Skin care for 10 year??

[jeca]

I had bad skin as a pre-teen/teen and I can see DS might inherit it from me. He's 10 and already has a few bumps starting to form. Can anyone recommend a good skin care cleaning for a child that age, preferably natural skin care. Just plain water will not do, it did not work for me at all, still doesn't. Thought I'd get that out of the way because I know someone was going to suggest it.
Mods no idea if this belongs, sorry.

[Ruthla]

In our family, we use soap with tea tree oil in it (Trader Joe's brand is currently the cheapest one available and works fine) as a facial cleanser, and use straight TTO on any actual blemishes that pop up.

[His Own]

A sad (but true) tale...

Whatever else you do, please don't scare the boy. When I was a pre-teen my mum sat me down and regaled me with dire warnings that she could see I was going to have 'greasy' (her term) skin with 'lots of pimples with pus.' (I kid you not.) I just sat there bug-eyed, thinking that I was doomed, then went to my room and cried myself to sleep.

As it happened, she was wrong, and I instead ended up with picture perfect 'peaches and cream' skin - just like HER. But I worried for a very long time, just waiting for all that terrifying acne to come. I was well into my 20's before I realized that she was nuts (not to mention mean), and that parents are not always correct.

Now I know that is not the approach you plan to take, but I offer it as a cautionary tale, just to remind you that those are very tender, sensitive years, and great care should be taken to offer hope rather than what the child may perceive as gloom and foreboding.

[jeca]

No worries. My mom gave me similar tells of my "greasy" skin so I understand. He has such a beautiful complexion I wwould love to help him now instead of waiting too late like my mom did.

[wendinbill]

My oldest is 10, and is just now starting to use soap on his face. I just let him use Cetaphil for now. Something with tea tree would work nicely, too, but he may not like the smell.