DD at the end of her tether (bad skin)

[cheeselouise22]

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.

Roaccutane.

If it's severe acne then it's face creams won't touch it. They may want to give her oral antibiotics first but roaccutane really does work amazingly well.

I really do sympathise, bless her. I'd advise trying a routine such as the following, giving it a good three months and then going back to the docs if you see no improvement:

Cleanse with something gentle like Cetaphil, La Roche Posay Gentle Foaming Cleanser (VERY gentle and the only thing that's ever worked for me) or LRP Toleriane Cleanser
Salycylic acid product such as LRP Effaclar Duo+
Very gentle moisturise such as LRP Toleriane Ultra

I had bad acne from about 14 onwards, that finally improved with Dianette (not sure this is still available as a contraceptive). I eventually grew out of the worst of it, but the above routine made a big difference.

She needs a referral to a dermatologist.

FWIW a friend's DD started on Roaccutane, with great trepidation, and having tried everything else, and it has been marvellous - changed her life!

I spent my teen years on various prescribed creams and serums, dianette and antibiotics.

I started using clarisonic a few years ago which made a massive improvement (I've learnt that gentle exfoliation is important to my skin- no scrubby bits but cream or gel exfoliants). The most dramatic change for me though has happened in the past few months and as a complete accident- I started following BIWI's low carb boot camp. This may be too extreme for your son but it might be worth cutting down on sugar and refined carbs. My skin is glowing for the first time in my life, no spots, no dry patches where old spots used to be- its miraculous!

Dianette really made a difference to my skin. Don't use anything that literally scrubs the skim or anything that foams. They will have the reverse effect. Keep on at your doctor for a referal to a dermatologist. Make a real point about how unhappy your daughter is. GPs can be so dismissive of how depressing bad skin can be. It can and does affect your life.

OP I had terrible skin from 11 to 21. Face, neck, chest & back.

I would recommend a referral to a dermatologist for some antibiotics and a strong topical lotion and if that doesnt work - roaccutane.

I wont lie... its not a nice drug and it has quite a few potential side effects. However if your DD is like me (low confidence/self esteem, depressed, not wanting to go out in public) i promise you that the positives will outweigh any side effect she may suffer.

Dont be put off by the horror stories you will read about the drug. It really does work wonders.

For those who've tried Roaccutane, does it dry the skin reallu excessively? We've held back because dd suffers from terrible excema.

The acne.org regime really helped mine
Effectively gentle cleaner, no rubbing or scrubbing, quinoderm type then moisturiser
Website is acne.org

Push for a dermatologist appointment. I had bad skin in my late 20s and only now I can see the impact it had on me. On the plus side, I'm over 40 now and have good skin and few wrinkles. Take care of her - it's a delicate age.

I would echo advice above to use gentle cleansers- I used skin stripping ones for years and as soon as I started using oil based cleansers the spots and dry patches combo I had got much better.

Gentle cleansers and a really light moisturiser should help. Also, keep hair and fingers off the skin as that can make it worse by introducing bacteria.

She's so lucky to have you...

Root beer linked to blue light therapy...I use red light therapy and Amber...Can be very effective with correct device and frequency of use. Red/blue combo lights are supposed to be best for patients who need correction of skin damage and reduced inflammation as well as antibacterial action.

Derm will probably prescribe tretinoin (retin-A) as topical vit A treatment prior to hitting roaccutane. For many people this is enough so worth a try.

Good luck

Chancer - it does dry the skin. IME it was bad, so my doseage was reduced and i was on it for longer.

I found that baby oil applied directly to the skin and vaseline up the nose really helped.

Im not sure how bad your DDs excema is but im sure your GP could prescribe epaderm or similar?

Please please PLEASE take your DD back to the GP and push for a referral on the basis that she's becoming permanently scarred. I know exactly how she's feeling. Every spot erodes your confidence a little more.

I struggled with acne from about 12-14, tried everything but a referral to the dermatologist and taking roaccutane was what finally worked after months of trying useless over-the-counter treatments, antibiotics and the pill. I was so very shy due to the acne and I'm glad my dad finally persuaded my mum (who thought it would blow over) to push for a referral. Looking back it's one of the best things they ever did for me. My skin has been pretty clear since and it restored my confidence to the extent I could go to uni and do all the normal things teenagers do. Good luck to your DD

Chancer it does dry the skin out a lot while you're on it but moisturisers and vaseline for lips really help. It's really worth trying as it can clear your skin forever. I'm 31 now and haven't looked back since taking it at 14/15. I'm so grateful to have been able to take it as my life would have been very different without it.

I've suffered with poor skin for years. I'm 23 now and it improved when I was pregnant but within a week of giving birth I was breaking out again. I actually went to the skin doctor a few years ago over concerns of a mole and he mentioned my face. He diagnosed me with acne and prescribed Duac cream. It really did work wonders for my skin, but it stains bedding and can only be used at night

I feel your daughter's pain :( people don't realise how emotionally damaging skin problems can be for a teenager....I do though. I suffered terribly from the age of 13, and my skin is still temperamental now at the age of 21. I tried everything! Over-the-counter stuff, prescription medications (both antibiotics and retinoids), home remedies, every time of hormonal contraception on this planet, and nothing worked. Until 3 years ago, when I cut dairy out of my diet (for other reasons, I didn't even know it could be beneficial for the skin!), and switched all my products to natural, organic stuff. I know take my make up off and moisturise with coconut oil. And I know what your thinking "OIL??!! God no!"....but my dermatologist (yes it got that bad, I forked out for a private dermatologist) told me that if you use non-comedogenic oils, such as coconut and jojoba oil to cleanse, it tricks your skin into thinking it is already producing enough of it's own natural oils...thus less crap to clog the pores and cause spots! ANd with the dairy thing, cow's milk is full of cow hormones (it is cow breastmilk, meant for baby cows after all!), therefore can wreak havoc on unstable human hormones! I cut it out completely, and within 6 weeks, I noticed I was getting less breakouts, and the texture of my skin was miles better. I paired that with coconut oil cleansing, neat tea tree oil or lemon juice to treat existing spots, and on the rare occasion I wear makeup, I make sure its organic, mineral-based products. I still get random breakouts every so often now, and my face was a minefield while I was pregnant, but I have way more confidence now. There was a point when I was 15, that I refused to leave the house at all because I was so ashamed of my skin! I hope your daughter can find a solution to her problems, or at least make it more managable. And also, please let her know that she is not alone, other people do understand, and the people that love her can see her beauty from within shining through, no matter what she looks like on the outside!! xxx

OP - you are doing what I should have done, and helping your DD while she is still young.

My DD is 22 and will be starting Roaccutane this weekend. I'm worried as she has just started a new job and will be living away from home, but when I saw her eyes fill as the dermatologist said she should be spot free by Christmas, I felt really guilty for leaving it so long without pushing. Apart from the fortune we've spent on 'miracle' cures over the years, she has tried Duac and a range of antibiotics - and although she has remained reasonably confident, her skin has affected her. Dianette worked, but she was taken off this due to migraines.

It is fantastic to read the comments from those who have experience of Roaccutane - put my mind at ease a little.

Good luck to your DD cheeselouise, hope you can get this sorted for her.

My child had moderate/bad acne from about l6. Tried everything from GP - antibiotics, Dianette. In the end took her privately to dermatologist who prescribed Roaccutane. She was very carefully monitored; it was amazing and the effects lasted for about 10 years. She still gets a bit spotty (hormonal) but the marks cleared up and her skin is really not bad. The side effects of the drug were very minimal - dry skin and lips for a few weeks but easily dealt with. If everything else has failed, as long as there is careful monitoring, it can be a godsend.

Thank you all so much, you've all been really helpful and very lovely. I'm going to book her a doctors appointment - I don't really want her to go on antibiotics but I guess that they would do that before prescribing the roaccutane? Anyway, I am armed with lots of good info now. Thank you all so much and enjoy your weekends xx

I suffered with acne as a teenager and used everything possible

In the end I started doing trials of new things for say 6 weeks, to see if there was any improvement.

I found what worked for me was cutting out all ' harsh' facial washes / scrubs - anything that strips natural oils and switched to sensitive.

I stopped washing my face all the time and now just do it in the morning and night followed by moisturiser. Oh and also if I've been the gym ofc.

Drinking more water and eating more clean.

I know some say there is no link between diet and skin but honestly for me there 200000% is. If I have a greasy takeaway or alot of chocolate then it's 100% guaranteed I'll wake up the next day with a spot or with my skin more oily.

Exercise really helps improve my skin.

Oh and also - Estee lauder double wear - helped me make it through school while I was dealing with my spots! It's amaaaazing coverage

Just bumping this -
my DS (nearly 16 so hormones involved but not female/menstrual hormones) had horrendous skin.
His skin is also quite sensitive.
As a baby he couldn't tolerate Johnsons. As a teen his skin reacts from some shampoo that rinses onto his face.
His skin care needs to be bland enough not to overstrip his skin.

He was using Cetaphil in the shower, TeaTree cleansing pads and gel at night.His skin was awful, I was this close to taking him to the GP but really didn't want to be giving him antibiotics.

I asked the Pharmacist in Boots, bought him Acnecide (Benzoic Acid) and in Superdrugs a Salacylic Acid gel (IIRC it contains the maximum allowed in a non prescriptive product)

He's maintained the cleansing, and only uses the gels on the spots , not all over.

Huge difference. Thank goodness.
He wasn't outwardly bothered but I'm sure it did concern him.

He's drinking more water and eating fruit.
All things to help his skin clear up but not obsessively (he's a teenage boy after all)