Healthy Kids

Get clean! Healthy hygiene for children
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Keep skin clear

Pimples may pop up when puberty hits—usually between 11 and 15.

Know how to wash. Young children don’t need soap on their faces because their oil glands haven’t started to produce oil. Instead, use water to clean off food and dirt, suggests Dr. Brandith Irwin, a dermatologist in Seattle. “Once kids start puberty and their faces become oilier, they should be washing them twice a day.”

Pick the right products. Over-the-counter products, such as Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser, are great for kids who don’t have acne. Children who are developing acne could try a cleanser with benzoyl peroxide, which helps reduce bacteria on the skin and oiliness. “They’re usually called acne washes; Neutrogena has one,” says Dr. Irwin. “If their acne is not bad, Oxy 5 is perfect for treating it.”

See a dermatologist. Any child with moderate to severe acne, especially if it’s starting to scar, should see a dermatologist. “We have so many treatments we can try—we get on top of it quickly,” says Dr. Irwin. Children with a parent or grandparent who had cystic scarring acne, which is often hereditary, should also see a dermatologist. “We act a lot faster with those kids,” says Dr. Irwin.