Pre-teen early puberty awful spots - help

[MissusMuffinTop]

Hi

SD is nearly 12, started puberty and she's struggling with her skin - she's suffered with spots and blackheads for nearly a year and they're getting worse and she's getting more and more self-conscious and upset. Her Mum still has acne so there's not a lot you can do about DNA... but...

She's asked for one of those facial cleansing brushes for her Birthday but I'm not sure how well they work, has anyone used one? I feel a bit sad that that's all she wants for her Birthday :(

As well as not picking the spots, keeping hands clean, washing morning and night - we've tried Clearasil, Simple, Clean & Clear & Nivea. Have you found anything that has helped your teens' spots?

Recently took ds to doctor as his spots were getting worse even though he had a good routine morning and night. Doctor has given ABs and Duac gel. Great improvement in a month but still some outbreaks.

Savlon gel is great for acne type spots. It's about £4 a tube though.

I tried everything for my acne when I was younger. I spent a fortune and nothing worked. I ended up going on antibiotics off the doctor, which improved a lot

i don't have any experience with teenage spots, but have you considered trying something a bit more upmarket to treat it with? I don't have acne but I use (and love) Sanskrit Saponins cleanser from Deciem and I remember from reading the reviews that lots mentioned an improvement with acne/spots.
If you do read the reviews, i can only say I've no idea why they all go on about the smell; it smells fine to me!

Can I suggest being a bit kinder to her skin. You're being quite harsh with it which will upset it further and cause it to try and defend itself.
Have you looked at things like oil cleansing?

As for the brushes, I'd proceed with caution. I kniw a lot of people have success with them but the bfushes are known to harbour germs unless changed regularly (which can be expensive) and can be quite damaging. If she absolutely wants sometging like that, look at a foreo as it's less abrasive.

I like the Foreo brush (silicone so less chance of gross germs and easier to clean) you can get a mini one which uses regular batteries and is cheaper than the full-size plug in to charge one.

I also love the First-Aid Beauty cleanser and moisturiser (the pale blue one) it's done wonders for my skin, I have adult hormonal acne.

I get hormonal skin and I remember my mum squeezing my blackheads at primary school. :( To be honest my skin hasn't changed a great deal since then.

Obviously each person is different but I've finally got a routine which (generally) keeps my skin presentable:

• In the morning I either just wash with water or pat a little honey on damp skin, leave it on while I clean my face and then wash it off. The honey is anti-bacterial and gentle.
• At night I oil cleanse. I like Lyonsleaf Beauty Balm at the moment. I follow that with a wash. I like the Pure Chimp face wash. A few times a week I use a foreo in which case I oil cleanse then use Guiltless Skin Rosehip wash.
• I don't use a toner as I find they can be quite striping which makes my skin mad.
• If I need to moisturise I use either Rosehip oil or Avocado oil. I wouldn't imagine that rosehip is the best choice for a pre-teen but there are lots of choices. She might not need to moisturise at all.
• Once a week or so I use Laid Bare For Richer or Porer and I make a face mask with spirilina powder.

Basically, I am adding oil to my skin so that it doesn't make it's own, keeping it clean without striping and lightly exfoliating. Although the above sounds a lot, it isn't.

It's tough but when my skin does get wacky, I try to limit my make up because I find wearing more, makes the spots etc stick around longer.

I'm sharing this because as I say, I still have the same issues I had as a child so maybe it will help?

Thanks everyone! She's only at ours on weekends so will have a chat with her Mum about these suggestions and we'll hopefully get her into a good routine that works.

Antibiotics

My dd who has acne uses sebamed foam and really rates it, but antibiotics work the best.

Hi, my 10y old dd has had increasingly oily skin for around a year, with quite a few nose/chin blackheads and the odd spot. I mistakenly did the same initially and used quite harsh products.
On lots of MN recommendations, she has been using a simple cleanser (Cetaphil gentle) removed with a clean muslin cloth or flannel and warm water each evening. She then puts on La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo Plus cream. This has worked wonders and skin improving a lot. I’m pretty sure it would be clear if she could manage this in the morning too, but she’s not bothered enough to do this! Occasionally put Bunny Moon gel face mask on from Lush which seems very soothing, or use a glycolic pad.
Dh and I both had horrendously acne-ridden skin as teens, so to be expected...will see how she goes on. Good luck to your dd.

Can I recommend a YouTuber for you (or her) to watch. She’s an American dermatologist and she’s fantastically knowledgable. She highly recommends the neutrogena spot proofing range. I’ll try and link to her channel. You’ll learn a lot. She says to avoid those face brushes,she actually says you shouldn’t use anything more abrasive than finger tips.

www.youtube.com/channel/UCnxmUrGMtpQT844Yd_l7Zyg

For blackheads and small white headed pimples, Neutogena grapefruit face wash has made a huge improvement for both my DCs. They still don't have flawless skin but it's really not bad at all.

For full blown acne I think I think it needs the doctor.

Get these for a start. Put on any spots that are coming to a head and leave overnight. Pulls all the gunk out and eliminates squeezing and popping pimples which make them 10x worse.

Gentle cleansing with something like La Roche Posay Toleriane Dermo Cleanser or Avène Extremely Gentle Cleanser.

This is a good moisturiser. You can try adding an oil like Rosehip or Squalane from the Ordinary. It can help balance the skin so it doesn't produce so much oil itself.

I'd get samples from eBay of Benton aloe gel moisturiser and toner. Need to test as they contain snail (which can help with healing and hydration). This is a good explanation of the products.

I had terrible spots at that age. Like others only a trip to the Dr did anything worthwhile.

Definitely go to doctor.

Whatever you do, don't go down the harsh clearasil etc route. My skin has been do damaged by bring over stripped.

Gently gently is the way to go. Maybe try a tea tree treatment and the Amie range is aimed at young skins and is gentle. You can get it in Waitrose and online.

amieskincare.com/