Help with skin

[Jazzpaws]

DD has a problem with some facial blemishes at the moment. She would kill me if she knew I was mentioning this, so good job she doesn't go on here (if anyone knows her, please protect my guilty secret). Good job they don't see some of these things !

She has some cream from the GP, which probably takes a while to work and it dries out her skin. He said it was just her age, which I'm sure is correct, but doesn't make it any easier, 

Just after some advice really and the miracle cure which I'm sure doesn't exist. Even wondered if the pill would help.

It's very frustrating for her 

[taxi4ballet]

Try Aveeno - dd had horribly rough sore chapped skin on her hands for weeks and used this and it worked practically overnight. 

 

Or there's always Aloe Vera - buy a plant, break a piece off one of the leaves and rub the juice on the skin.

Edited February 26, 2016 by taxi4ballet

[Jan McNulty]

I'm not really speaking from experience because I, fortunately, while not having a great complexion have never really had any issues.  However I love prowling round beauty and skin care counters.

 

Yes, it could well be age related but I would also consider the skin care regime your daughter undertakes.  Does she use cleansing wipes?  I know these are very convenient but they are not particularly good for your skin if used in the long term.  My niece used these wipes most of the times and gradually realised that they were drying out her skin and not helping blemishes.  My niece now uses products by Simple (but not the face wipes except for occasional convenience).

 

Does your DD use an appropriate moisturiser?  If she is using one that is too heavy that could also exacerbate blemishes.

 

Does she drink enough water?

 

This miserable weather doesn't help skin at all.  

 

I appreciate I am somewhat older than your daughter but I recently discovered and swear by Steamcream.  I use it on my face but you can use it all over.  It is about £14 for a tin (they now sell it in Debenhams but I continue to buy it on line) and I just love it.

[lilacfairy]

I think also it doesn't help when their dancing and sweating all day, since my DD moved to London she says the waters not the same and says it affects her skin , don't know if it's a combination of the two .

[aileen]

Are you talking about a few teenage spots or something more? There is a treatment for 'proper' acne (I think that it's called something like Roccatane) but it is pretty heavy duty. Girls / women have to understand that they must not get pregnant because the medication is dangerous to the fetus (can cause serious birth defects) and the person's liver function has to be checked before the medication can be prescribed. There may be other side effects as well. A friend's teen had quite severe acne and his/her skin has really cleared up. Girls can of course use make-up to hide skin blemishes.

 

I believe that there are also antibiotics which can be taken to treat severe skin problems.

Edited February 26, 2016 by aileen

[Cara in NZ]

I have a 20-yr-old (non-DD) who had/has very oily skin. The GP put her on long-term low-dose antibiotics when she was 13, but they cost £20 a month and we didn't see enough difference to justify the cost. She eventually went on a low-dose contraceptive pill at 17, which has helped but not cleared it up. My DD, who is 12, is starting to get pimples, and yes they sweat a lot. I'm also concerned about the effect of stage make-up on blemishes! I am encouraging her to wash the sweat off after class, and she has a 'youth formula' facial wash she uses morning and night. She needs braces too – so much fun ahead for our little darlings! 

 

(Edited to add to be wary of Roaccutane, as I believe use in teenage years has been linked with depression/psychological problems later on. We had a university student babysitter whose dermatologist father put her on it in her early teens and she had major mental health issues. When I looked it up, it was a recognised thing, poor girl. I hope there are safer options available now, 15 years on.)

Edited February 26, 2016 by Cara in NZ

[tabitha]

I know people say that it is an old wives tale that chocolate causes spots but my DD finds that if she eats sugar, she has breakouts whereas if she has a diet that avoids sugar and processed foods (which behave like sugar) like white bread or pasta and has a lot of fruit and veg, it pretty much keeps her clear.

[Billyelliott]

Has she tried freederm ? It's got similar stuff in it to the roaccutane but it's applied direct to the skin - available over the counter

[Anon2]

Make sure she isn't over washing her face. It is very tempting when they have a break out but it can cause more problems with spots.

 

Over the years have tried a variety of different over the counter remedies. All work for a while and then the spots return. One of mine, having had a few years of antibiotics and treatment from a dermatologist, now swears by just warm water for cleaning, drying with a clean towel and if can feel/see something brewing a dab of tee tree or toothpaste.

[Bluebird22]

Micellar water is brilliant for getting all the rubbish out of the skin, make up, sweat etc. I've read a lot of articles that claim spots etc are a result of dehydrated skin so the skin overcompensates and over produces oil. I use a facial oil in the evening and a moisturiser in the morning after cleansing and toning.

 

The pill actually makes me break out, prior to the pill I would have the occasional pimple.

 

Also take a look at face mapping

[Loulabelle]

My son took roacutane for about 18 months, it cleared his acne completely but did have some side effects. He had constant chapped lips which he smothered in Blisteze and very dry skin in general which he treated with E45. It was worth it though as has cleared up all his acne and he never gets so much as a spot anymore.

Freederm was the worst thing he ever tried, he had an allergic reaction to it, but I guess but everyone would suffer from that.

[Loulabelle]

'Not' not 'but'!! Can't seem to edit on my phone

[Jazzpaws]

Thanks for all your tips, she is trying freederm at the moment (plus I have an aloe plant in the bathroom so can't hurt to try). I suppose it is just age related spots a GP only offered the cream and it isn't everywhere. The sweating doesn't help at all - I have bought a load of flannels to be used once only as a towel and then laundered so no germs are spread x

[munchkin16]

A few things to try: cut out sugar. Make sure towels and make up brushes are really really clean. Try wearing as little make up as possible for a week or so to let the skin breathe.

 

If you keep everything natural for a week or so then you can start adding in things. Otherwise you can end up trying so many different creams and making the skin worse! I use Salcura Zeoderm cream for everything. It's supposed to be for eczma or dry skin but I use it on spots and cracked skin and it works so well, really heals everything up fast. Tea tree is also an amazing natural antiseptic. I brought my sister who has bad skin a really nice foundation from Bareminerals which is specifically for blemish prone skin as it contains some natural antiseptic stuff in there.

[shygirlsmum]

I had terrible skin from age 12/13 I went on the pill at 13 but it never really helped. I tried everything on the market at the time and found that products like clearasil made things worse. I am still prone to breakouts but things have improved over time I now use clean & clear face wash and I love it, I wish I had access to it in my teens.

[sarahw]

I guess it depends on how bad the skin is. With the best will in the world some people will not be able to avoid the 'stronger' treatments such as antibiotics , contraceptive pill (may need to try different ones) or Roaccutane.

 

There are some potentially serious side effects with the latter but it is closely monitored. If my skin was bad enough to need it I would take it personally.

 

I hope your dd finds a gentle answer Jazz paws! It's very distressing to have skin problems.

[balletqs]

Hi there. Poor thing I sympathise as bad skin can really get you down. I had a horrid phase as a teen and tried everything, it was more on my back too but found actually the best thing was keeping my skin clean and moisturised and not overloading it. However I can't recommend seeing a Dermalogica consultant highly enough! They do a clear start range for teenagers and if you seek out a good beautician who does it they won't make you buy every item. Just what you need. Initially you want a face mapping facial appointment. They look at your skin through a lens that helps them see what's causing congestion prob areas etc. Dryness causes pores to block then as the skin gets oily with exercise the pores fill. So her skin care regime is paramount. If you do that then I humoured my beautician and bought a starter pack but I now order my Dermalogica stuff from a website called pure beauty (you get free samples and earn money off points too so little bonus!) so much cheaper than beautician prices. It all lasts ages and is worth every penny!! They do a medibac range for problem areas and I use their concealing spot treatment on the odd hormonal spot and honestly it's like magic! But the teen range has certain things too. I wouldn't be tempted to buy and try until a face mapping. But that'll tell your daughter what's going on and then give her confidence with how to look after her skin. I'm rubbish at drinking lots of water but that's v important too!

[MiniBallerina97]

I find that if I use a little bit of St. Ives Apricot Scrub every day it keeps my skin clear — I've tried lots of different things, and that's the only thing that has worked for me.

[Guest]

Also depends on the cause. Its tempting to assume that its acne, but it could in fact be eczema and using acne related treatments on eczema prone skin can exacerbate the problem. My dd was fortunate enough to be seen by a GP who had a specialism in dermatology. She confirmed that eczema was the problem with my daughters skin and we have a prescription for Aveeno shower oil and moisturiser plus some other medication (tetracycline class). Interested in the comment by a poster who said her daughters skin got worse when she moved to London. We also live in a hard water area and had a water softener installed a few years ago - it did make a difference. Advantage of being seen by NHS dermatologist of course is that its free and so are the prescriptions! If you do have eczema you just have to be very careful with everything, including the type of washing powder that you use (I would avoid biological products for instance because of the enzymes) and also other skin products like make up. Finally diet can be significant so might be worth keeping a food diary (boring I know) in case there seems to be a link between some foods and subsequent flare ups. And of course drink water - lots of it  - I have become a terrible nag about drinking water but it does make a difference. Finally I would add to try to choose leotards and other dance clothing made out of cotton or at least with a high cotton content as these are more skin friendly than the lycra stuff. Hope some of these ideas help as it can be very distressing when skin plays up

[Fiz]

I second what people have said about Aveeno. A couple of years ago, my finger tips had become very rough and then cracked open and bled. I think I had developed eczema from my previous hand cream. We had just moved so we hadn't yet found a G.P. so I spoke to the pharmacist in Boots who recommended Aveeno. It began to work almost immediately and I have had no recurrence. I do hope something that has been suggested helps your dd, Jazzpaws. Skin problems are so miserable.

[Anna C]

The pill can make you put on weight which isn't ideal for dancers. :-(

 

I had skin problems in my teens. Took me years to learn that strippng/over-drying oily and spotty skin with harsh products just makes you produce more oil, which blocks the pores and results in more spots. Using scrub too often or which is too harsh can have the same effects.

 

Discovering Clinique liquid soap, clarifying lotion, and oil free moisturiser was my saviour. Moisture replenishment - as long as the moisturiser is non pore blocking - is vital as it calms the skin and stops it going into panic mode. Now I'm older I need a different moisturiser for sensitive skin but I still use Clinique soap and clarifying lotion without fail.

 

The lotions/creams/ointments on prescription can be very drying, exacerbating overproduction of oil. I find the best prescription is Clindamacin (Dalacin) aqueous roll-on lotion or the same lotion in a bottle, applied to clean and toned skin, left to absorb before applying moisturiser. Could your dd ask the GP to prescribe it on the basis that the current one is too drying?

[Pas de Quatre]

My DD is like Tabitha's - reacts badly to sugar and chemicals. Even if there is another root cause of the skin problems it is worth cutting out junk food. Everyone, and dancers in particular, should eat heathily! It's like the old acronym for computers GIGO, garbage in = garbage out.

[MumToTu]

I have always suffered from acne as a teenager as so can sympathise with your dd. I never found a cure and still have mild acne scarring so I can't help there, but I found wearing make up helped me forget I had bad skin at least especially awful in teenage years I know it's not ideal but it helped me, I swear by Lancome Teint Idol 24 hour its the only foundation I have ever found that I can wear to the gym and sweat loads (cardio) and is still intact any other foundation I've tried just runs or transfers off, it's quite pricy but a little bit goes a long way.

Edited February 27, 2016 by Snowflake

[tabitha]

Oh me too Snowflake, I love Lancôme Teint Idole 24 hour. It's the only foundation that I have found that is not heavy or Carey and lastst all day. It still looks as good at the end of the day as the beginning. And I have tried just about every new 'miracle' foundation, BB,CC, tinted moisturiser etc going!

[orchidblue]

Jazzpaws, my DD had lovely skin, then having to wear full make up whilst dancing all day caused all sorts of problems. Her face was particularly bad just before Christmas, which was upsetting DD, which in itself didn't help. She started taking Selenium in January and her teachers said she could miss out wearing foundation. Her skin is much much better now, not perfect, but not distressing to her. Would definitely recommend. You can get selenium from the vitamin/supplements aisle in supermarkets etc. x

[Flora]

I live in London and agree the hard water and pollution (let's face it Central London is several degrees warmer than everywhere else for a reason) is awful for skin. This and a stressful job have given me acne, rosacea and wrinkles rolled into one..

 

If your DD cant bear it any more Dr Chopra on Wigmore Street in London is a life saver. Thnks to him I can do my job which bankrolls DD's expensive dancing habit.... 

[sarahw]

I find the mineral powder foundation feels and looks good (not too heavy) and doesn't upset my skin - I still have mild acne in my 40s!! Grrr (The No 7 ones are as good as branded.)

 

The contraceptive pill was marvellous for my skin - can't take it any more for health reasons unfortunately.

 

With my professional hat on I will say that the contraceptive injection is the only method PROVEN to put on weight in some, but not all, cases. Oestrogen in pill may increase appetite but if you are aware of that and eat the same you won't put on weight. You put on weight by eating more calories not by taking hormones. Slim girls tend to put on less than those already overweight. Remember girls start contraception at a time in their lives when they often put on weight anyway and it is easy to blame your contraception.

 

On a related issue - for our skinny dd there would be bone protection advantages to taking oestrogen.

Edited February 28, 2016 by sarahw

[briarbear]

Swimming in a chlorinated pool used to work for me many years ago when i suffered breakouts, and its fun too and good to relax all those tight muscles. The chlorine in the water dries up the blemishes then she needs to leave her face clean with out concealer for a couple of days to let them heal. Also her makeup brushes, concealer sticks and blending sponges might need more regular replacement to prevent constant re-introduction of bacteria.

[Jan McNulty]

A friend has just published this link on Facebook.  It may be worth getting the booklet:

 

http://www.getthegloss.com/product/a-beginner-s-guide-to-sensitive-skin

[balletmum13]

I have ventured over to here from the doing dance section and can relate to this post. Dd has bad spots and finds that using natural moisurising cleansers work the best for her but off course everyone is different. If I was you I would go back to the doctors and see if they can provide a different cream. Xx

[loveclassics]

I wonder if it is the colouring in confectionery and some processed food that are the real villains?  I have sensitive skin and am prone to dermatitis but had the worse reaction in my life after eating Chinese food coloured red for the New Year.  Now I stick to plain food made from scratch so I know what's  in it.   But sometimes the dirty city environment can cause serious reactions particularly if there are other stressful factors present.   If you have to live in a city you can try using yoga or meditation for the stress, avoid heavy make up and concealers and use a mild wash off cleanser morning and night to keep your skin scrupulously clean. 

 

Tinted moisturiser makes an good light foundation and Boots have a reasonably priced one that lasts well.  Their No. 7 cleanser is also good and a bottle lasts for months.  I was advised to use cotton wool wrung out in lukewarm water and keep wiping and rinsing until the cotton wool was clean.  And the cheaper beauty products are often the best for sensitives because they contain less perfume and other irritants.  Would you believe Lidl sell great moisturiser and night cream at less than two quid a pop?

 

Linda

[2dancersmum]

My DD also had lovely skin - until she went to vocational upper school and became prone to blemishes and break outs.  Drinking more water helped as did changing her foundation and using a tinted moisturizer rather than foundation - or better still going make up free.  Full on days, lack of sleep and being stressed did not help her skin either.  Now she is working and dancing in full make up most nights of the week but her skin is not suffering the way it did in college - so maybe age is a key factor also.

 

 

re Chinese food - i love Chinese food but there is definitely something in some dishes sometimes that can cause a reaction.  i bought a supermarket takeaway and my mouth started feeling uncomfortable while i was eating and i could not finish it.  When i looked in the mirror, all my gums and the lining of my mouth were inflamed and even bleeding in places.  I'd never had that reaction before or since.

[sarahw]

I would like to add that for some people who suffer with acne whatever they do regarding diet and lifestyle they will still get acne. It's important they realise it isn't their fault!