My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Teenagers

Acne/teenage spots

17 replies

NanaNina · 04/11/2012 23:01

My grand-daughter (A) is 12 and is coming into puberty. She has spots on her forehead, either side of nose and chin. Sometimes they look really angry and she was so upset at a family birthday this weekend when my 7 year old grandson asked why (A) had all those spots on her face. She has had them for about 6 months and didn't seem bothered at first, but she is now, and it upsets me so much as she is such a lovely girl. She goes to an all girls school but says none of the other girls have spots (can't quite believe this) My dil (her mom also had acne as a teenager and her skin is not particularly good now, but her mother didn nothing about them and she used to put Dettol on them!

I have bought her the Dermalogical skin care range for teenagers but it hasn't really done any good. I have just read about a young boy having depression as a side effect on some drug for acne, but for others is's a wonder drug. Can anyone tell me more about this drug, or any treatment that has been effective. Her mom says the spots are in the T zone, brow, nose and chin, but is this acne -I imagine it is. She is now willing to take her to the GP but said she would only do so, if (A) became bothered about them which she has.

Any help/advice would be really apreciated.

OP posts:
Report
deadlift · 04/11/2012 23:36

The drug being talked about was roaccutane which is only used to treat severe acne, after other treatments have been tried. There are really very many different types of acne medication that the GP could prescribe her. Topical antibiotics might be the first thing to try but it can take a while to find the right thing for each person. It would probably be best if she went to the GP if she's getting upset by it so if i were you I'd keep suggesting that to her mother.

Report
Floralnomad · 04/11/2012 23:42

She definitely needs to go to her GP and then stay on top of it , my DD had about 4 different treatments from the GP before being referred to the dermatologist and all these things take time to either work or fail . We were pretty certain from the beginning of her getting acne that she would need roaccutane as my DS had it at about 15/16 ,and it was the only thing that worked for him . It's hard enough being a teenager nowadays without having bad skin as well.

Report
BackforGood · 04/11/2012 23:54
Report
mathanxiety · 05/11/2012 01:46

acne.org is worth a look. There are products you can buy as well as product recommendations, and a method of treating your skin (very, very gently). It is well worth following this method to the letter.

The acne.org method works for mild to moderate acne, and it sounds as if this is what she has. Roaccutane (the wonder drug) is for severe/cystic acne and has side effects that should give you pause. Because of the side effects it is the treatment of last resort.

Report
NanaNina · 05/11/2012 14:34

Thanks so much for all your replies. I have read that 80% of teenagers will have acne at some time, but all her friends have lovely clear skins and this makes her feel worse. I will show my dil this thread. Thanks again and any more suggestions would be helpful. It does sound like it's time for the GP though.

OP posts:
Report
purpleroses · 05/11/2012 18:25

Take her to the GP - finally did with my DS and the lotion we were prescribed was brilliant and more or less cleared them in a few weeks :) The GP said it was absolutely right to go to him, and to come back if they didn't clear up, especially if they were scarring at all. There are far better treatment options around than when we were young. Absolutely no reason not to go to the GP, even if not bothered now, she might not like having a pot-marked face in the future.

Report
FlorentinePogen · 05/11/2012 19:18

Exactly the same issue with DD 2 yrs. ago. Went to doc's and she was prescribed oxytetracycline tablets which have helped enormously and given her back her old confidence and joie de vivre.

Acne is a bitch for youngsters, especially girls IMHO. Get your GD to the surgery ASAP.

Report
NanaNina · 05/11/2012 23:20

Thanks so much purpleroses and Florentine. I think my dil has decided to take her dghtr to GP but I will show her this thread. We get on fine so she won't think I'm interfering. I am so upset for my grdghtr cus I love her so much!

OP posts:
Report
MrsTwankey · 17/11/2012 17:26

DS1 had teenage spots/acne from about age 12. Spent a fortune on OTC lotions and creams none of which worked. In the end took him to the doctors who prescribed a cream and I think tablets (sorry I forget). Spots cleared up in no time.

Report
cosmumsaysso · 12/02/2013 22:20

My 13 year old son has had acne on his forehead for the last few months, we have tried Clearasil and other over the counter brands, but they just doesn't touch it. I was recommended the Dermalogica Clean Start skin range a couple of weeks ago and ordered the Clean Start Kit from their website. After 4 days we saw a marked improvement in the condition of the acne, and thought we'd cracked it! Unfortunately though, this week his skin has become hideously dry, itchy, red and sore, we have now stopped using the product, and this morning I contacted Dermalogica to tell them of our experience, they say this is the first time they've heard of such a reaction to Clean Start. I also searched review sites and found no similar reactions in other users reported, there's obviously something in the product which has reacted with his skin. Is there something out there which is gentle and effective, which won't strip his skin of all the moisture it has.

Report
meggiepie · 04/03/2013 07:42

My dd (aged 15) has suffered from spots/acne now for a couple of years. We have been to the GP and she has had all the creams/pills but to no avail. On doing a wee bit of research on internet I read about kids taking a Zinc tablet which helped improve their skin. My daughter has now been taking a Zinc tab every day for 6 weeks now and the improvement on her skin is amazing! She still has had a few breakouts but definately a vast improvement. Its worth a try!! I just bought them over the counter in the chemist.

Report
AgentProvocateur · 04/03/2013 08:09

Meggiepie, can you give me more information about the zinc tablet please? What's it called, and what strength is it? TIA

Report
meggiepie · 04/03/2013 17:26

Agent Provocateur, I just bought the Zinc tablets in the chemist. The ones my DD takes are just 15mg and she has taken them once a day for about 6 weeks now. As I said in my previous post, it has worked well on her skin and she is very happy with results so she will continue to take. I just googled the zinc tablets for acne online and there was some good results. Its worth a try for a few weeks to see if it helps! Good Luck

Report
ATJabberwocky · 04/03/2013 17:33

My DS suffered with acne, my first call for myself is a cleanse tone and moisturise routine, however I knew my DS wouldn't keep up with this, so I looked for something simpler,

I recommend this routine, I got my DS to do something similar and it really helped him: www.healthydiaries.com/2012/07/17/how-i-improved-my-skin-acne-scaring-overall-complexion/

Hope it works.

Report
NuclearStandoff · 04/03/2013 18:50

Can anyone recommend a good moisturiser for my acne-prone teenage ds please?

Report
Maryz · 04/03/2013 22:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes · 07/03/2013 17:49

my son 16 has spots but I lent him a nutrogena face wash three days ago, its got orange labelling and is a cleanser/mask clean pore or similar and it has been miraculous already, his face looks CLEAN not greasy and the spots are seriously diminished £3.99 at Boots and its 3 for 2 at the moment.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.