Skincare for 14 year old DD

[Allthewhite]

My 14 year old DD has had very good skin until about a year ago. She has quite a lot of blackheads across her T zone and blocked pores with small spots. She hasn’t had any large cystic types so far. I’m (quietly) very concerned as I had horrendous adult acne which utterly destroyed my skin and left me with lots of scarring.

She washes with a Simple wash and uses micellar water with sudocrem on any inflamed areas. We’ve trawled the shelves but I’m stumped given how young she is. All of her friends have genuinely perfect skin and she is getting very self conscious. She wants to try a Clarisonic type brush but I’m worried this might make matters worse.

Does anyone have any advice on tried and tested products? Having gone through it personally, I really don’t think she is at GP meds’ stage but I would like to help prevent that if at all possible. All advice gratefully received.

I would try the Avon range called Clearskin, not expensive and has good results or as a moisturiser try a product called Silver Serum, if you google it it has great reviews.

Body shop seaweed range is great for oily/combination skin - I started using it when I was nineteen, I’d always been quite spotty. It made a huge difference and I wish I’d discovered it much earlier. The teatree range is also good for very oily/acne prone skin.

try using this wash, morning and evening. your dd will need to wear suncream if she is going outside and the sun is visible as it makes your skin much more sensitive to the sun. after she has used the wash, use the cream directly on the areas every second night. don't worry if the spots become more red, they should calm down and fade given time for the cream to work. on the nights where she doesnt use the cream, i would advise that she uses the wash as normal and then applies this moisturiser (putting a small spot of it on each cheek, forehead and chin then rubbing in).

all the best x

DD13 has developed mild acne. STBXH had really bad acne. Our GP was absolutely lovely, dealt with DD (who was mortified talking about it and self conscious). Gave her antibiotics and something topical to put on it at nighttime. She has been referred to a dermatologist.

She uses Boots No7 hot cloth cleanser, we have tried all sorts of things (Including things like Effaclar which was too drying for her) but find this gentle, exfoliating, moisturising but not too much and the hot muslin seems to help get rid of blackheads and the dry bits that you are left with post spots.

So my advice is GP sooner rather than later and nothing too harsh to cleanse with.

Many thanks for the suggestions, much appreciated.

@Allthewhite the ordinary has a great range for cheaper prices.
I have really bad pregnancy acne atm which obviously will be similar to your DD as its hormone related, I use a cleansing brush from No7 with a tea tree or witch hazel face wash, she needs to exfoliate once a week to make sure there is no dead skin build up on the spots and then applying this product on the spots will help a lot!

If it looks to be getting bad go to the doctor for a prescription x

I also really rate the spot treatment from Mario Badescu but cant currently use it myself...

Dermaquest clear skin range is excellent- my son had very bad spots and now his skin is do much better

Dab over the counter Acnecide onto the breakout (Whitehead only) itself at night. It's 5% Benzoyl Peroxide and will tackle the breakout at source.

For blackheads/ clogged pores, Paul's Choice 2% BHA Liquid. Swipe on the skin with a cotton pad after cleansing and follow up with moisturiser. This will exfoliate the pores and keep them clear.

Cerave (available in Boots) has a very gentle range of products. Their Hydrating Cleanser and the PM moisturiser will be great to use on her skin (moisturiser can be used day and night depending on how she feels. Don't be put off by the name!)

Great suggestions, thanks so much everyone. I’m hyper aware of it given my own awful skin and watching it like a hawk while trying not to make her more conscious. Plus I’m wary of trying anything too harsh as the rest of her skin is still young and absolutely perfect. Thanks again for the advice, much appreciated.

Ur poor daughter!
I'd avoid anything that means she HAS to wear suncream on her face. That's just asking for more problems.
The Superdrug hot cloth wash was highly recommended to me and seems good.
Does she eat healthy?
Also a clean pillowcase as often as you can could help.

summershine2 her diet is a bit hit and miss, detests all fruit but will eat veg. She’s a bit of a grazer and has a sweet tooth but it’s fairly balanced. Good tip on the pillowcase, I’d forgotten that, thank you.

The mario badescu stuff is amazing! We bought a small ‘acne’ starter kit from beauty bay I think and the results were amazing. We really notice if she hasn’t used the wash and cleanser.