9yo DD with bad skin - what to do?!

[Fillybuster]

DD has been getting proper spots for some time already, and gets pretty substantial blackheads on her t-zone too. She washes her face really well (with hot water and clean flannel) twice a day and moisturises with e45 at bedtime. I'm really keen to avoid her becoming too self conscious about her skin, but equally it is starting to bother her.

I've been trying to hold off getting her any "products" but I think it's time....can anyone recommend something super gentle for pre-teen skin please? I definitely don't want her to use paintstripper clearasil yet!!

Thanks in advance for all suggestions Oh Wise Wimmin of MN

Get her some Clean and Clear daily scrub or body shop tea tree products which are very good. I would not use e45 which could be making her skin worse.

Stop with the e45.

Try Sam Farmer products, they're designed for pre-teen/teen skin and are very gentle -www.samfarmer.co/shop. Definitely stop with the e45.

Try Freederm gel, my youngest who is now 13 has used it for the last couple of years and it really works. It's £10 for a 25g tube but it lasts ages.

Clay mask twice a week for the blackheads. Steam face over a bowl to open and cleanse pores.

E45 is greasy and likely to clog her pores. I agree with other posters. Also try not to you too many products and would also suggest be mindful of diet e.g. Greasy food. It will clear up

Another one saying stop with the E45.

I still used Clean&Clear Daily Scrub well into my 30's is it was the only thing that kept a lid on my eternal-teen-skin! I swear by it!

Why on earth would you use E45 on spots and blackheads?

Blackheads aren't caused by anything you put on the skin, she could moisturise with castor oil and it'd make little difference to blackheads, the darkness is the sebum which turns dark when exposed to oxygen.

The pores aren't blocked by creams or lotions, it's the sebum itself which has hardened near the surface of the pore.

The only thing to treat blackheads is to dislodge the hardened oxidised sebum with a scrub, or a treatment, or one of those horrible metal blackhead removers. But they will come back, some skin is just predisposed to blackheads (or at least is for some period of time).

I speak as someone who had TERRIBLE blackheads in my early teens, like freckles all over my cheeks.

Bacteria love warmth and moisture so using warm water alone to wash her face will be doing her no favours. You need an antibacterial cleanser on there too.

Thanks for all your comments- I was scared I'd get flamed for asking (she's only 9 after all!)

The e45 is a light lotion (it's not thick like Nivea): I've always understood you should moisturise, even when prone to spots, but I'll look into finding something else for her to use. Unless everyone says she should stop altogether?

Diet is super healthy, she does loads of sports and gets plenty of sleep - so there's no (positive) changes I can make there!

There's a big Boots near my office, so I'll go in search of clean& clear tomorrow .

teenagersandfurbabies (great name!) where can I find Freederm gel?

kingfisher did they get better as an adult? Can I give her hope?!

I had cystic acne at 9, my skin didn't get any better until about 17? From my own experience I would say maybe keep an eye and if they start to get really big underneath the skin then get a referral to a dermatologist. I had to have roaccutane but that's just my story.

I think my skin started to be bad from 7/8 and peaked at 11 I had roaccutane three times. Obviously my case is a bit drastic, but keep the doctors informed. That helped me get a referral as quickly as we did because I had already gone through all the standard over the counter treatments and Chinese medicine (?) my parents were so desperate for something to be done. Sounds like you're doing the right thing :)

Yes yes, give her hope! My skin was reasonable by my 20s and is really good now

My DD age 11 has started to suffer with break outs on her nose. We have been using Antiac daily face wipes by Salcura - designed for spot prone skin and easier to use than a face wash. Also Skin Shop silver serum - which is gentle and anti bacterial ( I got it from Victoria health). Her skin is looking much clearer now. We tried a Khiels blemish cream but it was too strong for her skin. Hope you find something that works for your DD.

Maybe talk to one of the pharmacists in Boots. They might be great for advice. My local one is. I have 'acnegel' with benzyl peroxide that they recommended. You know s good blast of sun on her skin might do her good too

She doesnt need to moisturise especially with e45. Cetaphil range is good

Hi Fillybuster I get the Freederm from Lloyds Pharmacy but you need to ask for it.

Invest in dermalogica for her, skin cleansing gel, micro exfoliant, active moist plus target cream for spots.

If you go to the GP, which you could, they might give you Duac for her skin.

With DS1, it doesn't matter how much he washes his face, it is his hair that seems to make the difference.

Clean hair, off his face = less spots.

I wouldn't recommend moisturiser on such young skin, there's no need. I would monitor her over a couple of weeks and see if there's an improvement.

Hi Filly - if you want to moisturise I second cetaphil lotion. I get milia if I use anything thicker. Cetaphil cleanser also good.

Duac from the gp is a revelation for spots.

I used to be latrucha btw. Our little ones are big!

Another good tip someone gave me was to change your DD's pillowcase regularly as it keeps her face cleaner at night and yes keep her hair off her face - that is very good advice too. I think it helps. I would try to get testers if you are going to invest in something like a whole Dermalogicavregime- I didn't get on with their stuff at all!

Dermalogica regime! Sorry for typos.

Salicylic acid got rid of my blackheads
Clay mask
Warm water and flannel plus a mild soap
And an oil free moisturiser
E45 won't cause blackheads necessarily but it will make them worse