My daughter is scared that she'll get severe acne like me

[TheShyScroller]

As a 35 year old lady, I still have severe acne. My sister and my mom still have severe acne. My brother had severe acne that cleared in his 20s.

My daughter is 10 and scared to death of getting severe acne. My daughter looks so much like my sister when she was 10. Both my sister and I started getting acne when we were 11.

My daughter has cried. She has even had nightmares about getting acne. I'm not sure what I can say to comfort her. If I tell her more about how my life was, it would freak her out more. I want to tell her something that's comforting and true.

Her father has beautiful skin and is an all around beautiful man, inside and out. I just hope her father's genes will save her.

Just reassure her that you will take her straight to a dermatologist and she doesn’t need to worry. I will be doing that for my DD. I had horrible acne and still have the scars.

I’d try to put her mind at rest with the fact lots of girls inherit their father’s looks. It’s not a lie and might stave off nightmares.

Just came across this thread and sorry if this is a hijack but there is a lot of great knowledge on here. I wonder if anyone can advise me about my DD who is 11 and has had acne for about the last year or so- she is a compulsive skin picker and is this is making it worse. She is getting it infected and - although it’s not as bad acne as some she already has some scaring on her face😟.

We have finally had a GP take us seriously and they are talking about Cahms and dermatology referral… but in the meantime she has been prescribed doxycycline. What has anyone’s experience of this been - it’s a 12 week course ( if she can learn to swallow a pill..) or is other medication worth asking for?

I would absolutely pursue the dermatology referral as the dermatologist can prescribe medications which the GP cannot. I’m sorry I don’t know much about doxycycline but I would start her on it and then if it’s not doing the necessary the consultant will prescribe something else.

I had awful acne in my teens and all through my 20s and even in my late 30s my skin isn't great. My parents encouraged me to squeeze my spots and now I am terribly scared! I feel for you and your DD. I would say acknowledge her fears but don't make a big deal out of it. If she gets upset you could say oh but I think you have your Dad's skin. If she does break out then get on treatment straight away. I wish my parents had had more knowledge about what to do. I also fear for my kids when they hit teens!

Ps if my kids ever get acne I will 100% fork out for a dermatologist. Hopefully I'll have saved up enough by then!

If you start your own thread you’ll be given advice directly

Anyone with acne should see a dermatologist. It’s a serious skin condition that needs medical advice in the same way as any other health condition.

It is not necessary that she will have acne. You may start following a routine like me for acne and now I'm so much used to with that:
Morning:
Using water to wash your face,
Sebamed clear face gel,
la roche posay spf
Evening:
la roche posay moisturizer,
Tretinoin (0.1) from skinorac
Sebamed clear facial gel