Anything else my teen can try on his skin before we make a GP appt?

[superdeeduper]

My 16 year old is in a real mess with spots, on his face and now spreading down his back also. After some great advice here on Mumsnet we have so far tried Freederm, Simple, Cetaphil, Lush's Angels on Bare Skin and La Roche Posay Effaclar and Duo.

Nothing seems to work for him. I am admitting defeat and going to take him to the GP, again I have read here on similar threads that he may be able to get a cream or antibiotics. However, as we have to wait 2 weeks just to get an appointment I thought I would see if there was anything else we may not have tried.

Anyone got any advice?

Hibiscrub works well, and panoxyl

Hi superdeeduper My advice would be to ask to be referred to a dermatologist. My DS saw a dermatologist and finally got his skin sorted. They have more expertise and have access to more treatments. Your GP could prescribe something while you are waiting for the appointment????

Just take him to the GP now - he almost certainly needs prescription medication to sort it out.

If you've tried Cetaphil + Effaclar Duo then you've pretty much tried the best over the counter options.

You can try other things waiting for the GP appointment but if the spots are going down his abck as well you'll never sort this with topical treatment alone. The sooner you go, the sooner it will clear up and the less scarring he will have.

I'd try a pharmacist in the meantime.

On second thoughts, I wouldn't try anything new. You don't want it to be looking temporarily slightly better as he goes to the dr.

Anything with Benzoyl Peroxide in it until you can get some ABs.

Aknicare may be worth a go.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00519AR76/ref=pd_aw_sims_2?pi=SL500_SY115

Not too drying but quite effective. If nothing helps, don't rule out roaccutane as a last ditch solution. Completely cleared up my acne (face, chest, back) although facial spots have come back since I became pregnant.

And by last ditch, I mean once you've tried all the ABs and prescription only creams/gels.

It sounds like he's tried a lot of remedies. I'd make a GP appointment rather than waiting any longer.

You've tried giving up dairy, right? I don't want to be the anti-dairy troll or anything, but it cleared mine up completely. (I've been drinking cows milk this week and it's like a return to my teenage years :( )

I bought some African black soap from Amazon on the recommendation of another MNetter. It was for my 14 year old DS as he had terrible skin.

It made a massive difference to his skin which is now nearly clear. it also leaves my own skin looking tighter and softer.

Many people won't use it because it contains palm oil. I didn't know that when I ordered it. But I have to admit its so good that I am a bit torn between my ethics and wanting more.

DS1 had spots from age 12 which gradually got worse until it was undeniably acne. His back was the worst, a mess really.
There was nothing over the counter topical that worked.
I believe it's a myth that diet or creams and lotions can make much of a difference to acne.
We went to the GP when he was 15. GP started with Brevoxyl cream which helped a little. Eventually he ended up on antibiotics together with Differin cream. This again helped a little.
It's incredibly difficult to get a teenage boy to apply creams regularly and properly. Of course you have to do their back, but often that was easier said than done.
DS refused to consider roaccutane because the possible side effects were not worth it, plus he wasn't that worried about the acne as seemingly all his friends had it.

Oh and he's 18 now and the acne is almost gone. He stopped all the meds a year ago.

The thing with acne is that each case is individual, some are due to a food allergy, others are not.

Thanks everyone for the quick replies and good advice. Rogan Josh I know what you mean about not starting something new in case his skin looks ok by the time we get to the GP!

I have been reluctant to go to the GP as don't want to be seen to be wasting their time as it were. Also not keen on DS taking antibiotics either but would need to find out how long he would be on them. I'm guessing your son was on them for about 2 years Yourlittlesecret? Funnily enough my DS has also said about everyone else having spots too! I have also wondered if he is actually using all the products as much as he says he is!! At 16 it's not like I can stand over him in the bathroom and he will say anything just to stop being nagged about something!

Going to have a look at the suggestions above but will definitely phone GP and get an appt. Thanks for the advice everyone, will let you know how he gets on x

Do you think going to a beauticians for treatments is a wasteof time/money for teens?

Facials are lovely and relaxing but not an acne treatment. Uncontrolled acne needs a dermatologist.

You shouldn't randomly cut out food groups for acne without dermatological advice, there isn't really any evidence that diet influences acne and definitely not that chocolate etc does which are common myths.

I have also wondered if he is actually using all the products as much as he says he is
Exactly. I think you might manage to get a 16 year old girl to maintain a regime of creams and lotions but not many boys. Grooming involves a squirt of Lynx and little else.
I used to chase DS around trying to cream his back, it was never convenient, it was always "later mum".

Yes he was on AB about two years. I rather suspect the outcome would have been much the same with or without them. he always said I was more bothered than he was. I could see him scarring though and didn't feel I could ignore that.

There is good evidence that dairy can cause/exacerbate acne. Limit it, and if you must have milk, make sure it's full fat as opposed to anything skimmed/semi-skimmed (more protein in skimmed and semi-skimmed, cow hormones are protein bound, hence drinking skimmed or semi-skimmed milk means you're ingesting more hormones, organic milk is no different).
Sugars, including fruit sugars, are 'pro-inflammatory', and should be avoided.
And nuts, in genetically susceptible people, can cause acne.

I wouldn't bother buying any new products. Cystic acne/extensive acne is a medical issue. See what your GP says. You are absolutely not wasting his/her time!

I took mine when he was 12
he tried one thing that was crap now is on a daily pill that has WORKED WONDERS

Really I would always say go straight to GP

plus OP the GP was fine and never batted an eyelid.
Honestly I keep seeing teens with acne and thinking GO TO A DR

same as YOURLITTLESECRET

think they are anitbiotics

very good