Help me help DD15! - Acne and sensitive skin

[JuJuHeyHey]

I'm fairly clueless when it comes to skincare and I've never had loads of spots or problems.

Poor DD15 has struggled with acne for the past year, and has very sensitive skin, so both the prescriptions basically burned her face and she had to stop using them. I can't remember what they are called but one was the harsh gel and the other was the topical antibiotic.

She had decided not to go back to the GP and just manage it herself, and has been using E45 and a Clinique face wash for oily skin but her skin is getting really red and irritated again. She has tried Cerave before and I think the face wash was ok but not the moisturiser, that flared it up again.

I'd like to take her back to the GP (if she'll agree!) but in the meantime what moisturiser could I get her to try? I've seen Ceraphil mentioned on other threads but I'm confused because all the info I've read says 'use a non-oily moisturiser' but then it says it contains avocado oil or whatever. So surely that's oily??

Any advice would be much appreciated.

My DD started using the Tropic range when she was 15 and it's been brilliant. All natural products and her skin is always pretty clear now, the odd spot now and again, but that's all. I'm just about to buy it for my 14yo as she has just started to get a bit of a break out. Would highly recommend. She went to an ambassador for a mini facial who advised what products to get.

Ask the GP to refer your daughter to a Dermatologist, where they might prescribe Roaccutane. It is like a wonder drug, honestly.

Try Ia roche posay Effaclar -duo, or the Avene clenance range. You can get them in Boots, or I buy from Escentual online.

They deal with the spots but great the skin as sensitive so reaction is less likely. Only things that ever had an impact on mine.

My DD tried the cream, the antibiotics, but the most effective treatment was the pill - its really cleared up now.

I recommend going back to the GP. In the meantime, I would get her one of the cleansers from La Roche Posay effaclar range and follow it with Effaclar Duo. Keep it really simple. Don't use anything else.

If her skin has been really aggravated by the prescription the GP gave her, she might benefit from a bit of cica cream (la Roche Posay Cicaplast or the Avene version) at night for a few nights to help the skin to heal.

I would stop everything. You don’t know what is a reaction to the cleanser or toner or moisturiser at this point. So just wash the face with warm water. Use a face cloth if washing off makeup. No soap. No cleanser. Nothing.

At the same time, go back to the GP and get a referral to a dermatologist.

Thanks for these responses, they are very helpful.

If it was up to me she'd use nothing on her skin, stop wearing makeup, try the pill/other treatments and see how it goes. But we all know how stubborn teenagers can be, so I will make some gentle suggestions!

Avène Cicalfate has worked miracles with DD’s dry and sensitive skin, absolutely amazing stuff which works to repair the skin barrier. She’s even got me hooked on it, best moisturiser I’ve ever tried! It sounds like your DD’s skin barrier might have been damaged from the other harsh treatments/products which is likely causing her more acne. It’s non-comedogenic so won’t clog her pores or anything like that

DD's face was awful at that age. We looked back at some pictures the other day, and her face was literally red raw, with big cysts.

She stripped right back, as everything medicated was just too harsh.

Aloe products from Body Shop were good, and Simple. Facial cloths are great. Do not use anything with any kind of alcohol or acid or perfume. She stopped wearing make up. She went on the pill. She drank a lot of water. Oh, and don't forget to change hair care products too, same rules.

I use the Ia roche posay Effaclar along with my tret from skinorac and it's good, you may try

She might’ve put too much on, the topicals are a very thin layer on dry skin 15mg a after washing and with sunblock worn during the day. I’ve only just got the hang of Acnecide at 46.

The next step is oral antibiotics.