As parents, it’s our job to teach our sons the fundamentals of life, from how to change a flat tire to how to pay bills on time. But one aspect of parenting boys that’s often overlooked is skin care. Just like we need to emphasize good daily hygiene and cleanliness, we too need to emphasize taking care of our skin. Arming your son with the right skincare products and knowledge will help ensure that he settles into adulthood with the self-confidence needed to conquer the world!
When Should Boys Start a Skincare Routine?
The best time for boys to start following a regular skincare routine is between the ages of 12 and 14. Any earlier and the concepts may be too complex, any later and he may already be knee-deep in teenage skin woes. A good rule of thumb is to start talking about solutions as problems arise but before they get out of control. If you notice that your son has started to break out, it’s time to talk about acne products.
This is also around the age that most boys start going through puberty. If you were once a teenager, you know that puberty can be tough, in part because it’s the time kids start developing skin problems like acne. For boys, regular acne can develop or worsen as a result of a surge in hormones, and hormones tend to be at their peak during the teenage years. These hormones stimulate the sebaceous glands and cause excess oil production, which leads to acne and breakouts.
The goal is to try to educate your kids on skin care in that sweet spot when they can understand the importance but aren’t quite dealing with a massive onslaught of skin troubles just yet. For many boys, that’s somewhere between the ages of 12 and 14, but you know your son better than anyone, so you may want to shift it by a year in either direction depending on your unique circumstances.
How to Teach Your Son Good Skin Care
Ready to start talking about a healthy skin regimen with your child? Don’t go into it blindly! Follow some of these awesome tips to ensure that it goes off without a hitch.
- Emphasize that acne is normal. Teenage acne is extremely common, affecting about 85 percent of adolescents and young adults. Make sure to have some stats on hand to reassure him that he’s not weird or abnormal. Get an open dialogue going about his specific skin issues, highlighting that they are extremely common, so that you can help him with a solution.
- Let him pick the products (with your guidance). Let your son choose specific products, but provide some guidance. For example, you know that teenagers tend to struggle with excessive oil, so you’ll want to suggest oily skin products, such as a gel moisturizer for oily skin. Letting him take the lead will ensure that he doesn’t feel forced into anything.
- Don’t focus only on the face. Teenage boys don’t only get acne on their face. Many also struggle with breakouts on the back, chest, butt and arms, especially in the summer or during sports seasons when the sweat is flowing. Suggest that he use an acne body wash to keep body zits under control.
- Don’t forget the sunscreen. Now that your son is approaching his teenage years, you can no longer get away with slathering the sunscreen on his face for him. Wearing SPF on a daily basis is clutch for guys at any age, so you should emphasize the importance of it now to lay a foundation for the future.
- Talk about shaving. If your son is old enough to shave, make sure to integrate skincare tips into his first shaving lesson. Arm him with some good razor bump cream and shaving cream that won’t cause breakouts.
- If he won’t listen to you, send him to YouTube. If you’ve got the eye-rolling type don’t worry, we all do at one point or another consider turning to YouTube for some helpful tutorials aimed at adolescents. They might find it easier or less awkward to hear about skin care and hygiene from someone their own age or an expert in the field.
- Focus on simplicity and ease of use. Most teenagers are, by nature, a little bit lazy. So if you want good results, you’ve got to meet them where they’re at. In reality, though, no one not even the most responsible grown-up out there is going to follow an extremely complicated skincare routine. Keep it as basic as possible: wash and moisturize twice a day and exfoliate once or twice a week.
- Emphasize the importance of routine. His skincare routine will only be as good as his ability to follow it! Make sure to emphasize the importance of washing the face twice a day and not skipping days throughout the week. If need be, let him keep his products out on the sink to remind him to use them.
- Patch test and choose gentle products. If your son has sensitive or dry skin, don’t just throw any old drugstore products at him. You may have to perform a patch test to ensure that it won’t cause a reaction.
- Talk about good hygiene in general. Acne can be worsened by poor hygiene. For example, sweat that’s allowed to hang around on the skin can bring with it pore-clogging bacteria, and dirty hair can translate to dirty skin. Emphasize the importance of head to toe hygiene for a clear complexion.
- Talk to your doctor. If you’ve noticed that a regular skincare routine isn’t working, talk to your son about bringing it up with his primary care physician. Severe cases can be treated very successfully with prescription options.
Skincare Is a Fundamental Life Lesson
Although it seems superfluous, the truth is that building a solid skincare routine is crucial to a person’s self-confidence, and we know that young boys may find that in short supply. Plus, healthy skin can signify and contribute to overall health and well-being, so it should be prioritized right alongside brushing your teeth and getting enough exercise. Use these great tips to set your son up for a life of clear skin and happiness!
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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