I have arrived at a stage that I did not know existed until recently. That stage of life is when me, a nearly forty-year-old woman, would re-enter the acne skin care scene alongside my teenage son. Yay for hormonal acne. I never had terrible acne-prone skin as a teenager but as it turns out, at 35+ I do. My mom did a great job of teaching my sisters and I proper skin care when we were young. We started a skin care routine before it was really a problem at all which I think eliminated a lot of the need for intense acne treatments. In this post, I will just pass on the info my mom taught me and that I am teaching our son and the products that are working…for both of us. #hormones
It’s no secret that I think La Roche Posay offers the best products for the best value. I have been using La Roche Posay products pretty exclusively for several years and the products have reduced the appearance of pores and contributed overall to healthier-looking skin. I have been equally pleased with their acne line for myself and my son.
** Disclaimer, I am not a doctor or dermatologist, I am a mom sharing my experience. This isn’t medical advice. Talk to your doctor or dermatologist if you have questions about any products mentioned here and/or their uses. Also- you will find affiliate links in this post. I am an Amazon affiliate so if you purchase from these links I could make a small commission at no cost to you.**
First Step
Cleanser: Choosing the right products for your skin is key. I always error on the side of gentle. I find it easier to increase the strength of treatment if needed rather than run the risk of irritating skin with a product that is too harsh and having to repair that damage before moving forward. Skin types vary by person so pay attention to active ingredients. If you or your kiddo only have occasional skin breakouts, you will not need the same products as severe acne sufferers. Mild acne can likely be controlled with consistent use of a gentle cleanser and light moisturizer. This La Roche Posay gentle cleanser is my everyday cleanser. My son uses this in the morning but uses an acne specific cleanser in the evening.
We have tried two La Roche-Posay cleansers that were specific to acne treatment. Both with different key ingredients: benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid. First, my son tried La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser. the active ingredient in this was salicylic acid and it was a bit too drying for regular use. So, we switched to La Roche-Posay Effaclar Dual Acne Face Wash With 4% Benzoyl Peroxide & LHA Exfoliant. Both do their job, the benzoyl peroxide just seemed to work better for my kiddo.
Both of these products have micro-exfoliating lha that helps clear debris that might otherwise clog pores.
Side note- I actually use the benzoyl peroxide cleanser to wash my arm pits. I work out a lot, and I am a sweater-the benzoyl peroxide helps clear away bacteria that leads to stank. You can buy a 10% concentration cleanser but the 4% has worked for me. I love when products can double in use.
Step Two: Exfoliant
It is important to keep in mind is that dead skin cells are often the main culprit in clogging pores, causing future breakouts. For me, a gentle exfoliator really helps with uneven skin tone and smoother skin. For my son, exfoliation helps him maintain clearer skin by removing the dead skin cells that can clog pores. We also use this glycolic acid on his scalp from time to time, more on that below. For me and my gals, exfoliation also helps create a more even surface allowing make up to set more evenly. I have found glycolic acid to be a really affordable and effective. I use this glycolic acid from The Ordinary 2-3 times per week at NIGHT and then follow it with a moisturizer. Speaking of moisturizer….
Step 3: Moisturize!
Listen, this is where noticeable differences happen. If you are washing and exfoliating but never giving your thirsty skin something to drink, you will end up disrupting your skin’s natural protective barrier. Which could actually lead to more oil or at the very least, the feeling* of more oil.
I would recommend a light weight moisturizer like this La Roche-Posay Toleraine Double Repair Moisturizer and it comes in a matte formula as well.
Acne Spot Treatments
Less is More.
If you apply too many acne treatments, especially to sensitive skin, you run the risk of making any dryness, patchiness or redness worse. Additionally, if you use harsh products your skin may dry out and actually produce excess oil to try to replenish and repair the skin barrier. Neither of those outcomes are helpful for overall skin texture and may actually derail your skincare goals even further. You can read about teen age acne care suggestions from Loma Linda University Health. This discusses why less is more.
Three Options:
My son uses this benzoyl peroxide cream nightly and it is amazing how quickly we see visible improvements when he uses this. Also, at $4 a tube from Walmart, it’s super affordable. This is not La Roche-Posay, but it is a great product.
I recently read that because of the increase in testosterone in boys during their teen years, their skin is thickening and it makes it harder for some acne treatments to adequately enter their pores. And for that reason, micronized benzoyl peroxide is a better option for boys. With that in mind I am going to be trying this once he runs out of the other tube from Wal-mart. It’s a bit pricier but I think it would really help especially on his hair line from always wearing a ball hat. That it is the:
La Roche-Posay Effaclar BPO Multi-Target Acne Treatment with 5.5% Micronized Benzoyl Peroxide
We have not used a salicylic acid treatment on his skin yet, but my sister swears by it for removing little bumps and soap build up on her arms. So, take that for what you will! I have seen this and it’s more like a gel or lightweight acne treatment serum than a cream. So it goes on clear.
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Salicylic Acid Acne Treatment
As I mentioned, my son plays a lot of sports and often has a ball cap on. I did not realize getting acne in his hair would be a concern but here we are. For this, we usually do a once-a-month treatment using this glycolic acid from The Ordinary. I just run it through his hair, he scrubs it on his head like he would to wash his hair, lets it sit about 5 minutes and then washes it out in the shower.
In conclusion:
I love La Roche-Posay products. I think you get a great bang for your buck and they also were recommended to by my dermatologist. You can read more about my expereince with La Roche-Posay here and here.
I think all of the cleansers I have mentioned here are great because they are the most effective treatment without being overly harsh. Obviously, that depends a bit on skin type. If you or your kiddo has sensitive skin, start with a gentle cleanser like the La Roche-Posay Gentle Foaming Moisturizing Wash. I am seriously on my fourth bottle or more. My hope is that with implementing a skincare routine early that we can avoid excessive acne blemishes and post-acne marks. I hope this is helpful! Feel free to ask questions in the comments.
-Lauren
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