12 yr old DS - very bad spots

[threedeer]

I searched this but only found a zombie thread so starting again.

What do I do? He forgot to wash his face last night (uses a sensitive Clearasil gel wash when he remembers usually) and now he has outbreaks everywhere. He is not a confident boy at the best of times, and it doesn't help that his brother is super confident and never gets spots.

What's the best treatment out there and what's the best thing to say to stop him feeling down about them?

Try to GP. Mine was v helpful and prescribed some antibiotic lotion - it's much better now.

I agree with Claybury, please take him to the doctor. I had acne from that age and it really knocked my self confidence.

Go to the GP. Stop faffing with washes etc, they don't really make any difference .

He needs to be fully on board though and be in charge of his treatment be it lotion or tablets.

My teenage son uses Clearasil wipes - the wipes seem more convenient than washes for teenage boys. But yes agree with GP if it's bad

Quinoderm actually works for acne - try the mild one first
GP is good advice

Definitely take him to the GP. There are lots of treatments out there.

DS1 had acne at around that age & I knew he was quite sensitive about it. I was taking him to see the GP about something else, and I just said to him we should mention the acne while we were there, which DS agreed to. The GP was great & prescribed oral antibiotics and a prescription cream which worked really well & the acne cleared up quite quickly.

I think DS took the antibiotics for about a year and a half until the GP was confident that the acne wasn't going to come back.

GP, definitely. Also, try the mouth ulcer zapper machine from Lloyds pharmacy online- it emits infrared light, which kills the bacteria that promote acne. People have miraculous results with it if you google. As I say, Lloyds are doing a gadget for the silly price of £4.49 at the moment, and it's even on two-for-one. Have a search for Acne + Red Light Therapy if you're interested.

We've been using germolene healing cream, a new version of the original. I was given something with the same extra ingredient abroad, tried it on skin and it worked. Dd has cleared hers by cleansing and applying it.

Take him to docs or derm for advice. Others on here will offer bits and bobs of conflicting info but u need an expert to decide what the problems are with his skin in order to decide on best treatment.

I agree with other posters who say go to the GP.

Washes and otc creams can help a little, but if he has bad spots then the GP will be able to prescribe something stronger to clear them up. Most likely antibiotics - in the form of a cream or even oral antibiotics.

It isn't something he has to put up with .

Thank you all. Loads of great ideas here. Think I'll get hold of the red light thing and make an appointment with GP for him.

I know this is an old thread but for people looking for answers try the witch blemish stick it cleared some of my bad acne up

I am a GP.
I am a great anti-acne scarring/confidence issues campaigner...
Acne scarring should be a thing of the last century now ! There are steps in the war on acne. Firstly the whole washing and mild bleach stuff, secondly the topical products, then you have the stronger stuff that basically peels/turns the skin layer over faster than normal and or antibiotics by mouth (long term) then you have the gold standard which is roaccutane...retinoid that causes the skin to turn over...just keep at each step for 6-12 weeks before upping to the next step...cure it !