Should I ignore DS pimples?

[toocool4cats]

13 year old DS has a few pimples appearing on his chin and forehead but so far is apparently oblivious to them. Should I gently ask him if he wants to try some products that might help to deal with them or should I take his lead and ignore! I know how cruel children can be and I don't want him to get teased at school ( bless )

[helpfulperson]

I would ignore if he shows no sign of wanting to discuss. If he is concerned and open to trying products he will google it.

[WeAllHaveWings]

ds is 14, we have talked openly about any (obviously not the really private ones!) changes in his body since he was young, I told him when he started stinking and we sorted out showering every morning and deodorant, we laughed when he started getting hairier legs. We joke when he gets moody for no reason. I sympathetically offered to squeeze his spots and when he refused helped him with making sure he kept his face clean and tried various products.

He knows all these changes are part of puberty, hormones and growing into a man so nothing to be embarrassed about. I would talk to him and help him out with some skincare, it's unlikely he is oblivious to them, more likely he's too embarrassed to say.

[toocool4cats]

So can you recommend any particular products? We also have joked about his sudden slightly deeper voice

[Cherryminx]

I bought my DS some Simple face wash and a spot roll on stick (not sure what its called). We had a bit of a chat about spotty teen boys - I explained that some boys are unlucky and get a lot of spots - others don't - just one of those things.

I told him not to squeeze them. He ignored this advice but did use the face wash.

[Scotia46]

When my oldest boy hit puberty we were very open and spoke about things but I had to buy spot treatment stuff as he was too embarrassed. Voice breaking upset me though as I felt that was the first step of my boy becoming a man but I had a secret reminder of what his unbroken voice sounded like as he never changed his voice mail for a year.

[Aprilshouldhavebeenmyname]

Imo /e teenage boys don't scout magazines looking for product recommendations!! Why would you ignore the fact your ds needs assistance in caring for his skin??
Face wipes and sudocrem should sort him right out!!

[rupertpenryswife]

scotia'I find that really sad. I have a DD and she is changing in very difficult ways, moody, spotty and hairy legs. I feel sorry for her as periods are not far off and I know how challenging they are. I have a much younger DS and didn't really give much thought to make puberty yet but your post made me sad.

OP with my DD I sort of took the lead from her but if I saw things like a bit of body odour or large spots I tactfully approached this but, if she said she was fine I backed off, it's tough parenting teens/tweens.

[Findingmywayeveryday]

I have been open but I have girls - is it easier? I don’t know.

I have adult acne and have done 15 years of treatments - antibiotics, creams and roaccutane twice. I saw DD15 getting bad skin so I did approach her about it and asked how she felt. She was ok about it at first but then got unhappy. No one teased her about it, she says a lot of kids have spots. She just hates it so she is now on lymecycline and an acne cream. I’m glad I spoke to her and I think because I have experience I remember how I felt with acne maybe I am a bit more sensitive about it

[ggirl]

My ds is 15 and I advise him on how to combat the spots, if I didn't he wouldn't even bother to wash his face..as it is he does the bare minimum.

Good products for teenage acne - I have scoured the youtube skin care gurus.

Products with salicylic acid - Neutrogena have face wash

Nip and Fab do salicylic pads to wipe over the skin here are good.

Also freedom cream here after cleansing helps a lot.

[Aprilshouldhavebeenmyname]

And btw my teen ds's like nothing better than letting me squeeze their spots!! And they both regularly use face packs!
Proper diva's!!

[Findingmywayeveryday]

I wouldn’t squeeze them it spreads bacteria like mad. Also I say this as someone with severe scarring!

Be careful with young kids skin - a lot of the ‘acids’ can burn. I have a lot of discouraging melasma patches from all these strong chemicals over the years.

I’ve been under a dermatologist for a few years and their professional advice:
Anything that specifically says ‘non comodegenic’ (like make up or moisturiser
A gentle oil free soap/cleanser. Just plain and gentle. Cetaphil is very very good for this

If you have to use anything stronger then get a doctor or pharmacy’s advice. The new retinoid creams like adalapene are probably more useful than clearasil which is just a stripper type effect on your skin.
Your skin needs oil and it’s outer layer for a reason so stripping it off can cause more problems and leave it vulnerable to damage.

Oh and sun protection if you use strong chemicals - face can burn much more easily

[Scotia46]

rupertpenryswife Its just life their not children forever. My daughter is 18 now its difficult for girls as they are wanting to shave the hair off but you dont want them starting too young but she was good at noticing spots and has a lots of products. Now shes older she still gets spots around her time of the months and puts concealer to cover it but when there young teens you dont necessarily want them doing that.

Record your boys voice now as it will provide happy memories when your no longer his number one women. Ive got a 20yo and a 12 yo boy and my youngest is starting to grow up in to a man.

[Oblomov18]

Ds1 asked, so I bought him some simple face wash and simple spot cream.
I'd talk to him.

[butterfly990]

I have tried a few things without any real results. Recently we read about charcoal soap and tea tree oil. It has really improved things within a week.

www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/gallery/carbon-theory-acne-soap

I couldn't get hold of this particular product but bought her the Biore one instead.

[toocool4cats]

Thank you for all of your replies, you have given me lots of options. I think I will wait a little while to see if he mentions it then perhaps try the simple face products and take it from there. One thing I certainly will not be doing is helping to squeeze them, 🤮

[Branleuse]

Ignore them?
Mine sometimes let's me squeeze his for money

[HollowTalk]

But if they are tackled quickly, things can be resolved. Ignoring spots can make them worse.