Tween Skin

Children indeed seem to be maturing earlier than generations before. Many girls are experiencing their first period as early as 10 or 11, and this can bring about not only mood changes but also changes in their skin. We’re exploring tween skin, giving you some insights into what skincare and lifestyle issues you should look at.

While boys typically mature a little later than their female counterparts. Environmental stressors, toxins, and preservatives in certain foods can mean that your son may be suffering from acne too. Also, boys often suffer from congestion, due to heavier sweating and less interest in personal hygiene! Using skin care may be the last thing your son is interested in. Consider explaining to him that by starting early, he might avoid the bad acne stages that are common around age 14. This is when they get that big surge of testosterone that not only brings about a big growth spurt but can also bring about acne.

This boost in testosterone in boys is also experienced in girls, although a little different. Bursts of testosterone are required in adolescents for growth, and couple that with the new hormonal fluctuations in a girl when she gets her period, and up comes acne!

 

How to treat acne in tweens and teens

The first thing to do when your tween or teen has acne is to get them into a good routine of personal hygiene. It is normal for this age group to suddenly start sweating, and although we might think this happens only under the arms, sweat comes from every pore on the skin.

It is important to clean the skin at the end of every day and keep hair washed regularly to remove sweat and excess oil that can trickle from the head and onto the face.

Keeping bed linen clean (especially pillowcases) is another sure way to make sure that acne-causing bacteria is not transferred from the pillowcase to the skin.

Diet

We all know that what we eat can show on our skin, and if your teen is suffering from a lot of acne, keeping a clean, low-inflammatory diet is essential. This is easier said than done. Teens these days lead a much busier lifestyle, so often kids are eating on the run, and fast food is an easy option when you are running between school, sports, and appointments. But if you have a tween or teen that is concerned about their skin, avoiding foods that are high in sugars, fats, and preservatives (think McDonald’s) is important.

Dairy can also often make acne worse, as it can create mucus in the gut which creates a perfect breeding ground for acne-causing bacteria. If you have a child that has moderate to severe acne and they consume a lot of dairy (milkshakes especially), perhaps it is time to see if this is the cause. By limiting milk for a few weeks, you will soon see if this is the reason.

Environment

Kids that have an after-school job in the fast food industry, or in a restaurant, are subjected to an environment that is hot, steamy, and greasy. I know from experience that when my son was working at McDonald’s as a 14-year-old, he would come home with a very oily face that led to congestion. This is another reason why it’s important to get your child into a good routine of an evening where they are washing.

Sport

Very active kids may also suffer from acne. Lots of exercise can stimulate more testosterone, which can be an acne-causing hormone. While we don’t want kids to stop any sport, it is another reason to make sure that they are in a good routine and removing sweat, and keeping a healthy diet.

Many of our teen clients in our clinic suffer acne due to being in a chlorinated pool for many hours a week. Chlorine dries out the skin, which impairs the skin’s protective barrier, making them much more likely to suffer inflammation, which usually presents as acne, but also often dry, flaky, sensitive skin. Cleaning the skin after swimming and applying a moisturiser can make all the difference.

 

Skin Care

When looking at skincare for tweens and teens, the fewer steps involved, the better. It’s often hard to get your child to be compliant with anything, and a skincare routine is no different. We recommend a simple routine. One that will adequately clean the skin by removing sweat, grime, and dead skin cells. Then support the skin’s barrier, calming and healing any inflammation (acne), and adding moisture. If anything more, then your child is less likely to do it (especially boys). Although, once they start noticing a difference, you will see that they quickly become invested in their routine.

Recommendations

• Aspect Clear Skin Kit. This is the perfect kit for any tween or teen regardless of age. It comes with three simple steps; a cleanser, a soothing and exfoliating solution, and a moisturiser. There is also a spot treatment that they can use directly on active breakouts. This kit is $85 and should last them a few months. This skincare is honestly the best option I have ever seen for this age group and even those who are older and looking for a simple routine.
• Aspect Illuminating Polish. This is an exfoliant, which when used weekly, adds salicylic acid to the pore. Salicylic Acid is a naturally occurring acid that repels bacteria and grime and clears out congestion. This is great to use once a week and is also a perfect option for back and chest acne which is super common in this age group.
• Aspect Hydra Shield. This is an excellent all-around moisturiser that contains zinc for sun protection. This is a product that we recommend for swimmers to keep in their swim bags as it’s super moisturising. Zinc is also a natural anti-inflammatory, making it a great ingredient for those suffering from acne.

Severe Acne

If your child is suffering severe acne (big large pustules, sore inflamed skin, or deep cystic acne), we would still recommend starting with the above kit as it will prepare the skin for the possibility of requiring stronger products. Once they have used up what comes in the kit and if they still require further treatment, you may like to look at stronger products that are specific at targeting this type of acne, and for this, we love the acne range from Societe. The kit is only small, but you can purchase the products in larger sizes once you run out:

• Société Clear Skin Essentials Kit

LED Light Therapy

For acne that is persistent, the use of LED light therapy is proven to clear skin by the use of blue light for treating bacteria and near-infrared light for healing the skin.  

• Omnilux Clear is a truly brilliant at-home device that significantly reduces acne, redness, inflammation and scarring. Although this is expensive, if used regularly, the results far outweigh the cost. From a personal perspective, my 12-year-old daughter uses this mask a few times a week as she has acne, particularly on the forehead and chin, and it has made such a positive difference, not only by almost eliminating the acne, but it has brightened her whole skin tone, leaving her skin looking so healthy and luminous. She also uses this in conjunction with the daily use of the Aspect Clear Skin Kit.  

What products to avoid

One of the worst things you can use on your child’s skin (and your own) are products containing Benzoyl Peroxide. This is designed to dry out the acne, and while it works in this regard, it only offers very short-term gains, but long-term issues. When using such severe drying ingredients, the epidermal barrier becomes so impaired that over time, the skin becomes inflamed. It appears dry and also oily, flaky and sensitive, that it is never worth it. The acne returns, but often along with other issues, such as flakiness and irritations. Using products that contain no toxic chemicals that support skin health is imperative. As with all the products we stock in our clinic, they all contain natural, scientifically proven ingredients that will change your skin in a gentle and effective way.

For a more personalised skincare recommendation for your tween or teen, you can fill out a free online skin consultation here.

Best Selling Tween Skin Care Options

 

 

 

 

 

Still not sure?

Do you need more help or would like personalised advice? Book now for your consultation with a skin care advisor. Offering information on what skin care products are best for you. Check out our range of in-clinic services today.

In-Clinic Treatments

 

 

Otherwise fill in the Online Skin Consultation. Our skin care advisor will happily help you. Choosing the right treatments and products for your skin type or concern.

Online Skin Consultation

 

Check out our latest Specials!