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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Teenage spots

22 replies

isittimetogotobed · 26/06/2017 21:36

Does anyone have any top tips for spotty teens?
I have suggested, making sure he washes his face morning and night as a minimum. I bought some over the counter facewash and face masks but they are still quite bad particularly on the nose and forehead.
Is it worth a trip to the doctors or does anyone have any Miricle cures? Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
isittimetogotobed · 26/06/2017 21:50

Anyone?

OP posts:
Bumdishcloths · 26/06/2017 21:52

Staying hydrated with lots of water and eating plenty of fruit and vegetables may help

FATEdestiny · 26/06/2017 21:59

Does he have floppy hair? My son is a sporty lad, gets sweaty hair (sweaty generally) and the sweaty hair used to flip around his forehead.

He used to need to be reminded to shower regularly. Since I got him into the routine of a daily morning shower (and there is face wash in the shower), his skin is much clearer.

DramaAlpaca · 26/06/2017 22:06

If they are quite bad it's definitely worth a trip to the doctor, there's lots of treatments available on prescription.

If you want to try an over the counter acne treatment first, look for a cream with benzoyl peroxide in it, normal skin washes aren't enough.

When DS1 was 14 his skin was quite bad so I persuaded him to see the GP who prescribed a long term antibiotic as well as a cream. It worked miracles, his skin was noticeably better within a couple of weeks and completely clear within 6 months and the spots never came back.

It's worth it for a teenager's self esteem, IMO.

Ollivander84 · 26/06/2017 22:07

Basic face wash - preferably a non foaming one. Touch face while washing as little as possible
Benzoyl peroxide cream/gel - start small and build up the quantity. It can be drying and cause redness. Apply to dry skin
Very simple moisturiser over the top

It's a routine off acne.org which I always return to if my skin is flaring. Scroll down slightly and it lists all the steps, you don't have to use their products, I can recommend if you're stuck http://www.acne.org/regimen.html

Change pillowcase often, every 2/3 days as well and avoid touching face as much as possible

Mercime · 26/06/2017 22:07

Go to the docs.

Diet and drinking water makes no difference.

321zerobaby · 26/06/2017 22:09

I've been giving my teen 25mg zinc tablet every evening. 2 months on, her spots are greatly reduced.

Ollivander84 · 26/06/2017 22:12

Forgot about zinc! It's meant to actually work better on male acne too. Omega 3 is worth a go too

Ollivander84 · 26/06/2017 22:13

Sorry for mass posting Blush
He doesn't drink any energy drinks? B6 which is in some is a massive trigger for acne for me

Original poster
isittimetogotobed · 26/06/2017 22:35

Thanks for the replies they are greatly appreciated.
No he doesn't drink energy drinks at all. Has more fuzzy pop now he is at secondary bit drinks mostly water at home. His diet isn't amazing but he gets a proper dinner and veg each night.
Getting better at regular showers and face washing. I'm not sure he was actually washing his face properly before, just wetting it so I've shown him how 🙄 which seem ridiculous when he is 13 but there we are.

OP posts:
Original poster
isittimetogotobed · 26/06/2017 22:38

He does have floppy hair yes
But he also had some big deep set black heads on his nose that I'm sitting on my hands about ( so temped to have a go at them)

I might mention the GP to him as I think they are perhaps starting to be worse than 'average' but in the meantime will get some zinc and non foaming wash plus the benzoyl stuf

OP posts:
Crumbs1 · 26/06/2017 23:14

Go to GP with him. Stuff like dual cream can be literally life changing and boost confidence no end.

Crumbs1 · 26/06/2017 23:14

That is Duac.

WaxOnFeckOff · 27/06/2017 11:29

GP definitely if they are worse than simply being average zitty teenage skin. If he has acne then all the over the counter face washes etc will not fix it.

We are more than two years down the line and I now have two teens on Roaccutane which finally seems to be helping. Lots of people find something that works before it gets to that point though, it just didn't work for us unfortunately. DS1 is currently taking both antibiotics and roaccutane the antibiotics have never really made any difference for him though, consultant keeps telling him how nasty his acne is which helps his seld esteem no end...Hmm

Baalam · 27/06/2017 11:57

My dd took accutane and it was a miracle. Sadly her spots came back a year after.

WaxOnFeckOff · 27/06/2017 12:10

Balaam, has she gone back?

Dermatologist explained that there will be some people for whom it doesn't work at all and also a group for whom it works but they come back usually a year later but that for those a 2nd treatment usually works and they don't come back again.

Baalam · 27/06/2017 12:15

She is thinking about it. It was a mission being on it even though side effects weren't horrendous. Same thing happened to her friend who has gone back on it and is now clear again.

WaxOnFeckOff · 27/06/2017 12:22

We are 5 weeks in with DS2 and a month today with DS1 - both have dry lips and skin and DS2 has a nose bleed nearly every day. He also had an allergic rash on his feet and hands for a couple of days but that was in first week. Otherwise all seems to be going okay.

Their skin does look better so far. a lot less angry and sore looking so fingers crossed for a miracle!

Baalam · 27/06/2017 14:32

2 months in and all dds spots had gone. It was a miracle.

RoseJamo · 31/07/2018 14:34

15yr old girl using mum's account (with permission!)
I had really bad spots a few months ago and my mum really helped by taking to see the doctors and making sure that I keep hydrated. I really recommend clinique's anti blemish face wash (it's worth the price!), using less hair products and keeping hair out of face and not touching the face. Also try to stop using any harsh toners as they encourage the skin to produce more oil. Also, if your teenager wears makeup, it's important that they use a rally good primer ( I recommend clinique's city block with spf 40) and not using any 'moisturizing' foundations, look for things that say ' for oily skin'. I followed all these steps and my skin is so much better. If you can't do all of these steps then the most important one is seeing the doctor.

Lottie4 · 01/08/2018 15:16

My DD had spots 12-15, which cleared up for a year and unfortunately came back. About seven months ago she started to use Cetaphil daily without fail. Also, she switched to a vegetarian diet (bit of a sore point as she's having hardly any calcium) alongside which she'll only eat food if it's nutritious, the worst she'll eat is plain chocolate, 1/2 biscuits a week, no unhealthy puds etc. You're not going to get the average teenager to eat so healthily but I think the diet and Cetaphil have certainly helped - she constantly has about one spot but her skin is looking a lot smoother and clearer.

ragged · 01/08/2018 18:15

My 14yo has no spots. (Read it & weep). He's an uncouth eater & sporadically showers, too.

The others had good hygiene & needed antiB cream from doc. I had bad spots as a teen & my dad had terrible ones. 16yo DD tries lots of potions & creams, but really, the prescription stuff is only thing that WORKS.

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