My 7 year old over the last few months has gotten a few pimples on her face. Is that normal at this age? Should I get her special soap like Clean & Clear? She is not messing with it, which is good and she is not questionining it. When does acne really begin?
Awww... it seems like it just starts for younger and younger kids. I don't think there really is an age. It just depends on their bodies.
I don't think I would jump to using an acne cleanser yet. Maybe something like Cetaphil or just a mild cleanser in the morning and before bed. You don't want to strip her skin because it will just produce more oil in response.
Good luck!
what is she eating? Is she sugar,, fried foods, processed foods, dairy products? Animal products with hormones in them? All these will lead to acne. Acne doesn't 'start', it's common only because people eat so badly and as they go into puberty their hormones heighten it all. Clean diet, none of the mentioned above foods and her skin should be clear, not just now but later on too.
It varies. I will say this though... my son had a few bumps crop up around age 9. Then they faded away. They came and went over the next year or so (nothing really -- just a few raised pink spots-- no pus in them, etc).. Then they vanished. He is 12 almost 13 now, and over the past year, he had another little pink spot or two come and go. But still nothing I'd call "acne" really.
My husband had acne severely when he was a teen. I never did. I mean-- I might have gotten 3 bumps over the coarse of an entire year on average. The worst I had it was pregnancy-- but even then it was MAYBE 2 bumps at one time. And the ones I had were very sporadic.
So, maybe my son has inherited my skin type? I don't know.
Some of it could be hereditary. I would just watch it and if it doesn't seem to bother her and she isn't picking--- let it go. No special soaps/cleansers needed.
My nine year-old daughter gets small pimples on her nose if she doesn't wash her face daily. So far, we've not gotten any special soap. I'm working on encouraging her to wash daily. Her father and I both had some level of acne at different times of our lives, and her big sister had it fairly bad, so it is something I'm on the watch for.
Glad to find this question, as my daughter is experiencing the same thing. I've always had pimples...still do (just with wrinkles now!). She's even getting blackheads. sigh. Mine does mess with it, as she's a "picker" like her mom & dad. I think I'll go the route of a delicate cleanser & moisturizer. Boy, I sure didn't think this would be happening so early!
One of my sons started getting little bumps & blemishes on his forehead & nose around the age of 7 - the kids get so sweaty at PE during the day & definitely need to clean their delicate skin. I started having them use Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser before bed & it has definitely helped. I think it's gentler than some others. My kids definitely do not eat a lot of fried or processed foods, so I don't really think that's a factor.
I would just like to add that you need to also moisturize! Gentle facial soaps will help cleanse the skin, but in doing so they also remove excess oil that cause the pimples. If you don't moisturize after then the skin's oil production is heightened in order to protect itself and the problem may be worse than before. A nice oil-free moisturizer with an SPF of 15 should be easy to find.
