Spots

[honeychild]

DS1 is 12 (so I'm almost able to post on here!) and starting to get spots - yikes. When I was a teenager you just used clearasil, which achieved bugger all. Does anyone have any cleansing products which are acceptable to self-conscious boys? And is there any particularly good and diplomatic way of introducing the subject? Help - I'm a total novice at all this.

[themoon66]

Zineryt.... on prescription from doctor. Cleared DD's acne in two weeks.

[honeychild]

So far it's just a few little spots, so I guess he just needs an ordinary cleanser and maybe a scrub. But I only know about girlie ones!

[Twinkie1]

Clean and clear facial wipes are good - I have used them since I was a teeneagr - may be just the thing is skin not thatbad at the mo you don;t want to strip the oils away and make the skin worse by using something heavy duty!

[claricebeansmum]

There is the Clinique stuff for zapping individual ones.

Drink lots and lots of water.

Are they squeezable ones??!!!!

[Wisteria]

I've always gone with the opinion that unless they have bad acne (which is quite different), the spots are there as the body changes and is all part of the whole process. With girls it's easy, they cleanse etc but with boys I'm not sure - soap and water? Probably the most you can do is impress on him that he needs to be very aware of personal hygiene and wash his face morning and night with a decent soap.

[lilolilmanchester]

Funnily enough, my DS uses clearasil and it works a treat, tho he has pimples still rather than fully blown spots. I am susceptible to the odd spot too so use it myself then and I find it really helps. Then sudocrem on any bad ones. I broached the clearasil subject when I saw him inspecting his pimply nose one day and asked if he'd like to try something, fully expecting him to say no, but he agreed.

[aig]

My DS has done the full range of acne treatment: 'visibly clear' products, oral antibiotics; saw dermatologist - prescribed creams (retinoic acid)as well as oral antibiotics; then roaccutane tablets. His acne was controlled very well. He has had a year off treatment but came back from uni upset about his skin and saw the dermatologist again. He is on a topical antibiotic and a weird bleaching cream that has made all our towels go rank. His skin is great!
I would suggest you always treat aggressively - spots can be really distressing.

[Blandmum]

If they get to be a problem, and especially if they are 'Cystic' in nature step in early and see the GP.

The longer you wait the bigger the problems gets, and the more risk there is of scarring and thickening of the skin.

This can be a reall issuefor kids, far more than 'passing spots' and deserves to be treated seriously

Aig, glad that things worked out so well for your ds.

[mumblechum]

Agree that they need to be treated early on. A friend of mine had bad acne as a teenager and her face is very badly pitted now.

[honeychild]

This is just a handful of spots - the sort of thing I had as a teenager. It's really just a question of getting him something to use on a regular basis, not so much to target the spots, but to get his face clean and exfoliate a bit so they don't become an issue.

When I was that age, my mum got me cleansing, toning and moisturising, but that seems like overkill for a boy. Or am I old-fashioned? Perhaps the wipes would be a good start (and easy and quick for him).