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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Doctor for Acne

138 replies

Elliejane · 06/08/2024 11:55

Hi
Just wondering about taking my son to see doctor for acne . He is 17 and it’s getting worse . We have tried pretty much everything you can buy yourself . It’s mostly on his cheeks and has horrible white heads also and red inflamed .

Have tried tea tree, Cerave wash (initially helped) ,dots for spots ,salicylic acid various brands , freedmen gel , usual acne products like clearsil etc .

I know nhs is busy but just not sure what else to try . I tried pharmacy and got a cream but told not to use in sunny days so was bit worried over that
any ideas ?

Could maybe book a private dermatologist also ?

He keeps his skin clean and never had issues until last few years but it getting worse .

Ellie

OP posts:
Original poster
Elliejane · 31/12/2024 13:37

I tend to agree that reducing his sweets abd chocolate won’t do any harm but time will tell of it help his acne . It has got much worse over Xmas when more sweet food has been consumed but that of course might just be a coincidence .

OP posts:
TwilightSkies · 31/12/2024 13:41

It’s a well known fact that sugar causes inflammation and blood sugar spikes.
By all means get him the medication, but personally I’d prefer diet tweaks before potentially causing issues for him with side effects of meds.

Original poster
Elliejane · 31/12/2024 13:44

What do you think this is where it’s worst on cheeks.

OP posts:
Lockupyourbiscuits · 31/12/2024 13:51

Use the benzyl at night ( helps prevent resistance to antibiotics

get antibiotics from GP
review 2/3 months - there won’t be an improvement before this
alcohol can also be a trigger if he is drinking
remember those lesions have been building for weeks

also - no picking and reduce touching face

a basic cetaphil face wash and moisturiser is fine

if that doesn’t sort it then onto next step

Original poster
Elliejane · 01/01/2025 03:30

Felt sorry for my son tonight at new year party and all his friends beautiful skin not a blemish .

OP posts:
Newmeagain · 01/01/2025 03:36

Glitterbiscuits · 06/08/2024 12:08

Roaccutane is probably the next step for severe acne. It's only available from a dermatologist. If you have the funds then skip the GP and go privately.
GP might try him on Lymescycline antibiotics for a few months before dermatology
But to save scarring I'd get things sorted ASAP

That’s what I would do. Acne is a medical condition and should not go untreated. For most people no amount of “cutting out diary” etc or expensive lotions will help. You need specialist medical help.

Newmeagain · 01/01/2025 03:40

Elliejane · 30/12/2024 15:04

thanks everyone . Roaccutane would be the last resort after we tried all other available options . He has not even has a doctor prescription yet . I don’t want to jump ahead when other things might help . Plus we have family history of mental health issues so very wary .

Managed to get gp now for 7 Jan with same gp that said it was mild and to try benzoyl for 3 mths.

He does have a very sweet tooth so I know there is no evidence of sugar but it won’t do him any harm to eat less for a while also

Don’t delay getting proper treatment because the scarring is irreversible.

Original poster
Elliejane · 14/01/2025 08:36

Update just had gp appointment so got duac cream now to try for 3 months . Says to only use once a day at night

What would you use in morning then ?

So hoping this helps

OP posts:
Cloudysky81 · 14/01/2025 08:40

If you can afford it, pay for a private dermatologist.

Poor skin affects teenagers confidence and challenging teenager years can have lifelong effects. Acne scarring is also very difficult is not impossible to treat so anything that can avoid that would be ideal.

Spondoolies · 14/01/2025 09:26

Elliejane · 14/01/2025 08:36

Update just had gp appointment so got duac cream now to try for 3 months . Says to only use once a day at night

What would you use in morning then ?

So hoping this helps

Moisturiser in the day and ideally a good spf, I quite like the Cetaphil Daily Defence moisturiser which my dermatologist recommended. Duac can be quite drying and it might be very itchy for the first uses but it is worth sticking with. He could even start off slow by using it every couple of days building up to daily. It can stain bedding and clothing so use an old pillowcase etc.

WeAllHaveWings · 14/01/2025 09:30

DUAC worked really well for ds for around a year, but they need to be consistent in use. It took 8-9 weeks of consistent use to clear up his spots at the time. Best time is when they are most likely to do it and remember every day. For ds that was evenings before bed when brushing teeth. Mornings would have been too much of a rush for him.

If you are getting a moisturiser make sure to get one that is suitable for acne prone skin and doesn't clog pores. ds had one but only needed to use it occasionally with DUAC.

Original poster
Elliejane · 17/03/2025 15:15

So update . Its now been 8 weeks on duac with no major improvement. Maybe less pus spots and new spots probably don’t last as long in general but still breaking out and existing older spots still remain on cheeks.

He has gp on 1 April for follow up and I assume next step is oral antibiotics or will they try a new cream?

Routine is face wash with cetaphil and then duac at night . I notice it looks worse after shaving always.

Disappointed that things are not improving in fact since benzol peroxide last year its probably worse . His back starting to get more spots too now before was only 2-4 ish but now 10 or more.
He not using any cream on his back.

Feel for him as none of his friends seem to have acne at all. And his skin used to be lovely no issues .

He does have a really sweet tooth and i do wonder if that making it worse

OP posts:
U53rName · 17/03/2025 15:39

Sorry to hear this, OP. I took my son to a dietician to sort the problem from the inside out. It took about 3 months, and he has a completely different face! The basic gist was cutting out UPFs, sugar, wheat, and dairy (although we let this one slide more). We have a lot more potatoes and rice now as a family, where we used to eat more pasta. He lets the diet slip completely on holidays, etc, and like clockwork has a breakout about 14 days later. It’s not easy, but he sees the benefit and tries to stick to the diet most of the time because he sees real results and sees the real impact after a holiday.

U53rName · 17/03/2025 15:41

Sorry, but he needs to start by cutting out the sugar. Not what he’ll want to hear!

Original poster
Elliejane · 17/03/2025 16:58

Thank you . I do try to get him to eat less sugar but its a battle.

OP posts:
Glitterbiscuits · 20/03/2025 10:51

I really think you should go for antibiotics or roaccutane ASAP. This will save home from getting scars.

Resilience · 20/03/2025 10:56

DD had cystic acne. It was a battle to get to see a dermatologist. GP insisted we try various lotions and potions first (even though we’d exhausted this already and she reacted badly to every single one), then tried doxycycline. Didn’t work. Finally got an agreement for a dermatologist appointment, who took one look at her and instantly said she’d probably need roaccutane. Got her on this and it worked a treat. She was lucky in that she didn’t really have side effects (eg really dry lips that crack easily).

If you can afford it though, I’d recommend going private - I believe the NHS waiting list is very long at the moment.

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 20/03/2025 11:05

The nhs is bound by the nice guidelines that say you have to try topicals then systemic antibiotics and then if that fails you can see a dermatologist.

If you go private it’s quicker but not everyone needs accutane. I was ok till I had to stop dianette then eventually I needed accutane which was fab. If they hadn’t put me on the implant contraceptive I would’ve never had cystic acne the progesterone tipped me over the edge.

I can never figure out the link between sugar and acne. If you get any other skin infection no one says cut out carbs they give you antibiotics.

U53rName · 20/03/2025 11:10

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 20/03/2025 11:05

The nhs is bound by the nice guidelines that say you have to try topicals then systemic antibiotics and then if that fails you can see a dermatologist.

If you go private it’s quicker but not everyone needs accutane. I was ok till I had to stop dianette then eventually I needed accutane which was fab. If they hadn’t put me on the implant contraceptive I would’ve never had cystic acne the progesterone tipped me over the edge.

I can never figure out the link between sugar and acne. If you get any other skin infection no one says cut out carbs they give you antibiotics.

I’m not sure what the link is either, but after the dietician we went to had us cut out sugar, UPFs, and wheat, my DC’s face went from completely covered with spots to the odd spot or two.

Princesspollyyy · 20/03/2025 11:12

You need a referral to dermatology. I
l know you keep saying you’re not keep to try different medications but can you see now that they are very much needed??

if you can afford to go private please do as it sounds like your son needs to see a dermatologist.

LushLemonTart · 20/03/2025 11:16

Roccutane isn't the evil it used to be when I took it years ago. Dn has been on it and hardly any side effects and her skin is clear.

TuxedoJunction · 20/03/2025 11:20

I took Roaccutane many moons ago, near to when it first came out. The results for me were life changing, it cleared my skin up in 10-12 weeks. The only side effects I experienced were dry lips. I would highly recommend speaking to his consultant about it.

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 20/03/2025 11:22

UPF I can totally see because there’s no antioxidant content to the food. I had someone tell me I should t eat bananas once because of sugar. Wasn’t even that ripe.

Have to say cutting out dairy never helped me either I’ve been full on allergic to it for over 20 years.

user1471457354 · 20/03/2025 11:31

I'm sorry your son is going through this!

I've had bad acne in my early 20s which I managed to get under control but I had a flare up last year (now early 30s) and my GP prescribed me Clindamycin + benzoyl peroxide gel and I find this one works really well on the red angry spots.

I also find with acne that everyone tends to use products that are really drying such as salicylic acid to try dry the spots out but I actually find that when I use really hydrating products this helps! I think sometimes that the products are too drying and then the skin has to overcompensate to produce oil which then clogs the skin.

Not an expert by any means but just my experience.

I really hope your son gets some relief soon!

Original poster
Elliejane · 20/03/2025 19:00

Thanks . I have gp on 1 April who I been seeing for 25 years so will see what she advises which i think oral antibiotics . If no success I will pay for dermatologist. Roccatune is last resort for him for various reasons. I know people who have had horrific side effects personally. I know thats minority but its still a hard core drug that i am not rushing into .

OP posts: