13yo DD being bullied because of spots

[Wallywobbles]

Would love any suggestions for treatment, preferably via the GP.

Poor DD is very tall and shapely, but has utterly awful spots. She's always been so stoic about it that I kind of forgot how grim it must be at school for her. She was sobbing tonight after the latest comments from her class mates.

She has her period and we have tried an enormous amount of topical treatments. She's sensible about what she eats too so even limits chocolate.

We've seen a dermatologist but that had no good outcome and the stuff she got made her face really sore to boot.

I know that there are pills that she could take but don't know much about them, and think the GP is going to say too young. I could of course google but wondered if anyone could share their experiences.

Lymocycline antibiotic plus epiduo lotion. Both on prescription. DS now has virtually perfect skin.

I would definitely keep going back to the GP/dermatologist. It can be trial and error finding the right approach. If it is causing dd misery I'd definitely be relying on medical opinions.

From my own, very unpleasant experience of adult acne I learned the following:

Benzoyl Peroxide is effective but can be very harsh; prescription products like Duac contain it. If you do use it you will need a good, gentle moisturiser. You can also use the moisturiser as a buffer - put a thin layer on - let it soak in and then apply the BP.

Roaccutane worked for me, but I was in my 30s when I took it and it should not be rushed into as it is very heavy duty.

Also, keep all products to an absolute minimum and if trying something new (especially if prescribed by doctor) allow at least 6 weeks to see if it works.

Sorry if this doesn't make sense - I'm a bit sleepy!

My dd is controlling, but not completely, hers with a different traceptive pill and duac gel.
I've had roaccutane/isotretinoin, it's not a p,easy to drug but as the others have said it's a miracle drug. I went from hating leaving the house with pus filled lumps and a face that was so sore and painful where the spots got infected to completely clear skin. You'd never know I'd had a problem now. Only a dermatologist can prescribe it though.

Dianette. Worked wonders on my spots!

We tried everything and none of it helped more than a little. My daughter is on Roaccutane now and it has been an absolute miracle cure. Only side effect was dry lips. The main risk is to an unborn foetus, and the consultant was happy to take her word for it that she was not going to have sex (and was a virgin) so she didn't need to be on birth control.

This is the most wonderful and effective medication.

Result of GP visit was oral zinc and 5% Benzoyl Peroxide cream. Not what I'd hoped for but we will give it a month. Other DD heard GP calling me an idiot after I'd left while she was still in the waiting room. New GP as we've moved so that is rather depressing.

Every sympathy for your daughter and definitely consider moving GP. I had acne from age 11 and it was a really awful experience. I tried pretty much all antibiotics, roaccutane, dianette, weekly dermalogica facials.
My dehydrated, sensitive, oily and spotty skin actually started improving when I thought about trying to make it stronger rather than attacking it with strong cleansers and medicines. So I double cleanse with oil and hot cloth and then a lotion, use various serums and a hydrating cream.
Everyone is different obviously, but if you look at Caroline Hirons website/blog she has nice cheat sheets for acne. I also like alot of (pleasingly cheap) products from The Ordinary. The shop in Covent Garden is really nice and they will make personalised recommendations. The serums are helping with my dreadful scars. I am absolutely dreading my DC entering the acne years and wish you and your Daughter good luck!

Both my teenagers take lymecycline. I think you should go back and see a different GP if there are no improvements very soon.

That other GP sounds vile.

Benzyl Peroxide cream can take a while to start to work, but it saved my face - I used it from age 10 to my early 20s. Fingers crossed

Feel awful for your daughter, I had terrible acne from the age of 9, and I tried everything going. Yes roaccutane is great and works but I now have an inflamed bowel due to it, as do some of my friends (we were all put on it at 18 and we are in our 40s now). After years of agony and embarrassment I read an article on rosehip oil and it transformed my life. I stopped washing my face, use oil to take off my make up then splash with hot water, then put more rosehip oil on. Basically my face always has rosehip oil on it 😁. It has been like a miracle, I can’t believe after 30 odd years something so simple worked. All along I was trying to strip my skins oil instead of trying to balance my skins oil production. I now have beautiful skin, no spots and so soft. To think of the abuse I put my poor skin though - I even use to rub it with a green scourer - and all it wanted was to be treated gently.

How much exercise does she get? I found that the only thing that helps me (exactly the same) is daily proper sweat raising exorcise immediately followed by a shower and a good exfoliation dermalogica daily micro foliant.

She gets a fair amount of exercise but it's partly at school with no showers and partly riding and I'm sure the crash hat is no help.

@olivetoI have rose hip oil please tell me more

@olivetor7 I have rose hip oil. Please can you tell me exactly what to do?

If her acne is bad, OTC topical treatments are pointless. She needs antibiotics and Benzoyl Peroxide 2.5% to start with, combined with an acne specific cleansing and moisturising routine (Laroche Posay or similar French pharmacy brand).

Drink lots and lots of water - this worked for me to the point people commented how good my skin looked. Previously had horrendous acne.

Wally, In the morning I go in a hot shower and rinse off the rosehip from the night before. I do not use soap or anything else. Once I’m out the shower I then put on more rosehip, and a bit of SteamCrea moisturiser. You can dab your skin with a tissue after a few minutes if it feels too greasy - but I don’t bother. At night I rub rosehip into my skin to remove makeup, then dry, and put on more rosehip oil and SteamCream. I buy my rosehip oil from amazon, the two I recommend are Fushi or GreenKeratin. One bottle lasts me 6 months. It may take a month or two for her skin to get used to the new routine, i had a slight breakout for a week or two, but that’s normal. This routine also cleared up my horrendous Acne Rosacea, that I developed after having my son. I have now been spot free for 4.5 years.

I'm highly sceptical about water and diet and all that shizzle. Acne has a biological cause usually, in my opinion - sloughing/clogging/oily skin; p acnes bacteria colonisation; hormonal sensitivity, etc etc etc. I lived like I wanted to die young (!) while on the pill and no acne whasoever. Wholesome life post-kids, and during teen years: ack attack extraoirdinaire.

If she has proper pitting or cystic acne benzoyl peroxide is wholly inappropriate and I'd get a second opinion from someone who doesnt call you stupid under their breath...how appalling!

My daughter suffered dreadfully with acne and tried pratically everything. In the end what worked for her was giving up dairy. The difference in a week was incredible!

Everyone is different, it is trial and error unfortunately. I went on accutane but my acne still returned afterwards (probably related to the fact that I have pcos)

Benzoyl peroxide has been most effective for me but as others have said it can be drying/irritating, acne.org sell a 2.5% benzoyl peroxide. 2.5% has been shown to be as effective as stronger strengths without excess drying

As someone who has had cystic acne I can’t help but roll my eyes when people think drinking water will help ... don’t we all drink water?! If only it were that easy... (not accusing those who say it helped are lying but chances are it went away due to other factors)

If you want to avoid drugs try red/blue light therapy. It works.

As one PP said - we can all tell you what worked for us but ultimately different things work for different people so it is a case of trial and error.

I have tried most in my 25 years of acne and my top pick for a teen would be benzoyl peroxide cream or gel. (NB it bleaches clothes and bedlinen). Roaccutane if severe. Dianette or Spironolactone if there are reasons to think she may have PCOS - do you have it, is she hairy, weight issues etc.

In the meantime I recommend some good make up. Here's my make up:

• Nivea BB cream. Not too heavy, not glittery (bad with acne) and doesn't seem to cause break outs.
• MAC select moisturecover liquid concealer. Comes in so many shades which is crucial. Clinique do good liquid ones too.

And my main advice which is DO NOT PICK your face. Not only can picking cause scars, it also turns 1 spot into 5 spots. It doesn't cause acne but boy does it spread it.

That's appalling of the GP. I'm a teacher with teens of my own. Luckily my kids have really clear skin, but I wouldn't hesitate to take them to the GP if they were suffering from acne, especially if they were getting teased about it. You did absolutely the right thing.

She's not more hairy than upper average I think. She's definitely in a woman's body though, waxes legs, shaves armpits and a bikini line that isn't kind. But no face fluff. So I'm not thinking PCOS.

The 5% cream does seem to be helping although she's now not sleeping which might be linked to the zinc supplement perhaps?

Poor chick. She's been grumpy as hell the last few mornings.