Best spot treatment for 13 year old

[ChristmasTidyings]

DS has recently started getting loads of spots on his face. He has also started picking them (this has long been an issue e.g. picking scabs, the GP gave him the chicken pox vaccine stating medical reasons as he has ASD) and his face looks a mess.

He washes everyday but that's about as far as he will go with self care. What can I give him that is easy to use and effective in making them vanish asap?

There’s no easy fix because the cause is so often hormonal (specifically, testosterone). I would get a face wash with salicylic acid - Cerave do one - and maybe a salicylic acid toner as well.

He has a face wash with salicylic acid in(garnier I think). I looked at the cerave acne control gel which I guess is for spots rather than the whole face but it says it can make you more susceptible to sunburn 😮 Is this normal for spot treatment? He has very pale skin and burns easily already plus we have a history of skin cancer in the family.

Have you considered a treatment from the GP eg Duac? It will help and you put it on once a day before bed.

Ps, just read your last post. Duac would also make your skin more sensitive to the sun, I think this is why it’s used at night.

@BreakfastClub80 no, I hadn't considered going to the doctor yet. It's a recent thing and I'm sure they would expect us to have tried "normal" remedies first.

Try:
La Roche Posay effaclar range. The cleanser is excellent. Also worth a try is benzoyl peroxide, be warned it can mark pillowcases and towels but it's very effective and cheap too!
Don't forget the occasional gentle moisturiser too.

Other things to try:
Clean pillowcase as often as you can, daily is best.
Timing face washing: after school is an excellent time to was all of the days grime away. He should also get into the habit of washing his hands properly and regularly.
What's the situation with his hair? Is it short or long and likely to be in contact with his face a lot?

And the gp. I know you're doing the sensible thing and trying normal OTC type of things now, but the GP won't go straight in with the killer solution, they'll try to start with gentlest treatment and it all takes time.

Thank you @JuneOsborne He definitely washes his face every evening, but rarely uses the moisturiser. Bed could be changed a bit more often He has very short hair, that's not an issue. Hand washing is pretty regular at home. Not a clue if he does properly at school.

My boys like Salcura

If he won't use moisturiser then the anti spot face washes will just dry his skin out and that might end up either causing dry skin or making his skin oilier and creating more spots.
I would focus on finding a moisturiser that he can tolerate. Nivea do a very light one with spf 15 in maybe other people can suggest some other different ones which don't feel heavy and greasy ?

Fair enough @ChristmasTidyings , we found them to be really empathetic and helpful with DD. We had tried other stuff but probably not as much as I tried back in the day!

I hope you find a solution for him.

My two have both erupted into spots. I've bought them both some good skincare (facewash and moisturiser) and am gently encouraging them to use them (sporadically, but hey ho).
For particular pimples, they've been using my Origins Super Spot Remover, but for their stockings this year I've bought them a pack of these each, to stick on overnight starfaceworld.co.uk/ - they're cute and novel enough that I'm hoping they might work.

My teen's skin has responded really well to this range: www.skinshop.co.uk/clarol