Black heads on young teens face.

[SpringisSpinning]

She's had bad acne and that's in full retreat thanks to mumsnet advising me to get antibiotics topical cream from docs
But I've noticed black heads coming thick and fast, large on her nose below nose and about 5 large ones on her beautiful cheek!

Is there any reason why or what can she do to stop them?

Exfoliate?

Really? To stop or get rid.. She's got beautiful skin she's only 13..

Don’t exfoliate with a physical exfoliator! It’ll shred her skin.

Get COSRX aha/bha toner and use twice a week. It’ll clear them up quickly.

Or Paulas Choice BHA works actual wonders on unclogging pores.

What is she doing to clean her face?

To be totally honest not much a splash of water or shower..

What does toner actually do?

Do you put it on the black heads or the whole face?

anyone know where you put the toner?

Apply the Paulas Choice BHA toner 2-3 times a week on the whole face after cleansing. The BHA is a gentle acid (don't be scared!) which will help remove the oils blocking the pores.

A gentle cleanser like Cerave Hydrating is good if she's not using one already.

Also a moisturiser like Cerave Moisturising Lotion will help protect the skin and keep it hydrated without being too heavy.

She needs to clean her face, at night anyway. Morning might be ok. DS is using CeraVe Cream to Foam Hydrating Cleanser, and I'd recommend that. It's not irritating or drying and the early appearance of blackheads seem to have been nipped in the bud. I didn't really like the CeraVe hydrating cleanser myself, it stung/tingled me slightly, but the cream to foam does not and seems to leave skin perfectly clean without the tight feeling. Not the same as the foaming cleanser for oily skin, I specifically mean the Cream to Foam for normal skin. I don't think using cleansers for oily skin is a good idea as if they are too stripping the skin will react by producing more oil and a terrible cycle starts.

The Cream to Foam has salicylic acid in it, which is the same stuff as BHA acid mentioned above. I'm not sure if acids you wash off can possibly be doing much, but the cleanser has a whole is good.

With the Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting Liquid you can apply on the whole face or just on problematic areas.

Salicylic/BHA acid I think doesn't increase sensitivity to UV light but I'd double check that.

If her skin seems dry after washing she could use the moisturising lotion mentioned above. It's the one in the big bottle and that's what I use. DS doesn't seem to need any moisturiser after the Cream to Foam. It is very gentle. Tell her to use lukewarm water only.

Picture of the one I mean.

You can buy a small bottle, I think it's 30ml, of the PC liquid for about a tenner. I saw it on Skincity earlier on - the small bottle is often out of stock on other sites so I thought I'd mention it.

I don't think using cleansers for oily skin is a good idea as if they are too stripping the skin will react by producing more oil and a terrible cycle starts.

^ I remember this as a teen which is why we dont use any products and I am nervous now/

offer
Cerave SA Smoothing Cleanser with Salicylic Acid 236ml

^^ this one is 12 pounds in boots

A pile, thank you so much for this detailed response

@SpringisSpinning

I don't think using cleansers for oily skin is a good idea as if they are too stripping the skin will react by producing more oil and a terrible cycle starts.

^ I remember this as a teen which is why we dont use any products and I am nervous now/

That is why people are recommending a gentle cleanser. Blackheads are formed when dead skin cells, dirt and sebum get stuck in a pore.

If she is only washing her face with water then she is not removing this and therefore she is getting blackheads. When the blackheads get infected then whiteheads form.

A gentle cleanser and a light moisturiser are essential to keep the skin clean and hydrated.

Dies she wear any makeup? If she does and she isnt removing it properly then this is likely the culprit. You can get makeup removing wipes very cheaply in any drugstore.

Get her a proper face wash like the clearasil or t zone ones. I've used both and they are good for clearing pores. T zone also do nose pore strips that you can use anywhere on your face and pull the blackheads out. They don't hurt and looking at the strip afterwards is very satisfying. Even better if wash in very hot water first.

no , no make up at all....

@SpringisSpinning

Really? To stop or get rid.. She's got beautiful skin she's only 13..

Yes i think gentle exfoliation once a week would be okay. Does she use a cleanser? I know she is young but now in to teen years, and hormones starting to rage, some just happen to have skin issues that others don't. My skin was awful, so I can sympathise.

Omg just brought me back to using my sisters beauty products when I got to near to that age, Clearasil I am sure it was, that was in a glass bottle 😵 so nice.

Also lots and lots of water - 2.5 litres a day

I wouldn't jump in with the smoothing CeraVe with SA that you've mentioned, it might be too harsh. Start gently and if there no sign of things clearing then move up a step. You might see an improvement with just gentle cleansing and very light moisturising. The Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting Liquid can be used once or twice a week on the worst areas whereas a stripping cleanser used daily will affect the balance of the whole face.

I can't believe it's a surprise that someone with oily skin who doesn't wash is growing blackheads.

Exfoliation is key. Don't use wipes and add to the waste stream. Ordinary face cloths and a cleanser with BHA daily. Otherwise those pores are going to get huge and never return to normal.

Perveen my mum had amazing skin and only used to splash with water.

Much of skin issues is down to genes.
I dont think dd does have excessively oily skin.

Ive ordered 3 CereVa products they were on offer so will gently try all of them and see how we go - thank you so much for the advice!

@perveenmistry

when you say do the BHA is that the paulas BHA or is BHA an actual product in all these types of treatment , asking for myself now as my pores are large - is there any hope!!

I used to have the same worry about cleansers stripping but it really is an important step and there are very gentle products out there. Personally, I have found milk type cleansers the most gentle, but when i am removing make up, i use an oily cleanser first, followed by the milk one.