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Original poster

DD at the end of her tether (bad skin)

47 replies

cheeselouise22 · 17/09/2015 15:11

Hi there, not sure if this is the right section to post in but I'm sure it'll get moved if need be. Just wondered if anyone had any advice. My 15 year old daughter is at the end of her rope with her skin - she has literally tried every spot cream on the market and has had two or three on prescription and literally nothing works. She first started breaking out about two and a half years ago and we assured her it was just a phase that would probably pass in a year or so's time. However, it has just gotten progressively worse. The poor girl has pock marks and discolouration from previous breakouts and as fast as she clears up another lot break out. She isn't the most confident of girls as it is and this has just made her worse. We started her on the pill 6 months ago as she was having terrible periods - the doctor and other mums advised me that it could also potentially help with her skin. (It hasn't but has done wonders for the other problem) If anyone has any ideas to help her I would be incredibly grateful and I do apologise once again if this is in the wrong section.

Thank you.

OP posts:
DonkeyOaty · 17/09/2015 15:19

Has she had only OTC stuff or has she had any prescribed lotions etc?
Also I think there are antibiotics that can help, again prescription only.

Hibiscrub is anecdotally v good.

keely79 · 17/09/2015 15:21

Have you tried Aloe Vera? Straight from the plant rather than an extract, and used as a face mask.

keely79 · 17/09/2015 15:21

Also La Roche Posay Effaclar is pretty effective

BeautifulBatman · 17/09/2015 15:22

Which pill is she on, and what is her skincare routine. I suffered for years from my early teens to early 30s so I know exactly how she feels x

squoosh · 17/09/2015 15:24

Has the GP mentioned Roaccutane?

Wolpertinger · 17/09/2015 15:27

What is her current skin care regime?

It should be:

non-foaming cleanser like Cetaphil
salicylic product like Effaclar Duo
oil-free moisturiser like Cerave

No Hibiscrub!

But seriously if she's tried 2-3 prescription creams go back to GP and ask about Roaccutane and a dermatologist. If she's getting ice pick scars she needs serious treatment not over the counter skincare products.

VulcanWoman · 17/09/2015 15:34

The only thing that helped me the most was Roaccutane, was on the Diannette pill for years which helped too. For full blown Acne lotions and potions are an insult IMO and wished people would take their advice elsewhere because IT IS A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY.

Roseformeplease · 17/09/2015 15:36

Roaccutane - cured DS who now has baby soft, perfect skin again at 15. We caught it early enough on advice from friends. Still had to go through the other options but, if you push the GP, you will get a referral. Prescribing for girls is more problematic (it creates horrible birth defects) so she will be expected to commit to a contraceptive (or even 2 - not sure what if not sexually active).

Honestly - life saving.

VulcanWoman · 17/09/2015 15:38

This thread needs to be in Medical not Style and Beauty.

RaspberryBeret34 · 17/09/2015 15:38

I found antibiotics (oral) helped me. Might be worth a try before roaccutane (or while making the decision). I took Dianette too but it never made any difference to me - I know it can help though so that might be worth a go. It sounds like she does need something to take internally to help at this point if she has tried 2/3 topical creams etc. it sounds awful, poor her.

Groovee · 17/09/2015 15:41

My dd is 15 and the last 4 years have been hard. She's now on a 6 month oral antibiotic, with a special cream which a specialist GP has prescribed at our practice. Our next step was to see a dermatologist.

Miskate · 17/09/2015 15:58

I had this problem between the ages of 11 and 18.
The pill (Dianette) helped the most, but I also had great success using the Hot Cloth Cleansing method for washing my face, plus using Effaclar Duo serum. You can get both at Boots.

RachelZoe · 17/09/2015 16:03

My DS had terrible acne and he couldn't go on Rocaccutane as we have a family history of depression unfortunately. We tried absolutely everything else, lasers and all, DH is a plastic surgeon and knows some dermatologists and they gave him all sorts, he eventually had the best success with cetaphil and a clarisonic (used together), with the acne brush head (green one). The clarisonic also helped buff the marks and scars down. He uses an oil free moisturizer from kiehls as well.

BoboChic · 17/09/2015 16:05

I agree with RachelZoe - Clarisonic and a mild cleanser are excellent for acne. I don't think anything cleanses the skin so thoroughly while also being so gentle.

Floralnomad · 17/09/2015 16:06

Both of my DC have taken roaccutane , in our area you need to have tried long courses of antibiotics first ,as well as prescription creams so you need to go to the GP as a starting point . If you've tried prescription stuff already then ask for referral to a dermatologist .

VulcanWoman · 17/09/2015 16:24

This Cetaphil is an American product? Doesn't matter how much you cleanse, nothing from the outside can stop the Acne coming up in the first place.

iwantgin · 17/09/2015 16:31

Which Pill was she taking. If it was the mini pill, then it possibly would have made her skin worse. The combined pill has more chance of helping.

I had bad skin from being a young teen - still do in my late 40s.

Take her back to the GP and ask for a referral to the Dermatology dept at the hospital.

There are other options - oral antibiotics could work, or a different combo of oral antibiotics with prescription lotions.

Roaccutane is the big one - but is very effective in a lot of cases. This can only be prescribed by a Dermatologist - the GP will not be able to do so. A few side effects but if her skin really does not respond to any other treatment, then it is worth trying.

Me - I haven't had Roaccutane, but have tried many antiobiotics, pills over the years. Diannette worked wonders for me - but is contra-indicated due to my age and blood clotting issues. I currently am on Spironolactone which not many people will have heard of. It acts on the male androgens - haltiing the oiliness. My skin has been perfect since I started it. Am hoping to take it until am through menopause and that my skin will dry out naturally then.

good luck - don't let her suffer. It is horrible having bad skin- particularly as a teenager.

Ridingthegravytrain · 17/09/2015 16:32

I had this from 10-20. Spent most of those years on various antibiotics and lotions (zineryt/retin a gel and cream, panoxyl, benzamycin, acnisal etc)

I needed a strong anti b (think it was trimethoprim that worked) acnisal cleanser and benzamycin gel. All prescribed from a private consultant dermatologist (Dr tony chu cannot recommend highly enough)

Though I still get spots now. Sometimes it just takes time too

ThenLaterWhenItGotDark · 17/09/2015 16:35

Agree with others, before going down any other route, try Effaclar Duo. It changed my daughter's life, virtually overnight.

FortyFacedFuckers · 17/09/2015 16:37

Which pill is she on? I have had acne from I was 10 and still have it now at 29. The only thing that has made a difference was the Yasmin pill unfortunately I have been unable to take this for the last few years.

MoreTeaPenguin · 17/09/2015 16:57

Another recommendation for roaccutane from me. I took it as a teenager after years of trying creams and pills from the gp. It transformed my skin and it has been good ever since, though I still have scarring from having acne for years. Now I just use a tea tree soap to keep my skin clear. Roaccutane is awesome stuff, you have to be monitored while you take it with blood tests IIRC, but it works long term, not just while you take it. Ask your gp about it.

RachelZoe · 17/09/2015 16:59

I don't know where it's from originally VulcanWoman but you can get it here, in boots and online.

Original poster
cheeselouise22 · 17/09/2015 17:07

Thank you all so much, I didn't expect this many replies and I'm sorry I didn't post in medical - didn't know where to put it as I don't get chance to come on here very often.

I'm not a lover of oral antibiotics, I have always believed that in the long run they cause more problems than they solve but I will look into the other options suggested that I haven't tried.

It really doesn't help that doctors appointments are like gold dust but that's another issue entirely.

Thanks all again.

OP posts:
RootBeer · 17/09/2015 17:12

There was a really interesting article in the paper a couple of weeks ago about a new gadget that can really improve skin. I bookmarked it as I really suffered as a teenager and fully expect my children too. It's quite a pricey option but worth investigating.

www.theguardian.com/fashion/2015/aug/22/beauty-gadgets-acne

IsabelleEberhardt · 17/09/2015 17:16

Yasmin pill worked best for my skin however, after two years of insanity I realised the pill is not for me. My skin has calmed down as I've got older but I still use quinoderm face wash and otc benzoyl peroxide cream.