Moisturizer or Not for Teen Acne??

Acne can be very complicated to treat. I’ve seen some people get great results from a dermatologist, for me, my acne never healed until I got an auto immune disease at almost 40! Pro Active does work for teen and young adult skin. It has everything you need and helped me for many years.

Wait list or not, your teen needs to see a dermatologist. Get on a list. Some Dr’s who may not be “top rated” are better Dr’s.

Professional treatment should start sooner vs later in order to prevent scarring and emotional issues from having acne.

I was raised on Clinique, I’m 57 and still use it faithfully and have good skin. My 24 yr old daughter also uses Clinique, also recommended by our dermatologist. A good cleansing routine is vital as well.

Don’t forget sunscreen as well!

when i was an oily pimply teen my parents weren't one bit interested in taking me to a dermatologist, so i coped on my own. that meant bonne belle's 10-0-6 cleanser (any of you old enough to remember that?) and lots of clearasil. when i moved out at 17 and couldn't afford much of anything, that switched to rubbing alcohol.

i never used moisturizer because i assumed it would make my oiliness and pimples worse. that continued well into adulthood.

now that i'm almost 60, you can easily trace this tsunami of bad decisions in the skin of my poor old face.

everyone should moisturize. there are a gazillion moisturizers on the market with good ingredients. you may have to try a few to hit on the one that's best for your teenager.

good for you for helping your teen cope.

https://www.prevention.com/beauty/skin-care/g24852924/bes...

ETA forgot to add that we got Proactiv for my younger and it really helped a lot.

khairete
S.

We were told a light moisturizer was a good thing. A heavy, oil-based moisturizer can clog pores, but that's not what's happening with a light one. I suggest your pediatrician doesn't deal with this as much as you might think, and is locked into old information. Ask when he/she last took a class on dermatology - the answer is probably "medical school" or "never."

I think keeping the pores open is a good thing - consider an occasional facial at a good salon or esthetician. My son benefitted a lot from that. We also found that nourishing from within was a better overall strategy than just dealing with blemishes after the fact. My son did a good program that made things worse for 2 weeks while all the bad stuff was eliminated through the skin, but then he had virtually no problem throughout all of high school.

Definitely use a moisturizer! Every skincare fanatic knows that no moisturizer = overproduction of oils due to the skin trying to overcompensate for the lack of moisture in the skin. Using harsh products can damage the skin barrier if no moisturizer is used.

My main comment is to say: put your teen on that dermatologist wait list!! It will be worth it when the time comes!!

For now, to answer your question - I think moisturizer is important, as you said. I wonder if your ped is just nervous about young people using "cheap junky" moisturizers, but clearly you are not that type of person because you did the work to google about top moisturizers. But I wonder if the ped just figures "better safe than sorry" in advising people to not use any moisturizer rather than saying "it is important to research the best moisturizers".

When you eventually see the dermatologist, the dermatologist will probably recommend specific cleansers and moisturizers, some of which may be ones that you would never stumble across on your own.

"Skin health" really is important. Like "teeth health". Skin problems not properly treated can result in lifelong scars.

(To be clear: I am not preaching at you, I am agreeing with you - it sounds like you are really focused in a great way,)

This is the moisturizer my daughter’s dermatologist told us to get while treating her acne.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/DML-Daily-Facial-Moisturizer-S...

it all depends upon what is causing the acne. you need to see a dermatologist. You don't need the "top rated", call your insurance company and get their preferred list. Don't wait. GO.

Mary Kay has a line of products for acne prone skin. I absolutely love their clear proof acne treatment gel! it wipes out simple pimples overnight. The oil free moisturizer is wonderful too. If you don't have a Mary Kay consultant you can find one on their site.. (I am only a customer. I do not sell it, I just love how it worked) a consultant should be able to help you find a product that works.

I was told to find a lightweight moisturizer and try to find one with sunscreen because I burn easily. But that Dr didn't have suggestions as to what to use, (she was a gynecologist and later deemed the acne hormonal and the birth control pill helped)

When I was a teen my skin was the answer to the 70's oil crisis.
Acne happens when pores get clogged up with oil and bacteria grows.
To keep the pores open moisturizer is not a good idea.
I'm 57 now and only need a moisturizer in winter but the rest of the year my skin is still pretty oily.
Sunblock can make my skin break out - even the hypoallergenic stuff - but I need the 75 spf or I'll fry.
Make the long awaited appt with the dermatologist if you want to but your pediatricians advice sounds right to me.
I wash my face twice per day and never sleep with any makeup on.
It's worked well for me over 40 years.

My child's "top-rated" (in the state) dermatologist recommends either CeraVe or Cetaphil moisturizer with SPF30, the "for oily skin" versions--in the morning. At night after cleansing and before bed, the version without SPF. They are available at Target, Walmart, or drugstores like CVS or Walgreen's. About $10-15 each.

People with oily skins don't stop producing oil if they wear moisturizer. It doesn't work that way.

It's not dependent on what you put ON your skin. You can dry your skin out with certain topical ointments (medicinal ingredients) but emollients on the skin don't prevent the skin from producing more.

Nowadays, they sell moisturizers to all-skin types with SPF and that's why they come for people with oilier skin types. Gel based (oil free). I wear one for combination skin.

Sometimes it also helps for going under makeup, etc.

My teens skip moisturizer. They have no need.

*I was sold the clinique 1-2-3 system at age 16 and most skin care regimes come with a cleanser, toner and moisturizer or protector (is how they sometimes market it). That can be considered any barrier .. gel/sunscreen/balm.. whatever. The toner is supposed to replenish your skin's Ph balance after your cleanser (I don't know if this is true) because the cleanser strips your natural oils. it also removes the last traces of cleanser/soap and residue (possibly left over makeup). Technically, you can skip this. I was told same with moisturizer, UNLESS you feel tight after the cleansing say, 20 minutes afterwards. That's how you know if you need one.