Age to start more advanced hygiene (girls)

[Anonymous]

My nine year old hasn’t hit puberty yet. She is fine with a shower every other day (washing face in shower; summer is daily with the pool and sweaty activities) but that’s pretty much the extent of her hygiene. She isn’t one of these young kids on social media with an obsession for Sephora nor do I ever want her to be.

But. I got horrible acne as a kid and in fact still as a 40 year old woman struggle with acne on my back. I would like to. Be preventative if I can be with DD and start getting her into routines around washing her face, putting on moisturizer and sunscreen and eventually acne prevention sooner rather than later. I realize perhaps I’m even too late, but looking for tips for those who have been there done that. What do you recommend and use?

Same with deodorant. Do we start now even though she doesn’t smell? Just to get her in the habit?

[Anonymous]

No. There is no need so why start now? Wait until she actually needs the products. Otherwise you are making puberty and those changes seem like something to be worried about because they will make her smelly and get acne. Just let it be. If she asks about using things, then sure, but until then, let her be.

[Anonymous]

No on deodorant, that’s easy.
As for acne prevention, you should know that it’s not about some perfect face regimen- it’s hormones plus bacteria, which aren’t issues for her now. So why start fussing about her skin? She doesn’t need moisturizer either. Doesn’t hurt to buy a mild face soap I suppose, but don’t make a big production of it. Sun screen when she’s going to be in the sun. By the way, none of this is going to impact whether she has acne in her back at 40. If/when she does have acne developing as a teen, see a dermatologist and follow their advice. Acne treatment has come a long way in recent years - nothing to panic about.

[Anonymous]

Acne on back at 40 is a dermatologist and antibiotic thing.

[Anonymous]

Just smell them.

Dont join in this overpriced tween skincare craze

Do minimal things for peer pressure reasons (one of my girls noticed everyone was wearing sports bras in 3rd grade and that became an issue)

Make sure they always brush their teeth 2x, if they start stinky sweat make sure they scrub with soap:pits, privates, piggies (feet).

Start antiperspirant/deodorant if they start the stink sweat.

Clean face before bed via showering or simple facial soap and good rinse.

Don’t bother with facial lotions, salycikic acids, stupid perfume sprays that stink and make a face look sweaty/greasy.

In parent in our fifth grade had to take her daughter to a dermatologist to be told to stop buying tons of tween products that were clogging her pores and totally unnecessary.

[Anonymous]

Showering daily made our girl get eczema-like dry skin patches on her arm.
Every other day is more than fine.

And clean sweat is fine, bacteria + sweat is not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Acne on back at 40 is a dermatologist and antibiotic thing.

+1 and actually severe acne in teens is also a dermatologist thing. In fact if you think she might inherit this, I would engage her in a complicated skincare regime involving moisturizer and special face wash now -- that sort of thing can exacerbate hormonal acne and make it harder to address.

Instead I'd focus on moving her to daily showers because that's going to matter during puberty. I would avoid washing her face with soap at all unless she wore sunscreen during the day. Otherwise water and a washcloth is fine for getting off dirt and sweat.

Then if she starts to get acne, take her to the derm and let them handle it. If you are going to invest in OTC products at that point, I'd focus on soothing products that can reduce the pain and discomfort of acne, as that is what often leads kids to pick at it which of course makes it worse.

I'd also focus on building up self esteem and normalize the occasional pimple and make sure she knows acne isn't that big of a deal. If there's a chance she could have serious acne, teaching her how to handle it emotionally is really important. And try not to send the message that acne is the result of poor hygiene because 99 times out of 100, it's not. It's a hormonal issue and some people are predisposed. It's a medical concern.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t use the deodorant unless she needs it. Most kids I know do start around that age now. My kids didn’t really have blemishes until 10.5-11 and that was when we started getting them skincare products, until then they just washed their face with whatever kids body wash they had. There are some kids face products now if you wanted to get her used to the idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Acne on back at 40 is a dermatologist and antibiotic thing.

Op make sure you are washing your back after you use conditioner. That may be causing it

But also there’s nothing wrong with being into Sephora

[Anonymous]

Showering daily (and washing face in shower) is enough. There is no preventing acne if she is going to get it. I would not push a “skincare routine” on a 9 yr old nor would I make her wear deodorant if she doesn’t have BO yet. Just chill and let her be a kid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Acne on back at 40 is a dermatologist and antibiotic thing.

Op make sure you are washing your back after you use conditioner. That may be causing it

But also there’s nothing wrong with being into Sephora

Lol

[Anonymous]

My 8 and 12 year olds shower daily and wash their face every night (either in the shower or when they brush their teeth if they showered earlier). My 12 year old wears a moisturizer with SPF30 daily and my 8 year old will probably start soon. My 12 year old wears a mild deodorant when I remind her to (trying to get to daily without a reminder), my 8 year wears only before soccer & basketball practice and games (she will probably have to start daily soon, she gets a little stinky when she sweats).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. There is no need so why start now? Wait until she actually needs the products. Otherwise you are making puberty and those changes seem like something to be worried about because they will make her smelly and get acne. Just let it be. If she asks about using things, then sure, but until then, let her be.

I actually think the opposite of this - if you make these things a habit before puberty starts, then it won't be an issue or anything to be self conscious about because it's just something they do every day.

[Anonymous]

12 dam.

[Anonymous]

DD11 started deodorant at 8 because she smelled. We had to remind her daily for a long time. That's the only things I've "made her" do.

When she started getting little raised bumps on her face I gave her face wash and asked her to use it, and I also made sure she changed out her wash cloths regularly. She got more interested in acne prevention/treatment when she started getting red zits and asked me for help with products.

Same with shaving - she asked me about it, I provided the tools and an explanation and offered to help more if needed. You just keep the lines of communication open and don't make it weird. (My mom made it weird.)