Skincare for older teen boys

[roaringwater]

What's the best skin care range you've been able to find for older teen boys?

DS is 16 and his skin is suffering - I don't think exam stress is helping - lots of acne breakouts on his forehead and chin. He's pretty good about using anything I give him but pretty clueless about choosing anything for himself.

Cost (within sweet reason) doesn't need to be a factor.

Thank you 😊

My boys both use Simple skincare, including a weekly mask. Strong enough to clear spots but gentle enough that it doesn’t strip healthy skin. Many of the stronger teen skincare products strip the skin of oil which results in the body overcompensating & getting stuck in a cycle of spots.

If you don't have luck with main brands there are luckily so many online pharmacies now where you can get treatments previously only through the doctor. I bought Differin (a retinoid for acne) from Pharmacia for my back acne that is really working well.

Mine is liking the bulldog stuff which is fairly inexpensive. He has used lots of different ones and the key to managing the spots just seems to be using both morning and night. He does like a mask and a scrub and I buy them for him to stop him nicking my very expensive stuff

I bought some 31st State wash and cleansing wipes for DS. Ruinously expensive but a friend’s son had enormously improved skin using it. And it made a big difference to DS as well.

La Roche Posay 3-step Effaclar - I recommend this on every thread for teenage skin. My own teens tried and loved it. A gentle cleanser, then a toner and finally a treatment cream. Total face changer - clears up spots amazingly. Available from
Boots, chemists, Amazon and often on special offer.

Skin does get a bit worse at first as it seems to draw out impurities but after a week or two skin is massively improved.

Great suggestions - off to check these out. Much appreciated; thank you all.

Effaclar is very good for breakouts. If we're talking actual acne it probably won't be enough though and you probably need a prescription for Benzoyl Peroxide for the topical areas, but Effaclar is an excellent cleanser and oil reducer.
Nip & Fab also do a range called Teen Fix. That has more or less the same ingredients as Effaclar.

Ultimately, you need a product with salicylic acid. Teen Fix has the same % as the vastly more expensive Paula's Choice.

Don't forget often oily skin needs moisture, and if it hasn't got enough, it produces more oil to compensate.

Clinique and Dermalogica also do breakout products. The Dermalogica however has some essential oils in like ginger which could irritate.

It's the salicylic + Niacinamide (if necessary) that will help together with an actual acne fighting product (= "antibiotic" gel) like Benzoyl. Products that don't actually contain actives are unlikely to do anything other than a basic cleansing. Simple etc. Which is fine, but if there is acne, that's not going to cut it.

DD started with Effaclar at 14 and it changed her life. She still uses it but has added Benzoyl for bad breakouts. Seen a difference in 10 days.

My Skin Story on Insta is very good. An acne sufferer who now advises others.

Agree with pp that if it's not Salylic acid or benzoyl it's unlikely to work.

We are using acnecide on dd1 and I think it's making progress.

Google and nhs told me that treatments take around 6 weeks to take effect so be prepared to wait it out before concluding whether it works or not.

Think it's time I ordered effeclar now

Benzoyl peroxide is strong stuff. It sensitised my skin to be prone to allergic reactions. Definitely try a salicylic acid and niacinamide treatment, and a gel moisturiser for oily skin.

FaceTheory products are excellent (gel moisturiser is fab) and they have 365 day money back guarantee if you don't find the products help. La Roche Posay and Avene oily skin ranges also good.

Oh yes, if you use BP you need to start on a low %. DD did 6 weeks on 2.5 and then moved onto 5. I think you can also get 10 but she's never got that far.

Nip and fab do a teenage range for problem skin

My boy uses environ face wash. It is £38 but works like a miracle. I make him use it twice a day but even once a day makes a difference.

I’d ring the dr & ask for proper treatment.

He has a bacterial skin infection & it needs treatment. He isn’t doing anything wrong with his skin he has a medical condition.

I've just got The Inkey List salicylic acid cleanser for my 15 year old. It seems to be good stuff. Wearing a mask at school is making him break out.

I agree with calling the dr. The difference in my dd skin with acne to now is unbelievable-literally changed overnight. Duac.

Ds had prescribed medication for 6 months and his acne cleared up. He is 18 yo now and keeps breakouts to a minimum by avoiding dairy, using salicylic acid from The Ordinary and using Sukin moisturiser and cleanser. He also rates cereve cleanser and moisturiser but his girlfriend bought Sukin for a gift and he likes it alot.

I was going to say cerave! The SA cleanser is great, both DS and I use it. We also have the night moisturizer. I'm was on 3 for 2 at boots I think recently.

Carbon Theory soap £6 from Boots. I’ve recommended it several times already but it really has made a huge difference to Ds where everything else had failed miserably.