Skin Care Tips Just for Preteens

Now that you're getting older, taking care of your skin is very important. Good skincare will help keep your skin looking and feeling healthy. It can also help with blackheads and pimples.

Taking care of your skin isn't very hard at all. Here's an easy skincare routine that's perfect for kids your age. It's just three steps.

Wash Your Face

Acne isn’t caused by a dirty face, but sweat, dirt, oil, and makeup aren’t going to help things any. Keeping your skin clean is the first step in any healthy skincare routine. You should wash your face every morning and every night before you go to bed.

Here's how: 

1. Use a gentle soap like Dove or Neutrogena, or an acne treatment cleanser (depending on what your parents or healthcare provider suggest).
2. Wet your face and hands. 
3. With your fingers or a very soft washcloth, gently massage the cleanser over your face. Remember to clean your neck too.
4. Rinse your face really well with warm water, and make sure to get all of the soap off.
5. Dry your face by gently patting it with a towel. 

Apply Your Acne Treatment Medications

This is the step that helps heal the pimples you have, and stop new pimples from forming. If you don't have pimples, or if you only get them once in a while, you won't need this step. Just skip it. 

Here's how: 

1. After washing, dry your face really well.
2. Take a small amount of your acne treatment medication and carefully rub it over your entire face. 

For store-bought acne treatments, read the directions on the package and follow them. You should ask your parents to help you with this one.

If you have a prescription acne medication from the healthcare provider, use it exactly the way they told you.

Put on Moisturizer

Soap and acne treatments can make your skin feel tight and dry. Using a moisturizer every day will help your skin to feel better. It will also help keep your skin from getting flaky, and make it feel soft and smooth. 

Here's how: 

1. Use just a dime-sized dab of moisturizing lotion.
2. Gently rub it into your face with your fingertips.
3. Rub carefully until the moisturizer absorbs (it will seem like it disappears into your skin).

Ask Questions

When you're learning how to properly care for your skin, it's normal to have questions. So, be sure to ask your parents, guardian, or another adult for help. What you're learning about skincare now will help keep your skin healthy for your entire life.