Would I be overreacting to haul ds off to a dermatologist?

[annandale]

ds is 11 (and a half) and is getting on with puberty... he is a bit smellier these days and literally in the last week or so I have looked up to see him covered in small pimples.

We've just been on holiday and our diet nosedived in quality, plus we were camping so there wasn't a lot of washing Plus dh is in charge of diet at home and tends to go for whatever is easiest, that's been the case for a long time. I'm thinking I just need to get a grip on the fact we're all getting older and start feeding him more veg and pouring water into him, but I do want to make sure that I'm not ignoring his skin that could make him miserable for years, maybe advice at this time would make him more likely to wash happier??

Seems a bit drastic for the moment. Give him some useful products and make sure he uses them, you don't need a dermatologist.

Yes. Yes. This makes sense.

Is clearasil as useless as it always was??

When I was a young teenager I had pimples and used alcohol based products to dry the pimples , oxy duo pads they were called, cleared them up within weeks. I know alcohol products can be harsh but they're really effective on greasy teenage skin!

My ds uses an apricot scrub a couple of times a week and a oil free facial wash and moisturiser in between. Best to get them into a good routine early on, boys as well as girls, then it becomes automatic.