To ask if you have a teen with acne, what has helped?

[OriginalGeordie]

My 13 yr DD is really suffering with her skin at present and it’s making her so miserable. I feel it is hormonal and we should probably wait a while longer before we go to see the doctor. So if you have encountered this issue which products have helped? Somebody suggested rosehip oil the other day so interested to hear from people who’ve tried that.

Thanks everyone, it’s more than a few pimples, there are at least 20 and some of there are extremely red and angry and I do worry about scarring. For reasons I won’t go into, I really don’t want to start changing and messing about her diet if I can help it.

I have rang and made a GP appointment so will update after that. Thanks though to the poster who mentioned the pillowcase, will buy enough so we can change it everyday, changing once a week at present.

Try acnecide for something quick. 9.99 from boots pharmacy

Thanks Blarneybear do you think rosehip oil would work with that to prevent her skin drying out?

The combined pill. Probably not a popular suggestion at her age but acne is often a hormonal issue and the oral contraceptive pill is often prescribed for hormonal issues (such as acne or menorrhagia) not just contraception. There are lots of skin friendly pills, not just dianette which could help her skin clear up.

My DD suffered with terrible skin, it took 4years of trying out things from the gp/dermatology department to finally get clear skin. Roaccutane was the only thing that worked.

My DS has just started a 6 month course of antibiotics and cream as he also started with acne. I didn't even bother buying creams I went straight to the GP.

Cetaphil was recommended by the dermatologist to keep my DD's skin from drying out so that is the only thing I buy for facewash now.

I second acnecide, it’s brilliant. It sorted both mine out completely (and me!) in a matter of days but I do think it depends what type of spots they are. It’s worth a try for the price at least.

Not sure about using rosehip oil with it.

Oxytetracycline worked wonders on DS’ skin when he was a similar age. He ended up being on it for 9 months (I think- possibly a bit less) and has now been off it for over two years without any reoccurrence. Don’t know if he was just lucky though as DH has been on and off it his whole adult life!

Doctor good idea. My friend took the contraceptive pill on doctors advice, hormone levels or something, it certainly worked.

Such good suggestions, have ordered the acnecide gel and face wash, anything in the hope it helps her skin and makes her feel better about herself. She’s so down and self conscious that she’s not wanting to go out much either, when she does she cakes the makeup on to cover it which actually looks worse but I’m not going to knock her even further by telling her that bless her.

she will need a moisturiser. She might resist it but she will need one with the acnecide, its really drying. dd has a natural one with jojoba oil which is totally non pore blocking, she finds it much betyter than the oil free ones

My DS1 suffered with acne and we messed about for almost 12 months trying over the counter products before giving in and going to the GP.

He was prescribed Duac cream and his skin cleared in two weeks. If DS2 starts with it I will be going to the GP straight away.

Hope you get your DD sorted- its a horrible thing to have at the time they feel most self-conscious.

Still suffering here in my 30s!

Things that have worked for me:

Contraceptive pill - dianette and Yasmin- clears up completely
Freederm face wash- more moisturing than others
Antibiotic face cream from GP if it gets really bad

I've come late to the party with diet egg. After trialling low carb my skin is defi I felt better but I have polycystic ovary syndrome. The dietary link is known to impact on the symptoms of this. Everyone is different though. Good luck to her x

Go to the pharmacist and get wash and cream containing benzoyl peroxide. A good moisturiser specifically for oily/spot prone skin will needed as well. You have to stick with it for around a month for full effects and then maintain daily. Worth it though