What cleared your teenagers acne?

[dontdarepokethebear]

DD’s odd spot has developed into acne. Large angry spots that take forever to clear. Mainly on her forehead, shoulders and back.

What worked for your teenager?

I need to convince DD to go see a doctor about it. The anti-blemish face wash and topical cream from Boots don’t seem to do anything.

Thanks

And this is why you need to start getting help asap,.. so that you find something effective before it causes scarring

Try cutting out dairy

I would say as soon as you notice more than very mild spots:

try cutting dairy. 1-2 weeks.

use salicylic acid/benzoyl peroxide/other otc in that time.

if no change, GP. Then you can say you have tried x, y and z so they can’t send you away with a recommendation for carbolic soap and come back in a month.

GP- contraceptive pill
no joy/male- antibiotics.

if still nothing you start pushing for roaccutane. But I think it’s advisable to escalate through the steps and go to the GP at least having tried the basics.

This is amazing - cleared my cystic (adult) acne and also transformed my teen’s skin and I’d tried everything.

Otherwise I’d recommend antibiotics which I had as a teen and it kept it at bay for years. Finally “grew out of it” at 35 so it’s worth her exploring this option. The skin does get worse for a while as it purges but then it’s amazing.

Thank you for all the amazing replies. I will get her to the doctors as well as exploring further the other suggestions.

There are so many products on the market it’s quite overwhelming knowing where to start and what actually is the most affective.

Very interesting about going dairy free. She would eat cheese most days.

We thought it could be her hair products causing it (blame the curly hair routine) but she’s made changes to see if that made a difference and it didn’t seem to.

She’s more bothered by the spots on her back and wanting to wear vest tops now the weather is improving.

I really appreciate the replies- thank you!

*effective!

Duac cream from GP was a total game changer

This cleared my painful back spots when even prescribed stuff didn’t but I used it in a very specific way
last thing, end of a shower. Lathered it up on a back brush or hands (as it’s scratchy) and let the foam sit on my back for a couple of minutes, rinsed off and got out the shower
if it doesn’t work, it’s good for stinky armpits anyway so win win!

https://amzn.eu/d/03eDQSy4

my DD was given lymecyline which worked then didn’t. The pill didn’t work either. She has recently been on Accutane which after the purging has worked brilliantly and her skin has improved dramatically. We went privately for it despite being referred by her GP as the wait was too long for the dermatologist

Distilled witch Hazel, buy it in boots and dab it on eith cotton wool on clean skin, then vitamin c serum. My boys skin is really clear with that method. Hope that helps xx

This was also the only thing that worked for me. However, I needed two cycles and the second time it affected my mental health very badly. I would be wary about my own daughter using it, although at the time I was desperate and can’t say I’d do things differently for myself. Acne can destroy your confidence.

Mario Badescu drying lotion. Don’t fall for the cheaper Amazon version, it’s rubbish.

Hi OP. A topical with benzoyl peroxide or a prescription retinoid makes significantly more difference than most shelf products for inflammatory acne at that level. On the skincare side, a gentle salicylic acid cleanser & fragrance-free moisturizer supports whatever treatment she's given without adding irritation. Honestly a GP referral is worth it especially if over-the-counter options aren't making improvements.

We saw a dermatologist: first step was lymecycline which worked for a year but then she forgot to take on a trip for two weeks and it didn’t work upon return. Shifted to Spironolactone for six months which cleared it up. It’s a testosterone suppressant so analogous to the pill in some ways and only suitable for females Use la Roche posay on recommendation of dermatologist too and supplement multivitamin and minerals, omega 3, iron and probiotics.
I had horrendous acne that even roaccutane didn’t clear and I think it was because my parents let it alone, thinking it would go away by itself. I have awful scarring that even now I am treating with microneedling. So I am very motivated to keep both my kids’ skin as clear as possible. They don’t need the psychological misery of acne. Hope that your DD’s goes away and that you find the right solution for her from all these suggestions.

Roaccutane was the only thing that worked for my kids. The dermatologist tried other medication first but Roaccutane has been life changing. Years later and their skin is still perfect.

@ChillinwiththeVillains my dd also on spironolactone and it has been amazing, although she is on quite a high dose and possibly experiencing some side effects - hair shedding. I would like her to reduce but understandably she is clinging on to it. Did you mean your DC just took it for 6 months and stopped? If so was skin fine after that?
(As an aside I have wondered if my PCOS symptoms might improve with it. I also had really awful acne as a teen with limited treatment. So glad there are more options for them now.)

My DD cleared hers as a teen with antibiotics (back, shoulders mainly). She got a referral to paeds dermatology clinic, although the GP can prescribe too.
Weirdly in early 20s she’s got it a bit again on her face but seems to just be using acnecide (benzoyl peroxide), which is first-line from GP anyway.

My DS had really bad cystic acne mainly in his back (thanks dh for that gene!) and he had to go on roaccutane (he resisted it for ages but finally decided and it was a year to see the dermatologist as you can’t get it prescribed by a GP). He’s just finished a 9-month course and it’s made a massive difference.

I’ve always been spot-prone. I took a tetracycline in my early 20s. It cleared it up in about 6 months but post/menopause it’s returned and acnecide seems to be helping (I went to GP and got it prescribed as I get free prescriptions).

Yes she took it for six months and then stopped and it has stayed away pretty much- in throes of GCSE panic atm so a few little spots but nothing like acne. We are militant about pillow hygiene, face washing etc.. Also uses hypochlorous acid spray post gym or workout if can’t wash straight away. Might be worth discussing coming off spironolactone with your doctor as I don’t think a break would have the same negative impact as with antibiotics. It’s so hard to know what to do, isn’t it? But as you say, so much better than back in the day.

The pill. I was on Dianette which was a miracle
pill for me, then Yasmin a few years later.

The link doesn’t work for me for some reason…would you mind naming the product so I could google please as it sounds like it’s worth a try, thanks.

Time really. Dc was quite bad from 14-17 on their face but that gradually cleared but moved to his back from 17-20. Starting to clear from there now. They use La Roche Posay cleansing products.

Sure, screenshot it for you

Silver serum - amazing stuff

My ds had to go onto Roaccutane which did work well. he is 25 now and it has come back somewhat again though which is a worry.

Dermatica they adjust the prescription based on photos