd isn't it how it doesn't bother them - I wonder if it's like that thing that kids don't mind having these "train track" things on their teeth.

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PlentyOfPubeGardens · 09/05/2012 19:54

I think it's probably best not to keep drawing attention to it.

BeeInMyBonnet · 09/05/2012 20:04

I think some of those lotions are too harsh and cause the skin to over-react by producing more oil making the problem worse. It can be a difficult time but many of their friends are in the same boat which at least means they're not alone.

NanaNina · 09/05/2012 20:36

I don't keep drawing attention to it PP in fact I have only ever mentioned them once when she was scratching her brow and I asked if they were itchy and she said no, and I know her mom and dad will not draw attention to it.

BeeinB- that's interesting - I think that's my DIL will think. Trouble is none of her friends seem to be in the same boat, but the good thing is my DGD has seen her two male cousins who are older than her have bad skin from time to time and they were never bothered.

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shuffara · 11/05/2012 12:32

my dd has traintracks AND spots and seems not bothered by it at all although she does take very good care of her skin and teeth.

Zynerit is an antibiotic lotion and I can't see anything wrong with it at all, it works (after about 10 days).

NanaNina · 11/05/2012 12:40

Oh that raised a smile shuffara - how old is your DD and can you only get this antibiotic lotion on prescription. I did google it and seemed to be talking about acne (which I gather can cover the whole face and leave scares)

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shuffara · 11/05/2012 12:47

lots of spots on the forehead IS acne! There's no nice way to say it. You have to get Zynerit on prescription though so it isnt something you could get for her.

Regular pillowcase changing and towel changing helps too.

NanaNina · 14/05/2012 19:07

Well I've just been talking to a GP (who is a friend) about acne and although he isn't a skin specialist, he is of the opinion that spots on the forehead, around the nose and chin area are typical spots that come along with hormone changes, and where the pores are too small and allows the skin to get oily and spots develop, whereas acne is a more serious skin complaint that can develop all over the face, neck, back and trunk, and can leave permanent scars. He will check with the dermotologist at his practice tomorrow and let me know what (if anything) would be right for my gr/dghtrs skin, but thinks keeping the skin clean (by washing twice a day) is probably the best thing as she is only 12. He says these spots can come and go through adolesence.

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