Question about acne

Hi all. Quick question about when (and if) your kids started getting acne. Also, what kind of facial cleanser do your kids use? DD1 will be 9 in a couple of months and seems to have started to get a bit of acne. It's very minor, but I'm wondering if the Dove soap we use isn't the best for her face and if she needs something more appropriate for her face. TIA!

 

My dd is 12 but at around 10 or so I got her some gentle Neutrogena face wash, just because I wanted her to wash her face with a product different than what she used on her body. Maybe something like that, Clean and Clear, or Phisoderm, that is specifically for the face will help with the current breakout and prevent further ones.

 

My girls use clean and Clear. Zoes forehead was breaking out really bad but this seems to be helping.

 

My daughter is only 6, but had a large cyst on her face that had to be surgically removed, so we are regulars at the dermatologist. She washes her face twice a day with Cetaphil and when she has minor outbreaks (yes, she is only 6), we use Differen gel which is available by prescription. Our goal is to avoid further cysts (although her plastic surgeon says her cyst and acne are unrelated). But we are prepared, and the good part is that her hygiene habits have been started early!

 

When my kids start to get acne, I will have them use Proactiv. I use it and it works really well. Right now I have them use a minor facial scrub and to use a moisturizer. I am hoping that by using this now, maybe they won't break out in the future. I never had acne, until I went off to college. Even then it wasn't bad. But I did have it AFTER I delivered Peyton, and Proactiv is the only thing that cleared it all up. I am afraid of stopping it, because I am afraid it will come back.

 

I plan to take my kids to the dermatologist the second I see the first pimple. I have had acne since I was 11. I'm about to turn 32 and still have it. I've tried every over-the-counter medicine and face wash available (including Proactive) and none of it works for me. I don't want them to end up with scars like I have. But, if I didn't have such problems with my own skin I would probably just start training them to have a regular skin-care routine and try a few different cleansers until I found one I was happy with.

BTW, one thing that is really important when you have acne is moisturizer. Many people don't think it is necessary since acne is normally accompanied by oily skin. But, the cleansers strip that natural oil and it needs to be replaced with moisturizers.