Skin and Me or Dermatica for teenage acne?

[snowynominal]

16 (17 in a few weeks) daughter. We've tried everything over the counter (the best being niacinamide serum) and nothing has really worked. Getting a phone appointment with the GP is proving impossible. I've been calling every morning for weeks and nothing in advance available.

I noticed Skin & Me offer treatments to 16+ and wondered if anyone had tried them and could recommend. I'm not sure if Dermatica is also 16+ if anyone knows?

Would you try going to a private dermatologist instead? I know it's pricey but you might get a prompt appointment.

I'm pretty sure Adapalene (also called Differin) is more suited for acne, and is far less irritating than tretinoin (which is the main ingredient in S&M and Dermatica). Although it's only available on prescription at the moment.

Your teenager may find the irritation of tretinoin difficult to deal with. I had peeling for a few months and redness, but obviously not everyone experiences the same level of irritation.

They are technically the same thing, just formulated differently, so if tretinoin is all you can get hold of it would be worth a try.

So they're both likely to prescribe Tretinoin? I think I wanted to see what they might prescribe.

Thanks. I'll look into a private dermatologist as well, her father will pay I'm sure, if it turns out to be particularly expensive. I used one myself but it was a while ago.

Tret isn't the only ingredient offered! Dermatica does adapalene and Skin+me do clindamycin for acne. I've tried the latter and was effective for (minor) breakouts, have not tried the former though.

Depending on the severity, a private dermatologist may be better but don't rule out these two as tret only!

Forgot to say if you fill in the online consultation, they'll tell you the proposed prescription. You can apparently ask them to change but I haven't myself.

Ideally a drs appt. Do they do online appts where you give details and they prescribe?

I hate the phone up on the day systems.

Apologies, I didn't realise they prescribe Adapalene.

For my kids (both unhappy recipients of my teenage acne genes) I did an ‘e-consult’ which my surgery makes available every morning on their website for a limited period. You can attach photos and explain the issue, and what you’ve tried already. I got a text later that day saying GP had prescribed a cream (Duac) and to get back in touch for a review in 6 weeks if it hasn’t helped. Both found Duac very effective but I’m sure there were other options to try if it hasn’t been. (Clearly if your practice don’t off e-consult then this isn’t much help!)

@Farmageddon I didn't know either until I was looking for something specifically for breakouts!

I went for Skin+me as they had a better offer at that time but both appeared more or less equal. Also my Skin+me prescription did have tret (and azelaic acid), worked well together imo.

I didn’t rate Skin and Me for myself.

My acne troubled teen has had some benefit from Duac via the GP.