Ann Asks:
I have young daughters, and I’d like for them to have every opportunity to avoid the problems I had with my skin as a teenager and beyond. Are there facial cleansers and sunscreens out there that would be appropriate for young (under 10) skin, to use on a daily basis? What is the best way to teach them now to try and prevent acne?
The Right Brain’s Acne Answer:
Of course, you should also encourage your children to practice good hygiene, otherwise, they might turn into teenagers who look like this….
Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to help your pre-teen daughters prevent the acne that’s bound to plague them in their teen years. In other words, washing their face at age 10 won’t prevent pimples at age 13. Once their hormonal changes kick in their skin will undergo the physiological changes that will make them susceptible to acne but until then there’s not much you can do about it. (There is a condition called “Early Acne” or Prepubertal Acne that occurs before the first period, but that is much less common.) You can start to educate them about the subject – the American Academy of Dermatologists have an excellent discussion on acne prevention, we recommend you read it for your daughter’s future sake.
But what about using sunscreen at an early age? That’s a different story. Even at their ages it wouldn’t hurt to use sunscreen as a way of limiting their sun exposure. That’s because sun damage is cumulative and the damage they get now can stay with them their entire life. Sunscreen ingredients are Over the Counter Drugs that are approved by the FDA (in the United States); while there are some brands for kids, the active ingredients are the same as in adult products.
The Brain‘s Bottom Line:
You can hold off on the Clearsil for a while but don’t spare the Coppertone!
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