Breakthrough ...

Breakthrough ... as in teen acne, spots, hormones etc!

Gotchya! And you thought I'd have something to offer eh!

This is a SERIOUS topic though and I'm quite keen on knowing if you have any ideas on how to keep the dreaded acne and spots at bay when my Conor gets a little older. I like to be armed and ready to attack as you know!

He's at that age when he's starting to sweat more than he used to ... and his hair STINKS within a day or two of being washed! I keep telling him to wash his hair ... he keeps telling me it'll fall out if he washes it any more! The teen years approacheth!!! Ugh!

He's only ten but I swear he has hormones coursing through his body at breakneck speed. He's only just now knocked an entire glass of iced coffee across the desk BUT didn't say he'd done it. I was sitting there wondering why he had the look of sheer terror on his face ... he ran out of the room in a flap STILL didn't say anything ... then I looked down and saw the iced coffee soaking into school reports, other paperwork, about to fill Carson's new DS

I'm not sure if it's hormones making him so darned flighty right now but the kid didn't say a word ... just ran off in panic. When I yelled for him to get me a tea-towel ... he stood there flapping about and did nothing! I was SO cross and of course so was Gav.

After we cleaned it all up ... we reminded him that we don't beat him to a pulp when he makes a mistake but it would be nice in future if he could remember to at least let us know what he's done before taking off in such a hurry! The poor kid ... standing there crying his heart out ... saying 'sorry' and not knowing why all of this keeps happening to him. I swear it's hormones!

Can any of you more experience mummies with boys advise me? We are trying to be SO patient with him ...

Sorry no real advice. Both my boys had and have them badly. Neither have been able to use creams, face washes or lotions on them. Both have eczema on their faces which flares up when they are used. My lovely Dr had put the eldest on antibiotics. He used them for 3 months and now has stopped for a while to see if they come back... so far NOT. Am waiting to take Peter to the Drs, he has them on his face, neck, shoulders, chest and back...poor thing. They get it from me I was terrible as a kid too. I cant say I am thrilled with the pills but it HAS worked on David and he has lovely skin with only the odd spot now.

Teatree oil does dry up the odd one, but used it sparingly on the spot only.

Keeping face clean and not eating chocolates are an "old wives tale".

Thanks for the heads up Gizzy ... I didn't even think about Conor having eczema AND spots at the same time! Goodness ... he'll be devastated if that happens!

Carson informed me yesterday (after telling me quite seriously that I wasn't allowed to die as he would cry ... and he did ... and miss me) ... that he didn't want to have a hairy body like Dad's when he grew up as it would make him itchy! Bless him. I didn't have the heart to tell him just HOW hairy he may end up ... plenty of time for that when he's old enough to cope with the idea ... but I did say that he won't get itchy as he'd be used to the hair as it grew in. It did NOT impress him!

I've heard that chocolates and keeping the face clean doesn't make a difference. I had a fair few spots when I was around the 14/15 age group ... then they went away and I only ended up with a hormone-induced mother-of-a-spot every now and then. They've since gone too! Phew!

My Mum never went out and bought any of the lotions and potions ... just told me it would go away, keep my fingers off the spots and don't pick them! It's not exactly bad advice but at the time I can remember being quite cross with her for being so flippant about my then rather massive dilemma. Not having much self-esteem, being in a religion I didn't want a part of AND having spots on my face didn't do much for me at all!

I have heard that having a freshly squeezed lemon with water drink every day helps to clear the skin from the inside. Anyone else heard that?

Someone once told me that putting toothpaste on a spot would dry it out. I tried it and it stung a LOT! Made my eyes run and everything. Do not try this one at home!

I have tried loads of different spot washes. I have really dry skin, so they either made my face peel or I was allergic to them and I turned bright red. EEEK!

I stick to good old soap (dove) and water these days. Unfortunately I still get spots at that time of the month, but I don't look like I've got chicken pox anymore. (I have been asked that on more than one occasion, I was mortified!!!).

They will settle down soon Louise, saying that I still get the odd huge one every now and again and I am older than Somni

Somni, my mum told me the same, wasnt a lot of help either.

Poor Carson, my 2 got a bit fixated with death recently but thankfully things are silent. Dont know if they are thinking about it like I am or if its been delt with and filed away. I wonder what will happen if you tell Carson that his body is already covered in hair!

definitely won't try the toothpaste method for the boys then Louise! They barely like brushing their teeth with the stuff ... never mind using it on spots!

When I was younger I just used soap and water on a flannel ... followed by Vaseline Intensive Care moisturiser. I can remember when I turned 30 ... a friend of mine (she's Gav's age ... ten years younger than me) gave me a card that said she'd seen "more wrinkles on a teenager"! Something to be said for inheriting English skin eh girls!

I daren't say to Carson that he's already got hairs or he'll freak I'm sure! Today he woke up and informed me that he doesn't mind turning 7 providing he doesn't have to write the number down on paper!

poor lad tell him that when I turn 50 in a few years time I am sure I will feel the same way

I was really lucky neither of my girls suffered much with acne-but Ryan gets it quite bad and it seems to go in cyclesof about 6-8 weeks- one week hes clear then hes covered ..bless him
we use a facial wash andhe has a stick of tea tree stuck he sticks on it every night..i think he sees they ahve gone and forgets lol..

Gizzy ... even I will think twice about turning 50 even though I don't really have a drama about becoming older!

Poor Ryan ... I dare say my boys would be equally forgetful ... will have to remember to remind them about their spot stuff. I'm hoping they don't get too many but it's invariably going to happen that they'll end up with some at least. The joys of growing up eh!