Is there a over the counter treatment that can help my sons acne?

[Notagoodtime]

Ds is 14. Over the past 6 months he has developed acne. It is mostly pimples and white heads so no large cystic spots. They all over his face and now on his back, chest and top of arms. I bought acnecide but although we could see a slight improvement to start with they seem worse now. He is reluctant to go to the GP but is down about them. Anyone had any success with any products that don’t need a prescription? I’m not sure if there are any washes that he can used on his back and chest.

A good skin care routine is essential to un block pores and keep them clean...

I would go to ordinary and you can email them and ask for a routine for his skin

My son uses them and hasn't had severe acne yet... I got him started at around 12/13

He loves simple micellar face wash As it's not too harsh and cleans very well.

He also has a vitamin c moisturiser with spf and does a good aha deep cleanse once a week

Any big spots get a good salicylic acid dose over night

I had good results from prescription duac gel but tea tree oil on the actual spots helps them dry out quicker and is available in the body shop. Quitting dairy also made huge improvements to my skin. I basically only have issues if I eat lots of sweets/chocolate now.

The only thing that has helped me is going on Dermatica's Tretinoin combined with Niacinamide and Azelaic acid.
They are absolutely brilliant!
All online if he's self conscious

I liked cetaphils orange-coloured body wash, but for cystic acne on my face I needed gp prescriptions for Duac cream, and eventually the Yasmin/Lucette birth control pill cleared it up (bad acne still into my 30s)

There are also the topical patches that help drain & soothe inflamed spots,

www.amazon.co.uk/COSRX-Original-Hydrocolloid-Dressing-Treatment/dp/B08TMHW1RQ/?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

I find they really work if I get a (now rare) nasty cystic spot. I’ve also bought the Zitsticka brand that I haven’t tried yet but have heard good things about.

My DH has had it since his teens. He has always been denied a referral to see a dermatologist. The doctor said to him when he asked for a referral "Women prefer the rugged look". He has Duac gel currently that seems to be working.

Salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide dry out the skin and are well worth using. Anything more will have to come from the GP.
It's a hormonal condition and HPs have good tools to help.

I know a lot of people have had good results with prescription tretinoin. Over the counter, heard good things about La Roche Posay Effeclar duo. Word of warning as a few people have suggested it - I suffer from hormonal acne and niacinamide makes it loads worse, and my friend said the same, that it gives her spots.

My daughter also did not want to go to go but it was really affecting her. We tried over the counter, acnecide for several months but no real improvement. So I used our GP's 'ask my gp' app. Sent photos across, they asked what over the counter stuff we had tried, then prescribed Duac which has worked brilliantly for her. Would this be an option to avoid face to face?

I had 6 years of antibiotics and they didn't do anything.
Out of desperation I bought a 'cure acne book and it did actually help. Basically to use a lot of the things posters have already mentioned but in combination as they work at different points of the skin cycle.
Salicylic acid has small molecules so is beneficial to clean out pores.
Glycolic acid can help shed skin which is what blocks pores together with oils.
Benzoyl peroxide is good to be applied for big red spots. He can also use ice/frozen peas (wrapped in cloth) to reduce inflammation from large red spots.
A moisturiser which isn't oil based to reduce oil production.

I would recommend only doing this once a day and just washing with water before bed (or morning personal preference). As too much washing stimulates the oil glands to over produce oil which worsens the problem.

There is no one thing for everyone
Nicinamide works for some and not others

Having used oral and topical retinoids for years to treat my acne, i was left with a noticeable uneven skin tones and damage (being caught out by the sun). I’ve swapped one issue for another because melasma and pigmentation ends up making you self conscious too. DD uses BP on prescription and it stains all her clothes and towels and her skin is also super sensitive now she can barely use other products. It’s not worth overloading your skin with anything that exacerbates it or can have side effects

Maybe look at the Skin and Me website. Its an online dermatology service which will send you a monthly treatment cream based upon diagnosis from uploaded photographs.

We tried pretty much all over the counter stuff for my son but the only thing that worked was a trip to the GP and a prescription for Duac cream - that cleared his face and shoulders in a couple of weeks and I wish we had gone to the GP earlier.

Acnecide, but you can't just apply it, you have to spend time fully rubbing it in, and build up the amount used

I think the bigger issue is your son has a medical issue and won’t seek help. You need to deal with that now incase as an adult, he takes this approach and ends up sick. I speak from experience of this with someone I care about. Get him to see sense. Drs and medics do not judge, they’re too busy to remember everyone they saw etc. If he has a medical need. He must deal with it. Teach him this.

@Rillington - that's awful, I hope your DH gave them feedback on that! Ridiculous that the GP's only thought was that it might affect how he was viewed by the opposite sex!

Here’s a bit of info. Look at the management in Primary care. Take done really good, clear close up photos that you can send to gp. cks.nice.org.uk/topics/acne-vulgaris/

I’ve just got a lotion from our GP for my DD. It was a phone appointment whilst DD was in school, she didn’t need to speak to them at all. If I were you I would call and ask if you can do this over the phone. The only thing that helped me as a teen with acne was cream from the GP. I’m hoping this works for my DD, I hate seeing her sad about her skin.

You have to persevere with Acnecide and it can get redder and look worse before it improves. Also you need to 7se it every single night all over, rather than just when he has flare ups. Otherwise antibiotics plus acnecide and failing that roaccutane. Also cut out dairy/wheat for a bit and see if that helps.

Honestly it's worth the GP appointment. It will probably be by phone anyway.
DS (14) has doxycycline which really helps

Just bribe him to go the doctors. It won't get better and will likely get worse and then there's the scaring.

@Kjr33

La roche posay effaclar products are really good (face wash and moisturiser from lrp along with an aha/bha toner and a niacinimide serum from the ordinary are working well for my teenager) and I think la Roche posay do maybe a body wash and a kind of toner spray that would be useful for the body…..but he does need to go to the doctor about them from what you have described. Over the counter might help with some breakouts if used properly but if it is acne it needs prescription products. Sorry I know how stubborn they can be!

I had a bout of what I'm guessing is hormonal acne and I had horrid big red spots on my cheeks and chin and it was rubbish. I had tried benzoyl peroxide but it only made me itchy. I tried La Roche Posay's face wash and moisturiser (the non clogging ones) and my face was so much calmer! I suffered from the spots for a good 10 months whereas now I only get the occasional small one and they don't get as angry. I also use retinol drops but mostly because it makes my skin really smooth.

If it's full on acne though I would go to the GP. There's only so much over the counter creams can do. Hope it's better soon!

My acne problems started at around 15/16. I was in denial that it's acne and that these normal teenage spots would go away on their own. They didn't, instead leaving ice pick scars and red uneven skin tone which is an issue even today. I really wish family/ friends had pushed me at the time to see my GP. It's only when I was 19 and called spotty by some arsehole in the street that I reluctantly booked a GP app. We tried everything, and I mean everything, that was available topical and oral. Nothing worked for me. It's only after a referral by a sympathetic locum GP to see the dermatologist - who put me on Roaccutane for a few months - that the acne disappeared. That was almost 15 years ago.

I'd try some of the suggestions on this thread, and if it continues or worsens I'd gently persuade him to see a GP.

@LegoCaltrops he didn't say a word he was too embarrassed. I had nagged him to ask for a referral. He in in his 50's now so had it over 40 years. I was so mad with the doctor.

Clean and clear products work reasonable well for an affordable high street brand and aren't too harsh on skin. Deep cleansing lotion and daily exfoliating wash.

Neutrogena oil free moisturiser.

Also, acnecide is good but it really dries the skin and I was so so sensitive to it.

I got good results with an private prescription for a retinoid gel. I had isotrexin.