8 yo has a pimple

[Anonymous]

What is her weight?

[Anonymous]

I know everyone is mentioning weight, but there are many factors involved and weight does not correlate perfectly with acne risk.

DD began getting pimples at 9, and she was tall and maybe 65 lbs soaking wet. DH had acne as a teenager, so we went directly to a dermatologist. On the dermatologist's advice, DD now uses Cetaphil regularly as well as a low dose prescription retinoid. I recommend seeing a dermatologist early to seek low level treatment and to get your child used to good skin care habits.

My daughter also began having body odor around then, and after that she developed breast buds. Her pediatrician thinks she's probably going to get her period around age 12.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the above reply... if we extract from your daughter's experience, a period at age 11 is much more handle-able than at age 8 which was my fear!

[Anonymous]

check for dandruff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:check for dandruff.

Why?
She does have some of that...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the above reply... if we extract from your daughter's experience, a period at age 11 is much more handle-able than at age 8 which was my fear!

22:27 here. I think it's not usually a quick transition to full-on puberty - it happens over a couple of years or a few years. I think once the breast development really gets underway and she gets pubic hair, it's about 1.5 to 2 years to period.

I do understand the worry, especially because the early signs of puberty seem to come out of nowhere. It has been very gradual in our case, and that makes it easier.

[Anonymous]

One more thing on the weight - a period at 11 would also not be too far off the pediatrician's prediction. It would also be earlier than I got my period, which was at 12. I was average weight, but DD is really very thin (partly genetics - DH's). Her diet is also healthier than my diet was growing up, and she's more active than I was. I think there probably are other non-weight-related changes that our children are dealing with, such as environmental exposures, that play a role in the general phenomenon of earlier onset of puberty. However, some of this is probably also natural variation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:check for dandruff.

Why?
She does have some of that...

Dandruff can fall on forehead, chest and back; it clog pores, cause inflammation and lead to pimples and acne. (Ever heard of back acne or Bacne? https://bestmensskincare.wordpress.com/2012/10/29/tips-on-how-to-get-rid-of-back-acne-aka-bacne/).

The quick fix for that facial pimples is -
1) get rid of dandruff (my quick cure is treatment of scalp with equal parts lemon juice and coconut oil, leave on scalp for a few hours -overnight being best - and then shampoo. This takes care of the dandruff in one or two treatment. You can do this everyday if you want if you have a bad case of dandruff, but this is usually a one shot treatment to get rid of dandruff.

2) Use a mild salycylic acid based pimple medication for forehead and nose (including nasolabial folds), and under the lip - where the first pimples usually appear. It will exfoliate that area.

3) For inflamed pimple - any pimple medication with Benzyl Peroxide will work.

To prevent pimples -
1) Make sure you do not let water and shampoo from washing hair fall on your face, chest and back. Lean forward and rinse off.

2) Use separate towels for hair and body.

3) Exfoliate everyday. Wear cotton clothes. Change pillowcases regularly. Wash caps and hats. Once dandruff is gone, do a weekly treatment with lemon juice and coconut oil.

Good luck. If this does not work go and see a dermatologist.

I am absolutely against using retinol for small kids and teens, because they will never take the precaution to protect from sun, and will damage their skin further.

[Anonymous]

So dandruff causes pimples? Are you saying that the dandruf in this kid could cause pimples vs. hormonal changes?

Is this also true in adults?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Puberty usually starts by weight, not by age. So taller, thicker or heavier kids tend to start earlier.

Over 90lbs and you are in the bullseye for getting the symptoms of puberty and menstrual cycle.

Yup 90lbs and starting your period. Heard the same from my pediatrician. My daughter got hers at 92lbs. She was a skinny little thing, got her puberty weight gain, got her period and then lost it all again by age 13.

[Anonymous]

Pimples are clogged pores, maybe she just has one and it's not puberty acne. One doesn't mean anything

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS started getting pimples at 8 or 9 (he's 10 now). No other signs of puberty...but DH's family has a history of acne. We wash his face twice a day with Cetaphil or a similar type gentle cleanser based on his doctor's recommendation. It's worse in the summer when he sweats. He doesn't seem to mind the pimples at all, but we are tying to get him into a good routine. I don't think 8 is too early, even if she's not entering puberty yet.

+1

This is why I end up leaving this site for awhile, the hysterics are so annoying. Now one pimple = puberty? C'mon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DS started getting pimples at 8 or 9 (he's 10 now). No other signs of puberty...but DH's family has a history of acne. We wash his face twice a day with Cetaphil or a similar type gentle cleanser based on his doctor's recommendation. It's worse in the summer when he sweats. He doesn't seem to mind the pimples at all, but we are tying to get him into a good routine. I don't think 8 is too early, even if she's not entering puberty yet.

+1

This is why I end up leaving this site for awhile, the hysterics are so annoying. Now one pimple = puberty? C'mon.

I think the idea is not that a pimple= hysterics. The idea is that a pimple and very mild acne could show the onset of puberty. At age 8, yes, that's alarming.

[Anonymous]

My almost 8 yo has a few blackheads. My intention at this time is to help her exfoliate (just water and a slightly scrubby washcloth) and learn to NOT PICK. That's it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So dandruff causes pimples? Are you saying that the dandruff in this kid could cause pimples vs. hormonal changes?

Is this also true in adults?

Yes, it is true for every body. Dandruff can cause acne by clogging pores (and sometimes hormonal changes can also lead to an increase in dandruff - which then leads to acne).

Even if the acne happens during teen years, you should follow the suggestions above to control dandruff to prevent acne on forehead, cheeks, chest, back (and sometimes butt).

I gave a very effective, cheap and gentle remedy for dandruff (massaging scalp with lemon juice and coconut oil mixture, letting it sit for few hours (or overnight) and shampooing afterwards), because the affected person was a child. However, you can also use prescription strength anti-dandruff shampoo on teens and adults if they do not want to go this route.

(The oil treatment is extremely effective also on elderly and bedridden patients.)

Google the connection between dandruff and acne.