#AskID - My daughter is 11 years old and starting to get spots

Acne is a disorder of the hair follicles and sebaceous glands. Hair follicles are the areas around the base/root of each hair. Sebaceous glands are the tiny glands that release oil (sebum) into the hair follicles. The sebum moistens the skin and hair. The sebum and hair get to the skin surface through tiny holes called pores.
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Acne is very common affecting 85% of teenagers, but most children and young adults between ages 11 and 30 will have acne of varying severity at some point. Acne most often begins in puberty. But it can happen at any age including in younger children and even infants.
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Acne may occur when the pores gets clogged with dead skin cells and oil forming a comedone (blackhead), followed by bacteria that are normally on the skin surface getting into this blocked pore resulting in the formation of a papule (red spot) or pustule (yellow spot). It is therefore never too early to start a skin care routine if a child is developing blocked pores/spots on the face.
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This is becoming increasingly more evident due to the Covid 19 pandemic and the need for daily use of facial masks (maskne).
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Ideally children with signs of acne should wash their face nightly before bedtime with a gentle micellar water or cream cleanser if they have sensitive skin. @biologique_recherche_ireland Eau Micellaire Biosensible (micellar water) or Lait U is excellent for sensitive, reacitve skin. @larocheposay Effaclar foaming gel wash is excellent if their skin is excessively oily. Pat the skin dry to avoid excessive friction on the skin which can stimulate more oil production. This may be sufficient to remove the build up of dead skin cells, oil etc.. which has built up over the day.
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However if a child is still having breakouts then one can add a topical product containing salicylic acid to keep the pores unblocked and glycolic acid to smoothen the skin. Biologique Recherche Complexe Iribiol can be used locally on isolated spots or active breakouts, to purify and calm the skin.
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Moisturising the skin each morning with an oil-free moisturiser will help create a barrier between the skin and a mask also.

The Masque Vivant from Bioloigque Recherche is also a great mask to use twice-weekly to purify and hydrate the skin and is also especially good for "Maskne."
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At any point if there are concerns that a child’s acne is very inflammatory or possibly scarring then one should seek further advice from their doctor on topical and oral therapies.