Teen boys: spots and shaving

[Scabetty]

Ds is 15 yo and has mild acne which Doctor has given meds last month. He also has quite dark hair on his face but thinks shaving will cause ingrowing hairs and make his spots worse. I said maybe an electric shaver would be gentler. DH is useless and can’t remember being a teenager or when he started to shave. Ds says all his friends like the bum fluff look . Any advice greatly received.

Are the meds starting to work?

I don't think shaving affects spots. It wasn't thought to when I was at school; anyway, and the bum fluff look was very popular as a sort of rite of passage.

I wouldn't make him shave it if he's happy. Just make sure he's washing it and be careful of any beard oil type things.

My DSs had acne but quite severe, they didn't shave at all as it would be painful and not a good idea to shave the top of the spots and allow even more chance of infection. They've had 6/7 months of Roaccutane and DS2 (16) is clear but has kept the beard as it covers some of the scarring, DS1 (17) has been shaving from time to time but it looks like his spots may be coming back :(

You could ask the Dr next time he does about the shaving, but my personal viwe is that I would leave it as long as he is clean. He could trim it carefully with scissors or gently with clippers with a guard on (to leave stubble) if he wants it to look neater.

Thanks for replies. I am in bed with flu so just read these. Ds’s spots are clearing but still some eruptions. He decided to use a scissors on the longer hairs and he looks better imo although it is up to him at the end of the day.

Hope you feel better soon :( and yes, it is up to them, getting into an argument about facial hair choices really isn't worth it imo. Glad to hear the spots are clearing.