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Original poster

DD almost 11 with lots of spots - advice and tips pls

46 replies

sunshineNdaisies · 26/12/2018 19:53

DD has a lot of spots and although she's nearly 11, she is growing really fast and looks a lot older. She really has a lot of spots right now, lots of yellow heads and she's not happy about it. She is due to start high school next august (we're in Scotland) and we all know how self conscious high school girls can be and how mean other girls can be.

So far I've gotten her tea tree, dermalogica, nip and fab and origins products but her spots seem to be getting worse. She goes to a teen facial once a month and the beautician recommended the dermalogica teen range. I dont think any of these products or treatments are helping. Does anyone else have any recommendations?

DH and I had bad acne, DH much worse than me when he was a teen. I was really shocked when I saw his teen photos - he does not ever show them and I could see why. He is worried more than me that DD will inherit his skin.

Her hair is also looking very greasy despite her washing it regularly (I know she's doing it properly because I checked just in case). She uses the same shampoo as always but suddenly its looking v lank and greasy so any tips there would be welcomed too.

DD has been stealing my concealor and foundation on occassion but is obviously not putting it on properly as she's only 10. I am in two minds about her wearing make up - on the one hand, she's not 11 til February (and 11 is still young) but on the other hand, I know from experience how embarrassing spots can be and how mean kids can be, especially when at high school. WIBU to let DD wear a bit of make up and if so, what?

Any tips from mums who have had DDs with similar spot problems at this age.

OP posts:
BillywigSting · 26/12/2018 19:58

Honestly I would just take her to the doctor.

I had acne as a teen and was never taken to the gp, I didn't even know they could do anything about it otherwise I would have been down there in a flash. I have a lot of scarring now and it does get me down.

I finally went to gp in my mid 20s after the health visitor said they could help with hormonal acne from having ds (had full blown teenage skin).

My skin cleared completely after 6 weeks of lymecycline (antibiotic tablets, I had no side effects either).

Scabetty · 26/12/2018 20:01

I have two teens who have struggled with spots. Both developed a good cleansing routine but ds needed ABs. In hindsight dd should have visited the doctor. My advice is visit a doctor.

ashtrayheart · 26/12/2018 20:01

Duac cream (prescription) is amazing. My ds’ skin has cleared up totally and my persistent spots (I’m 42 now!) are kept under control with this. It’s a combo of Benzoyl peroxide and antibiotic.

ashtrayheart · 26/12/2018 20:02

Oh and I used concealer since I was about 12 and started getting spots. If done right you can’t tell unless up close

KiteMarked · 26/12/2018 20:03

How bad is bad enough to visit a gp? My dd is getting spotty (she's just barely 12) and isn't particularly fussed but I'd like to prevent any scarring if things get worse.

Original poster
sunshineNdaisies · 26/12/2018 20:06

I'm not sure if its at the stage for going to a GP though...I want to exhaust all other options first to be honest. She's still not yet 11 and I think a GP could be the option if it gets worse over the years. both my Dsis and I had tablets from the doctor but not until mid teens when it was really at its worst.

OP posts:
AwdBovril · 26/12/2018 20:17

Take her to the GP. Even if they recommend to wait & see if it calms down on its own / with the right combination of skincare stuff, it gets the ball rolling so they have evidence of an ongoing issue (if it won't calm down in a few months). I had dreadful skin as a teen, & did numerous courses of antibiotics, horrid topical lotions etc which stained my clothes, sugar exclusion diets - nothing helped. 2 courses of Roaccutane in my 20s did though, & I wish I'd had it a lot younger, I was dreadfully lacking in self confidence, depressed & have awful scarring now, although thankfully not on my face. I'm late 30s & it still hasn't fully calmed down. Some people do need medical intervention. It's not just about appearances, either, don't tolerate any commenta from anyone who suggests she's vain.

I pray that my DD will have skin like my DH, he barely ever had issues with it.

Scabetty · 26/12/2018 20:28

Try Mario Badescu acne wash.

Girlofgold · 26/12/2018 20:35

I went to body shop. Girl recommended a facial wash (seaweed maybe?) and t tree gel spot thing. Has worked really well for my dd.

nzeire · 26/12/2018 20:43

Doctors. It’s hereditary and she’s got acne and it’s only going to get worse. I had awful skin growing up, persistent and resistant. We tried everything to clear it, in the end toaccutane saved me (mid 20s). My daughter started signs of acne around the age of 8, I was so upset to think she’d have to go through what I did. Tried all the topical creams, got progressively worse, proper nasty acne. Dermatologist has had her ona low dose of accutane for 2 years now.

Her skin is beautiful. Absolutely beautiful.

Don’t wait to get aprofessiobal opinion. It’s her face, teen years are hard enough without having to deal with horrid skin.

NotExactlyHappyToHelp · 26/12/2018 20:52

Definitely Doctors. From what I’ve seen it can be a long hard road to find what works so better to start as soon as possible.

The one skincare brand that helped me is La Roche Posay Effaclar. It’s available in Boots. The face wash and the Effaclar Duo + especially.

checkedcloth · 26/12/2018 20:55

Look at Dr Sam Bunting’s you tube videos for advice.

Dr Bunting is a dermatologist at Harley Street- her advice is second to none. She believes in very simple routines for the skin using reasonable priced products such as Avene and LRP.

I’d get her to the GP too - she will need to start a long course of oral antibiotics

Mumof1andacat · 26/12/2018 20:58

I suffered as a teen with bad acne and wish my parents took me to the doctor. In my early twenties I took a year long course of a low dose antibiotic. Once a day tablet and it worked a treat. My skin nearly 10 yrs later is still quite clear. Get the odd break out but nothing major at all. Also look at her diet. Reduce diary, processed food and sugar if possible and drink plenty of water

happytoday73 · 26/12/2018 21:06

she needs to see her GP. Little else really helps for many. I had an ointment in a dap stick & low level antibiotics ..... they helped. my acne was face, chest & back.... it looked terrible & was sore. migraines and heavy periods plus the acne resulted in me being put on the pill at 15.... that eventually sorted it all.
Hope you can sort it!

Pythonesque · 26/12/2018 21:10

Agree with taking her to the GP. If it turns out to be not bad enough to be appropriate for prescription treatments yet, that's fine. You'll have a better idea of when might be the time to go back if necessary, and most importantly your daughter knows you care enough to take the problem seriously; and she'll know when to ask for more help if it gets worse too.

halfwitpicker · 26/12/2018 21:13

Seconding a trip to the docs for your preteen.

BillywigSting · 26/12/2018 21:23

Op please please don't wait for it to get worse.

This is exactly the attitude my mum had, trying to exhaust all other options first, differing and not going down the medical route and I now have deep and permanent facial scars from my teen acne.

I got my first spot at 11 too.

Those permanent craters in my face upset me every single time I look in the mirror and I'm 28 now.

Please don't do that to your daughter.

Even if the doctor does say wait and see, an eye can then be kept on it, and it can be treated effectively before it becomes too difficult to manage, painful and scarring.

You are not wasting their time with this.

Original poster
sunshineNdaisies · 26/12/2018 21:58

My worry is that she's almost 11, is that not too young to be on medications?

I do have acne scars myself and scars from dermatilomania (developed from my acne and anxiety about it. I want to avoid this for my DD but she's still so young :(

OP posts:
ArnoldBee · 26/12/2018 22:03

My DSD had her eleventh birthday and 2 weeks later had her first period. Clearly your DD is having hormonal changes and if it's deemed necessary 11 is not too young to be on medication. Don't let her suffer.

sabrinathethirtysomethingwitch · 26/12/2018 22:05

Take a look at acne.org. The regimen uses benzoyl peroxide 2.5%. Works for a lot of people, including me. I buy the 8oz tube (comes from US) and it costs roughly £25. I've ordered the 16oz one before but got hit with import tax.

snozzlemaid · 26/12/2018 22:18

Another vote for doctors here. Don't wait. She could end up with scarring.
Our GP was keen to get DD's cleared as soon as they could to avoid scarring.
She had antibiotics for a while and is now prescribed Duac cream a pp mentioned.

riotlady · 26/12/2018 22:25

Another vote for doctors.
Also make sure if she does put makeup on to cover it up that she thoroughly takes it off at night and has a couple of days off to let her skin breathe.

BlueUggs · 26/12/2018 22:27

I would pare down the routine. Just use one face wash (I'd recommend dermalogica) morning and night.

AnnaMagnani · 26/12/2018 22:31

Doctors. It's a medical condition, not a beauty one.

She may only be nearly 11 but ignore the age, her body is well into puberty which is nowadays happening younger.

Don't put her through the crap you, your DH and all of us went through as young people. There's no need for it. Things have moved on. Book a GP appointment.

sue51 · 26/12/2018 22:31

I would go to the doctor. If using a bit of concealer makes her less self conscious then I would allow that too.