Mom Cheered for Swearing at Sister-in-Law Over 'Oily' Skin Comment to Son

The internet has praised a woman who swore at her sister-in-law after she told the woman's teenage son to wash his "oily" face before sitting down to dinner.

User u/TeensHavePimples took to Reddit's r/AmItheA**hole forum to describe an argument that broke out when she, her husband and her 17-year-old son, given the alias of Adam, went round for dinner with the sister-in-law, brother-in-law, and their children.

"We were all kind of hanging out when my SiL (sister-in-law) said, 'Dinner is almost ready. Kids, wash your hands, and Adam, wash your face too.'

"My son said, 'what's that supposed to mean?' He definitely sounded annoyed, but he didn't get loud with her or anything," she said.

The sister-in-law then escalated the situation by saying, "You need to wash your face. You're oily. It's just manners."

"I told SiL that my son is 17 and can manage his own hygiene and that oily skin is a part of puberty," explained the offended mother. "She started arguing with me, and I got annoyed. I could see my son was getting upset. So I stood up and said "y'know what, I'm not really in the mood for a full dinner. I think I'll head home."

"Myself, my son and my husband got up to go. SiL said I was raising a rude and dirty child, so I told her to go f**k herself on the way out the door. Obviously she's pissed. And my husband said I ceded the moral high ground with my parting remark. I was just so mad. Who does she think she is? Anyway, AITA?"

A Sensitive Time

Puberty is a difficult time for teenagers, both male and female. Your body starts changing, hormones wreak havoc with your emotions, and there can be some awkward side effects, just when you start to care more about what other people think than you ever have, or possibly will, in your life.

That does not mean the average teenager needs to "wash their face" before eating. Over-washing oily skin can make the sebaceous glands work harder, and produce more oil. Most experts recommend teenagers cleanse their face twice a day using a gentle wash that won't dry out their face too much.

Most people going through puberty suffer from acne—80 percent of teenagers to be precise—while three in 10 teenagers will have severe acne, according to the Harley Street Dermatology Clinic. Painful and visible blemishes can cover our face, backs, and chests.

"The main culprit when it comes to acne is testosterone," the clinic explained. "Testosterone is usually thought of as a male hormone, but we all produce it to a certain extent. The amount of testosterone in our bodies increases during puberty, especially for boys. This is why acne is more common in teenage boys than in teenage girls."

"Acne isn't caused by bad hygiene," the clinic added. "Having spots or blackheads isn't a sign that your skin is dirty or that you're not washing properly. However, acne can be linked to certain kinds of skincare products. If you have spot-prone skin then you should avoid oily skincare products and cosmetics.

"Additionally, acne can sometimes be prevented or the possibility of acne breakouts reduced through what you eat. Studies show varied results, however, there are trends in omega-3 fatty acids and flax seed foods that have properties which reduce skin irritation and inflammation.

"Some over the counter acne treatment products that include Benzoyl, Adalene and Salicylic acid are able to kill bacteria on the skin, helping to reduce breakouts of bacteria-based acne, while also helping with skin cell turnover and regeneration without including oils," the clinic said.

"Wash Your Own Face"

Reddit users were quick to support the mother defending her son, with one user writing "NTA. She needs to mind her business. I may be biased cause I'd remark the same way. But still, that was uncalled for on her part. She should go wash her own face."

One user praised the mother for her response, "When she's washing her face, she should focus on her mouth. What a horribly rude thing to say to your nephew! NTA, protect your son. Good job Mama."

Another user agreed, "NTA - nah no way I can call you an AH. I'm kinda actually applauding you for sticking up for your kid. She was rude, out of line, and tried to embarrass your kid. It's amazing how people with bad manners try to be the 'manners police'."

Newsweek reached out to u/TeensHavePimples for comment. We could not verify the details of the case.