DD13 teenage spots

[diamondsandrose]

Hi hoping for some advice please

DD13 going through a very spotty stage. She started her periods recently and is extremely moody(!) so think her hormones are pretty all over the place.

Her spots started on her forehead but have spread to her cheeks and chin now and seem redder, beforehand they were more just like widespread tiny lumps under the skin.

She currently uses the Liz Earle regime with hot cloth cleanser, toner and light moisturiser and uses Freederm on the actual spots, at night.

Was thinking of upping the game to Dermalogica who do a teen range, or perhaps the Pro Active range advertises on tv? I use Paula's Choice and wondered if their Clear range would be too strong on young skin as there's AHA/BHA in there I think?

Any recommendations gratefully received!

[diamondsandrose]

Anyone?!

[namechangedcausebored]

Salicylic Acid is what has worked best in this house - Superfacialist facewash and v55 double strength cream. We’ve tried many different types of things, but this combination seems to have helped

[diamondsandrose]

Fantastic thanks.
Can I get both online?
Superfaciist is the Una Brennan range?

[MaHeidsGouping]

My DD had terrible skin, she uses Cetaphil facewash and moisturiser as thats what the dermatologist recommended.

My DS has started now with bad skin so I took him straight to the GP instead of trying lotions off the shelf as it took years of trying different things with my DD before her skin was clear.

[ttbren]

Acnecide worked wonders for my skin but that was alongside antibiotics. Now I just use acnecide and it keeps everything under control. African black soap is cheap from amazon and also works for a lot of people.

I tried every product you could think of and to be honest - nothing really worked. Medication worked best for me and more natural methods.

[ttbren]

Sorry, I should say that acnecide can be bought over the counter and I apply it to the trouble areas every night before I go to bed and let it dry.

[diamondsandrose]

Thank you all

Am also considering GP but don't want to rush in before at least trying a couple of over the counter products

Will google these , thanks

[KTyoupigeon]

Whatever you get her to try make sure she is using it regularly and keeping her face clean. The other tip is to have a clean pillow case every night (use a clean side each night and then change it every other) also does she have long hair - keep that clean and wear up at night time

[KTyoupigeon]

www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/dr-organic-tea-tree-face-wash-60092515

[namechangedcausebored]

www.mysupermarket.co.uk/sainsburys-price-comparison/Facial_Care/Super_Facialist_Salicylic_Acid_Purifying_Cleansing_Wash_150ml.html?TrackingCode=AQMNAAE.69_1EnPynkKq9POAE_6feg

V55 MAX Double Strength Salicylic Acid Cream for Spots Blackheads Blemishes Problem Skin Suitable and Safe for those Prone to Acne - Paraben and Cruelty FREE - 50 grams www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00WR4MRHG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_-HwVBbKRVHZR2?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

I buy the face wash wherever it’s cheaper and the cream from Amazon.

But like KTyourpidgeon says - cleanliness is key, keeping hair off faces, washing hands etc.

[HunnidBands]

As someone who experienced ‘weird’ skin as soon as I reached puberty, which ultimately resulted in not actual acne, but scars from the spots I did get, I would advise that if you can, take her to see a dermatologist as soon as you can. They may well be she to advise and stop anything worse from happening.

No offence to people who’ve responded. I just wish I’d been taken to a dermatologist as soon as my skin problems occurred. Might have saved me from the scarring.

[diamondsandrose]

Thank you all for your responses

Will monitor re GP/dermatologist. We have healthcare insurance so wondering if asking for a referral could be a good use of this ?

Have ordered the v55 and will check out the salicylic wash. Thanks again so much for your time posting links etc.

[namechangedcausebored]

Let us know how you get on, we’re all different and what works for one doesn’t necessarily work for another. We’ve tried various recommended products but eventually settled on the above.

[Miladymilord]

It's hormones. She's not dirty, so don't bang on about cleanliness. My dd is the same and when she's 14 she's going on the pill. Yasmin cleared dd2s skin nicely after 5 months.

[Miladymilord]

And dd1 had the worst skin of all. Accutane completely cleared it but they started to come back so again, yasmin. Brilliant.

[Titsywoo]

DD refused to take antibiotics and the creams from the Gp all made her skin go bright red and peel. She uses a gentle exfoliating scrub a few times a week and acnecide every day and it keeps it pretty much at bay. I used roaccutane as a teen and it worked but did come back a bit then disappeared in my early 20's. I have great skin now though :)

[TheTurnOfTheScrew]

yy to GP/dermatology.
I had teenage acne - not as bad as some, but bad enough - and I wish I'd done this sooner.

In the meantime use mild products that won't further inflame/irritate the skin. I like cerave, which is a very gently foaming facial wash. cetaphil also good.

[sue51]

Don't waste time and money on over the counter products, get a referral to a dermatologist and get expert treatment.

[namechangedcausebored]

Just common sense rather than banging on about cleanliness. Hormones cause acne and excessively greasy hair, some teens worse than others. One dc is already on various medications due to other conditions and therefore I wanted to try over the counter products before adding to those - too many pills at different times of the day and mixing medications is not ideal. If nothing worked then I would be taking them to the doctors - but fortunately for my two it has, but as I said, for others it might not.

[pumpastrotter]

I used liz earle as a teen (thanks to mom's QVC obsession) and it honestly did nothing for me, I had acne then and still do as an adult. Proactive is an absolute con.
Aside from going to the GP/derm, honestly the best thing I've ever used is 'the ordinary' range which is also very cheap which has been a revelation the past few months, you can look online to see what routine suits certain skin types.

[diamondsandrose]

Do you think the Ordinary would be too strong for a 13 year old?

I use their retinols etc myself

[hammeringinmyhead]

When i was a teenager (I'm 34 now) this Lush moisturiser completely cleared my skin.

uk.lush.com/products/imperialis

Before that my skin was really dry from overcleansing, thus producing more oil in a vicious circle.

[Shockers]

The cleanliness issue isn’t an insult. My DD oozes grease, so we change her pillowcase daily. We don’t change ours daily though- she needs it we don’t.

We’ve tried just about everything we could think of - including a topical prescription medication. It has never occurred to me to take her to a dermatologist though. I will be now I’ve read this. She’s almost 20 and has been plagued by spots since she was around 13.

In case anyone thinks it sounds like I’m babying her- she has sn.

[Miladymilord]

The only thing dd has said that has helped her skin - apart from acnecide which is good at clearing them - is the Angela langford sweet cheeks cleanser. Her skin gets much worse when she runs out.

[pumpastrotter]

The salicylic acid or niacinamide shouldn't be too harsh? I use those, lactic acid and the AHA peel once a week, never tried the washes or moisturisers but my friend's swear by them