Skincare regime for spotty teenager

[Bollard]

My 15 year old DS is quite spotty. It's a mix of pimples and blackheads. His diet is good. He washes with a hot flannel and uses a facial scrub a couple of times a week but is getting more, not less spotty. Any recommendations for a regime/products that might help?

[Bollard]

bump

[DoubletheRage]

IME, years with me and DS1, anything sold for teenage skin is far to harsh and makes things worse. Scrubbing is a really bad idea.

Cutting out sugar is the one thing that really made a difference for me but I haven't been able to achieve that for DS. So, it needs a very gentle cleanser and very gentle cleaning with a warm cloth, no rubbing. I use aqueous cream but lots of others like Ceptafil

[Bollard]

Thanks. My instinct was to avoid harsh scrubby products so it's reassuring that someone else feels the same way. He's got spots on his nose and chin, but recently is getting them on his cheeks as well, poor boy. I'm not sure when it stops being just spots and becomes acne. He doesn't have that much sugar but he could probably manage more water.

[Travelledtheworld]

I am also dealing with a spotty DS 15.
I am convinced that fresh air and sunshine helps, at least it makes the spots less noticeable. But he is reluctant to leave the house....

[bantamgirl]

My son was the same, we tried all sorts! In the end he ended up mentioning it to the GP when we were there for another reason, and she prescribed Minocycline which cleared it up. I didn't even think his skin was that bad!

[3catsandcounting]

Skin washes with Salicyclic acid (Garnier Pure, etc) helped my DS15s skin. Look on the label for it. He likes to use hot flannels (so I'm forever whipping them away to wash - germ breeders!) ??

[Bollard]

Thanks

[goshhhhhh]

My dd uses la Roche posay effclar stuff & it has made a huge difference.

[myotherusernameisbetter]

we've just been to the doctors with 14 year old DS1 who has mild acne together with some teenage spots. her recommended care regime was:

Wash twice a day thoroughly with Simple bar soap using hands, rinse thoroughly with warm water and use a flannel as a final wipe. then apply a light non perfumed moisturiser. He then has to follow up with his prescribed cream etc but clearly that's for the acne. Try to keep hair back of the face (Ds has a long fringe) but do not use Conditioner on hair and use a non oily shampoo (she suggested T-gel or head and shoulders). Diet is basically irrelevant but obv try to eat healthily anyway. Sunshine helpful but not too much without sunscreen. Keep hands from face as well as you are just transferring dirt and oil from your hands.

She said applying moisturiser to greasy skin can seem counter-intuitive but that the soap will dry out the skin so its needs like non greasy moisture added back.

I've now got DS2 (13) doing same regime without the acne cream obv as he doesn't have acne and his blackheads and spots do seem to be improving. I got him some Antiac to dab onto break out spots. DS1s seem better already (we are on wk2 now) but that wil be a lot down to the creams I guess too.

[CalicoBlue]

I took my DS when he was 14 to the GP. DS was insisted that his spots were normal and said he was not bothered. GP said it was acne and prescribed an antibiotic cream, it worked within days. DS was much happier without the spots. He still needs to use the cream occasionally.

[Bollard]

Thanks for the messages. I'm going to get him the La Roche Posay stuff and get him to wash his hands more often. I need to take him to the GP anyway about something else, so I might mention his skin as well.

[FeckTheMagicDragon]

I gave my DS some Johnsons baby lotion, he was having exactly the same problem - all the harsh Clearisal did was increase the oil production and spots. It took a week or so, but worked really well. He still uses it into his 20s.

[goshhhhhh]

La Roche posay stuff is not cheap - but does last for ages.

[JollyFrog]

I took DS, then 15 to GP about his spotty face. He was prescribed Duac cream and told to only was with 'simple' products.

It has made an improvement to his face when he remembers to use it

[newstart15]

Agree with the use of gentle products.Try a face wash for sensitive skin, Sebamed is good, and then use simple cleanser.Duac is good for dealing with breakouts (but needs to be stored in a fridge after opening).

Its worth preserving for several weeks but get antibiotics if the flare up in bad.

[JollyFrog]

newstart the pharmacist told us theyneed to keep it in the fridge whilst in storage,but once opened its ok a room temp

[TheWordFactory]

The best creams have benzoyl peroxide in them.

5 0r 10%.

DS who is prone to greasy skin and spot uses daily and it keeps his skin nice and clear.

You used to be able to get it over the counter but for some reason it's no longer available. You can get it in the states for a couple of bucks a tube if you know anyone going out there. Or order on the internet. Clean and Clear do one called Persa-gel.

[Datahub]

SKIP all teh creams and stuff. GO to the doctors - sons spots disappeared on drugs

Really - they don;t raise an eyebrow. NEVER accept bad skin as one of those things

[Datahub]

am rather stunned so many DRs are still talking bollocks about soap

[Datahub]

or sunshine

[myotherusernameisbetter]

So datahub - I'm assuming you are a dermatologist or something then? Why is using soap bollocks?

[ihatethecold]

My ds 14 has spotty skin
When we went on holiday in the sun. They almost disappeared.
We were vigilant with sunscreen because he is very pale.
Now he just hibernates in a dark room.

[Chertsey]

The sun, or being outdoors absolutely does help.

DS1 has been camping (yes!) this weekend and the improvement in his skin in only 2 days is huge. A week's holiday somewhere sunny, despite him being a redhead and mostly staying out of the sun, is a miracle cure.

Drugs can help, I'm sure but DS1's skin isn't that bad and the drugs have a long list of side-affects.

[myotherusernameisbetter]

Jeez Chertsey - mine come back from camping like greasy dirty blobs :(

Between the lack of washing properly and the dirt from the camp fire etc then any benefit from the vitamin D intake is wiped out.