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Original poster

To think teenage skin isn’t a thing anymore?!

95 replies

ShitOnItt · 16/12/2018 10:58

I was out for the day yesterday Christmas shopping in a big city, so obviously lots of teenagers around and I couldn’t believe how much completely clear and flawless skin I saw! I don’t think I saw anyone with the oily spot prone skin I (and lots of my friends) had as a teen.

Has teenage skin been cured??

OP posts:
headinhands · 16/12/2018 12:09

Virtually all the teens I know have been on lymocycline plus prescription benzoyl peroxide based creams which make the world of difference

Yes that's what she's on.

BertieBotts · 16/12/2018 12:11

When I was a teen it was normal to wash your hair once a week, now we get DS to wash his every other day.

Shockers · 16/12/2018 12:11

DD (19) has terrible acne. She’s already on a lot of medication for epilepsy, so I’ve tried to avoid medication for her skin too. They just look so sore though, and they’re all over her chest and back, as well as her face.

Fortunately, she doesn’t get bothered by her spots, as she has LD and doesn’t pay much attention to what she looks like. She had a lovely exchange with a younger boy, also with additional needs, this week...

Boy: you’ve got spots on your face.

DD: that’s because I’m a teenager.

Boy: I like your face; I want some spots.

DD: Smile- don’t worry, you might get some when you’re a big boy.

CryingMessFFS · 16/12/2018 12:11

There’s better treatments now for milder cases of acne, makeup is so much better at covering and online you can watch tutorials about how to properly apply it.
It’s luck really, I’ve always had clear skin despite drinking and smoking in my teens, eating junk and going to bed with yesterday’s makeup on now I shudder at the thought at age 30 whereas my sister had acne from age 13/14 and in her mid 20s still has it, although it’s improved. She has put much more effort into her skin than I ever have and hasn’t abused hers like I have. It bugs me when people blame makeup or not washing properly. It’s just not the case, my sister hasn’t done anything wrong causing her acne, it’s bad luck that she’s prone to it like everyone else with acne.

sockunicorn · 16/12/2018 12:16

I dont think "taking care of it" has anything to do with it. I work long hours and forget to take my foundation off at least 5 times a week. I wash my face with shower gel and water in the shower every morning (no special creams) and use no moisturisers. I regularly get told I look 10 years younger than I am and havnt had a spot in around 15 years. My sister is meticulous about her skincare, rarely wears makeup as it causes breakouts, spends thousands a year in creams and has been prescribed every acne treatment going and has awful skin.

However on another angle I eat a lot less than my sister (and i eat a lot healthier than her) and weight around 4 stone more.

I believe its all just genetics and luck of the draw.

CryingMessFFS · 16/12/2018 12:17

Aww Shockers your DD sounds sweet

hooveringhamabeads · 16/12/2018 12:20

I was riddled with acne as a teenager, and still get outbreaks regularly now.

Dd1 is 14 and has lovely clear skin, very rarely gets a spot and if she does it’s tiny.

WellThisIsShit · 16/12/2018 17:19

Quite Vitalogy it’s amazing how these same ideas hang around through the ages isn’t it?!

I remember the same kind of ideas being spouted when I was a spot prone teen. Trouble was that my skin was very reactive so the products I put on it to try and make it cleaner and cleaner made it spottier and rawer. A vicious cycle that as a teen in a rural area, without engaged parents or the internet, I wasn’t equipped to deal with. This is the main thing which has changed, thank goodness!

I was eventually able to get myself to the GP (skivved school and walked miles, took me the whole day there and back, totally worth it!) I found there was hope after all... I was prescribed something that cleared up the infection that had set in, and some good advice about product ingredients by a lovely GP who definitely went beyond their medical remit :)

Anyway, information sharing, skill level and product availability and quality are all so much better. Actual skin and it’s teen issues, nah, still the same at its core...

WinnerWinnerChickenDinner0 · 16/12/2018 17:24

When I was a teen with horrible acne my options were clerasil lotion, tcp and hide it with panstick Confused

No wonder my skin was a nightmare

Now for not much money there are some pretty good products around that have made an enormous difference to my adult acne

Don’t get me started on growing up with frizzy hair and no deep conditioner, serums or ghd Grin

Vitalogy · 16/12/2018 21:23

If you describe clear skin as beautiful and lovely, how do you describe a skin covered in acne. Ugly and horrible?

AGHHHH · 16/12/2018 21:36

if you describe clear skin as beautiful and lovely, how do you describe a skin covered in acne. Ugly and horrible?

Confused what's wrong with describing beautiful skin as beautiful? I wouldn't call someone with acne ugly or horrible or say their skin is disgusting, but I don't think anyone including them would expect to be told their skin is lovely and beautiful?

Unless they don't have eyes.

I say this as someone with ruined skin due to acne.

TulipsInbloom1 · 16/12/2018 21:38

Fewer teens smoking. Better eating habits. More time indoors. More trips abroad for sun. Better make up.

Vitalogy · 16/12/2018 21:54

I wouldn't call someone with acne ugly or horrible or say their skin is disgusting That's the opposite of beautiful and lovely though isn't it.

Vitalogy · 16/12/2018 21:56

Fewer teens smoking. Better eating habits. More time indoors. More myths.

MadisonMontgomery · 16/12/2018 22:08

I work in a GP practice and we have a lotttttttt of parents bringing their children to be seen for acne - and pushing for dermatology referrals if the GP prescribed treatment doesn’t work. I’ve never had acne, but I don’t remember anyone from school mentioning seeing the GP for it so I wonder if people seek help for it now more.

PookieDo · 16/12/2018 22:39

It is annoying seeing people fawned over for having ‘beautiful’ clear skin. It is exactly what makes people with bad skin depressed and unhappy as if they have failed and are ugly. People with acne are often told they are making their own acne worse with diet or cleanliness, or not being able to afford all of the marketed (useless) products in the beauty industry. If there wasn’t such an emphasis on looks and clear skin = beautiful this would help a lot of young people.

AGHHHH · 16/12/2018 22:40

That's the opposite of beautiful and lovely though isn't it.

Yes, the opposite of those words is that... but they're not saying acneic skin is the opposite, and describing someone's skin as beautiful doesn't mean to say you're saying another person's is disgusting just because it's not quite so flawless. It's just maybe not worthy of an award...

Anyway, what's your point? Are you suggesting we shouldn't compliment anyone's skin? I'm not offended by the lack of compliments or when other people get complimented.

Prisonbreak · 16/12/2018 22:42

I’ve been lucky to always have clear skin. Sadly was not blessed with patience it must take these teens to put on makeup.

Vitalogy · 16/12/2018 22:55

Exactly PookieDo Well said.

Anyway, what's your point? Are you suggesting we shouldn't compliment anyone's skin? No, but maybe it would be more helpful/sensitive when discussing the subject of acne/skin conditions

I’ve been lucky to always have clear skin. What do you want a medal.

Enough MN tonight me thinks. Goodnight.

WilburforceRaven · 16/12/2018 22:56

Fewer teens smoking. Better eating habits. More time indoors

Myths.

When DD got acne she used my Carbon Theory soap and Differin gel and away it went.

OrigamiZoo · 16/12/2018 23:06

My skin was so bad I never ever looked at myself in a mirror and if I took a bath, draped towels over the bathroom mirror just in case I caught sith of myself.
I remember the school nurse telling me to get my mum to buy Topex, which was the first ever benzyl peroxide spot treatment.
I told my mum, but she would never buy it. Sad
I recall saving up my pittance of pocket money and plucking up the courage to go a chemist to buy it. It did transform my skin.
If any of my DDs got bad skin. I'd be on it, buying what they needed. No way would they suffer as I did. The internet helps with the research. These days, you don't have to put up with it.

AGHHHH · 16/12/2018 23:10

More time indoors

Why is this listed as a reason FOR skin being better? I'd have thought less sunlight, vitamin D, fresh air etc would be a bad thing?

BackforGood · 16/12/2018 23:26

Not at all in my opinion I have a 17 and a 20 year old and I see lots of teenagers with spots.

There might also be a correlation between teens who spend hours wandering round shopping centres on a Saturday afternoon and teens who spend a lot of time and money on makeup to cover up their skin ?

Fluffyears · 16/12/2018 23:39

I had very clear skin and was really lucky tomoly ever get the occasional spot. I certainly didn’t take care of my skin. I regularly slept in my make up and had a terrible diet (I was lucky enough not to gain weight as well...changed days) it is just genetics and luck of the draw. My mum alwats says ‘i’m So glad I had sections for both of you it meant you had lovely skin and have never had spots.) erm Confusedwhat has your type of birth years before got to do with your hormones and genetics? She was convinced that having a section saved us from looking like the poor lad up the road who had really bad acne. He actually looked like his skin was painful.

Keepthebloodynoisedown · 17/12/2018 00:51

I would guess that better treatments and better make up play a part.
I especially think that YouTube video showing you how to apply makeup (rather than putting an inch thick layer of orange foundation like I did) has made a big difference.

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