Dermatologist for acne if the kid doesn’t really care?

[Anonymous]

My 13 year old has fairly typical teen acne, but isn’t bothered by if at all. In fact, she bristles at the idea of caring too much about one’s physical appearance. She washes her face daily with a salicylic acid product from the drug store. (Or at least she says she does.) Am I doing her a disservice by not taking her to a dermatologist for an analysis? Or should I just let it go and see if it clears up eventually? I had some very awkward teen years myself, but I was somehow blessed with clear skin, so I’m not sure the best way to handle. I often see posters on here urging people to take their teens to the derm to spare them the awful embarrassment, but what if the kid isn’t embarrassed at all?

[Anonymous]

Switch to Dial bar soap for her face and it will be fine.

[Anonymous]

My only concern would be scarring. She might not care now, but will care when she has permanent scars.

[Anonymous]

Leave her alone. I only took my son to see a Dermatologist because the acne was getting out of control and he was very self-conscious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Switch to Dial bar soap for her face and it will be fine.

Noooooo
Are you sure she really doesn’t care? I would take her if it could scar. At some point she will care about that.

[Anonymous]

Yes!! Jesus, if it were any other health condition would you just not bother because the kid didn’t care?!

Yes, get your child’s skin condition treated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My only concern would be scarring. She might not care now, but will care when she has permanent scars.

+1. Take her to the dermatologist!! Be the parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 13 year old has fairly typical teen acne, but isn’t bothered by if at all. In fact, she bristles at the idea of caring too much about one’s physical appearance. She washes her face daily with a salicylic acid product from the drug store. (Or at least she says she does.) Am I doing her a disservice by not taking her to a dermatologist for an analysis? Or should I just let it go and see if it clears up eventually? I had some very awkward teen years myself, but I was somehow blessed with clear skin, so I’m not sure the best way to handle. I often see posters on here urging people to take their teens to the derm to spare them the awful embarrassment, but what if the kid isn’t embarrassed at all?

Skip the acid for facial oil. Get a filter on your showerhead. Dermatologist could put her on accutane/retin-a (suicides, depression, crime side effects), so I'd skip unless she asks.

[Anonymous]

Is it acne or just pimples? Acne might scar, pimples go away with OTC treatment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 13 year old has fairly typical teen acne, but isn’t bothered by if at all. In fact, she bristles at the idea of caring too much about one’s physical appearance. She washes her face daily with a salicylic acid product from the drug store. (Or at least she says she does.) Am I doing her a disservice by not taking her to a dermatologist for an analysis? Or should I just let it go and see if it clears up eventually? I had some very awkward teen years myself, but I was somehow blessed with clear skin, so I’m not sure the best way to handle. I often see posters on here urging people to take their teens to the derm to spare them the awful embarrassment, but what if the kid isn’t embarrassed at all?

Skip the acid for facial oil. Get a filter on your showerhead. Dermatologist could put her on accutane/retin-a (suicides, depression, crime side effects), so I'd skip unless she asks.

Accurate is never prescribed until several other options are tried and failed. And retin a does not have any of the side effects you mention.

OP, your daughter may not care, or she may care and say she doesn't, but please be the parent and take her to the doctor to treat her medical condition. The risk of mental and physical scarring is too high to leave it be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 13 year old has fairly typical teen acne, but isn’t bothered by if at all. In fact, she bristles at the idea of caring too much about one’s physical appearance. She washes her face daily with a salicylic acid product from the drug store. (Or at least she says she does.) Am I doing her a disservice by not taking her to a dermatologist for an analysis? Or should I just let it go and see if it clears up eventually? I had some very awkward teen years myself, but I was somehow blessed with clear skin, so I’m not sure the best way to handle. I often see posters on here urging people to take their teens to the derm to spare them the awful embarrassment, but what if the kid isn’t embarrassed at all?

Skip the acid for facial oil. Get a filter on your showerhead. Dermatologist could put her on accutane/retin-a (suicides, depression, crime side effects), so I'd skip unless she asks.

This isn’t accurate information about options through a dermatologist. Retin-A topical medication definitely doesn’t cause depression or “crime side effects” whatever that is.
I would take her.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it acne or just pimples? Acne might scar, pimples go away with OTC treatment.

Pimples are acne.

[Anonymous]

I would take her to the dermatologist at a minimum just to make sure she's using the right products to clean her skin and prevent scarring.

[Anonymous]

Regular pediatrician visit can handle this just fine.

[Anonymous]

Oral meds for acne can have some pretty strong side effects.
My friend's son got ulcerative colitis from discontinuing oral acne meds. It has been a rough road. The parents were fixated on the fact that the son needed perfect skin.

I live in a college town. The wealthy kids all have perfect skin. The poorer kids have normal teen skin with some acne. I always feel like the poorer kids are lucky.