DD Skin issues

[Helpwithbeauty]

I wondered if there was anyone here who is aesthetically trained or into dermatology? My teen is unfortunately struggling with acne and has been for about 20 months now. It is definitely hormonal and worst around her monthly cycles. We have tried every lotion and potion from the GP and the next stage was a referral to a consultant and the GP said this would probably lead to a prescription for Roccutaine (which DD didn't want to take).

We have resorted to a private Aesthetic specialist and have been seeing her now for 4 months. We have been set straight on a lot of bad practices that we were in - only using a pillow once, turn and then change, use one side of the towel once on one side, turn and then change, changing make up to be mineral based products so her skin can breathe and then lots of lotions and potions. The problem is the cost of these. Apparently DD's skin was very damaged from the products she was using before, she used to pick her spots which is apparently a cardinal sin and had off the shelf products like toners and cleansers purporting to be for acne and breakouts of the like of Biore, Clean and Clear, Clearisil, someone recommended Acnecide, we've tried that too. Our specialist has advised that these products are awful and have added to the damage to DD's skin.

We have now got a multitude of products pre-cleanse, cleanser, serum, moisturiser and sun block. But each of these is costing anywhere between £35.00 to £60.00 per bottle. There are also tablets which are a small fortune and I just don't think I can carry on paying out all this money - it is costing me hundreds of pounds per month. She needs to go nearly every 2 weeks and the specialist will "extract" any large, angry or infected spots (I think that it is basically picking and squeezing in a clean environment with sharp sterile things), LED light therapy and chemical peels. She has mentioned when her skin is better she will need additional treatment for her scarring - micro-needling, another small fortune. If her skin was fantastically better, I would not begrudge paying it all - but it isn't. The tablets I know say they they will need 16 weeks minimum usage to work and I have committed that I will pay for 6 months in total so have another couple of months yet, but I am wondering what we do if we decide not to proceed with these products in the long term. Do we just go back to using the high street products that have apparently damaged her skin terribly. It is all so confusing.

Are expensive products the only way forward?

Has she exhausted the usual topical treatments - benzoyl peroxide + retinoid or antibiotic for at least 12 weeks? Azaelic acid 15 or 20% is another topical option. Normally next step would be antibiotic tablets for 3-6 months. All of these can be started by GP and the dermatologist would have expected these to be tried/ started. Other options are the pill usually dianette or spironolactone to block androgen. I know you said she's not keen on isotretinoin but I'd accept the derm referral to let her chat about her worries, they can maybe suggest something else, UVB therapy has been used to treat acne with some success.

Hello,
If you accept a referral to a consultant they will be able to explain clinically available options, and the pros and cons of these. One of these may be roccutaine. Your daughter will be able to make an informed choice from the available options as to which she would like to try, or not to pursue any of them.
Even if you went privately I think this would be considerably cheaper.

For context I have a private dermatology appointment coming up for rosacia, and I know there are some options that are not for me.

I'm not an expert, but I thing you are being taken advantage of here. Unless it is working miracles I would stop. Other than any scarring I don't understand why your daughters skin would be damaged.

Hugs and good luck xx

Sounds like a con OP. I'd be very wary. What's in the tablets and other products? Is the person you're seeing a dermatologist?

I was told that when it's 'true acne' then it's a virus. I had one and a half rounds of roaccutane and it sorted ne out, however I think it made my mental health worse than it was, but it was already very bad so it might not have been that.

Acne is not a virus.
Just correcting this as so much twaddle is written on these boards.

It’s on a par with “hormonal”, of course it’s bloody hormonal that’s why it kids don’t get it despite being germ ridden homunculus.