Teen spots, light therapy, other treatments

[BBBear]

DD13 has awful spots at the moment and they’re getting her down a bit.

Are the light therapy masks suitable for teens and has anyone had any success with them?

Or have you got any other recommendations for face wash, etc for teen acne?

TIA

Doctors. If it’s getting her down she needs to try what they can offer and then move to dermatology if it doesn’t work.

Face washes etc are just not going to work.

We’ve tried everything going and the only thing that worked was lymecycline from the docs, it was brilliant.
Unfortunately they will only prescribe it twice and DD’s are coming back now

Ask to be referred to dermatology Hopping, I’ve just finished accutane and it was not half as bad as people make out on forums.

I wasted years messing about with facials, masks and skincare when what I really needed was accutane.

This has lots of good reports -

www.boots.com/la-roche-posay-effaclar-anti-blemish-2-step-kit-10263626

And these after cleanser/before the moisturiser, just on the areas with spots -

Stridex on Amazon

Get her to the doctors!

Also check she’s drinking lots of water, cut back on dairy, cleansing and moisturising with something gentle. If she washes her face in the shower, make sure it’s the last thing she does (eg she’s not cleansing and then rinsing out conditioner all over her face). And if she’s wearing makeup over them make sure it’s good quality non comedogenic stuff just in case. A little bit of sun might do her good too?

With stuff like this it’s really just trial and error; can she keep simple notes of what she’s putting on her skin/eating and drinking and how her skin looks and feels? It could be that she starts to notice a correlation and then she can manage it accordingly...

I would take her to the GP and see what they recommend. Something like benzoyl peroxide or differin, potentially pared with an antibiotic, could really help.

Beyond that make sure she's got a good, basic skincare routine in place eg gentle cleanser, light moisturiser, and decent SPF in the morning (important because lots of acne treatments make your skin extra sensitive to UV rays) and in the evening that she removes her make up (if she wears it) and SPF properly, and cleanses and moisturises again.

Thank you fluffy her GP wants to try the contraceptive pill first but 3 weeks in that’s not doing much so we will review in soon

Dianette helped me but gave me migraines so I’m contraindicated for life and the mini pill can aggravate oiliness.

Giving up dairy never helped me, I’m allergic to cows milk and still had persistent acne followed up by cystic acne.

Yep, go to the docs asap and be persistent. I had acne as a teen and my Mum wouldn't take me, she finally caved after 3 years which left me with severe self-esteem issues and scarring.

Both Dianette and Yasmin worked brilliantly for me, but it took about 6 months.

I now manage it with a gentle cleanser (like Cetaphil), a non-comedogenic moisturiser, and 2.5% benzoyl peroxide. I also keep my diet low in dairy and sugar.

The pill worked well for me. But you need to give it a decent try, I would at least 6 months. As current breakouts need to heal and there will be underlying breakouts under the skin that will still come through. Also over time scarring from the acne will fade, fresh acne scars can be quite red/discoloured even if you didn’t pick at it.

I had hideous acne after DD was born and the only thing that helped was not using anything with oil in. Its hidden in so many different foundations, creams and concealers, you really have to look around for the best ones. Also anything with silicone in will possibly block pores too. I find clinique Dramatically Different moisturising jelly is the very best thing for my skin, hydrating but won't block pores. I use Aldi healthy glow tonic to cleanse as even the most gentle face wash irritates my skin. Have a look around, but I'd always recommend a clinique counter as they tend to have good knowledge and can recommend oil free products.

Thanks all.

She had something from the doctor last year, but lost the tube in her bedroom pit so I’ve asked for a repeat prescription.

Have also bought the La Roche stuff today in Boots.

I’m pretty sure she doesn’t wash her face every day, even though I tell her that’s exactly what she needs to do, because her friend who doesn’t have spots didn’t wash her face at a sleepover, and she’s fine, therefore she (my DD) doesn’t need to do it (teen logic).

I’m still interested in the light therapy face mask, because DD LOVES a face mask and I’m sure she would use it - has anyone tried them?

Yes, I’ve got two. But they only work on mild acne and you have to wash!. That must drive you potty 🤦🏻‍♀️

@Fluffycloudland77 what light mask do you have?

Yes, she drives me potty! She’s so beautiful and I know the acne gets her down.... so why won’t she wash her face properly?!

I’ve got the neutropenia one and a beauty star one off amazon.

Neutrogena

I have tried every acne remedy out there (including roaccutane) here’s what helped me:

Duac gel (benzoyl peroxide) or even better, Adapelene (mix of benzoyl peroxide and retinoid) - on prescription

Dianette or Yasmin pill

Spironolactone

Washing face but more importantly, not touching my face. Makeup helped as I didn’t touch for fear of dislodging the makeup. I highly recommend MAC select moisturecover concealer by the way.

My acne is hormonal (I have PCOS) so perhaps other things may work for non hormonal acne. Although I guess teenage acne is always hormonal in some sense

I would also look to remove anything which might irritate her skin - to include shampoo, shower wash, suncream and swap for products which are more allergy free. Also wash her pillow case regularly. This has helped my DD a bit (it's not a cure but does help). If you go down the road of anti biotics, duac, benzoyl peroxide. These are strong so use with care. Get her into a gentle cleansing and moisurising routine first. It really is trial and error - what works for one person doesnt work for the next.

There is an over the counter cream called acnecide which is very good and if you can get it another one called panoxyl.... Though I'm not sure if they still make it.

Lifelong acne sufferer here.

Take her to the GP and get Duac cream. It's benzoyl peroxide and antibiotic combined.

It's cured my acne.

It needs to live in the fridge so she won't loose it.

Acne has nothing to do with diet or using the right soap.

Thanks, Minion and Fluffy Cloudland

The stuff I’ve requested from the doc is benzoyl peroxide. She’s too young for the pill (just turned 13) so I’ll get her to use the cream and a good skin care regime, and if that helps I might buy her the light mask to help keep it under control.

If that doesn’t work I’ll take her back to the doc.

NB benzoyl peroxide bleaches fabric so white pjs and bedlinen is best!

Thanks also to everyone else (lots of replies came in while I was typing!)

I think I’ll show her this thread so she can take advice from people who have had the same - she might listen to you lot!

The ordinary products have been a life-changer for me. Having tried loads of stuff from gp etc, I finally have clear skin.