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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Spots, spots and MORE spots

24 replies

Lisa78 · 03/05/2004 20:08

DS1 is 15 and for the last year has been afflicted with the dreaded spots. I got him some tea tree facial wash and spot cream from the body shop, and he has made an effort with his diet

But it doesn't seem to be having any real effect and now he is getting them down his back and shoulders, in and behind his ears and even on his scalp

Is it worth taking him to the GP with this - I don't want to bother the doctor if there isn't anything they can do for him, but I thought the pattern of it might indicate its acne, rather than a few spots, and that they could do something about it

Anyone able to help please?

OP posts:
hmb · 03/05/2004 20:12

Yes, take him to see the doctor. He/she can prescribe antibiotics. These can be very sucessful but they do take time to kick in, so if he needs them the sooner he starts the better. If the problem is very bad then the doc can refer your son to a consultant who can used other treatments , such as roaccutane, which can be very helpful. Bad acne is a real problem and one that deserves to be taken seriously.

Re the diet thing, it is a myth that chocolate or a fatty diet causes spots. Hope that things get better soon.

WSM · 03/05/2004 20:20

The GP will come up with allsorts, most of it helpful, some of it anti-biotic (do you really want him on anti-b's for the next 3-5 years?).

I had iffy skin when I was a teenager and was prescribed a cream called PAN-OXYL 5 (Benzoyl Peroxide 5%), it comes in various formulations (cream, more liquid gel and another one, which I can't remember). Pan Oxyl is now available over the counter which is great and I think you can also get it in 10% (Pan Oxyl 10, stronger) over the counter, too. The one thing I will say is that it is very drying to the skin and he will have to use a fragrance free moisturiser along with it. I have tried quite a few of the GP/over the counter meds for this and have found Pan-Oxyl to be the best by far.

Have a word with your local pharmacist, they are likely to be just as helpful as your GP and hopefully it'll do the trick.

I now use witch hazel stick by 'witch' (about £2.70 for 10g) and I find that quite effective too.

IT may not be his idea of macgho skin care but I also find that T-Zone tea tree facial masks (come in sachets from Boots etc) are great when used once a week. I started using them when my skin went bonkers and I still use them now as a gentle detox. 10 mins a weeks in the privacy of his own room with one of those on his much will do him the power of good, if he's willing.

Original poster
Lisa78 · 03/05/2004 20:20

thanks hmb, you know its a myth and I know its a myth but DS1 and his crappy sugar and fat laden diet, thought it would help - and who am I to disabuse him of the fact

But in terms of diet, he has started eating vegetables, tuna sandwiches and so on, rather than sweets, chips etc more of the time

Haven't I heard that roaccutane can have some nasty side effects?

OP posts:
hmb · 03/05/2004 20:29

It can, which is why it can only be prescribed by a consultant and it is only used in the most severe cases. It can potentialy cause liver damage (small numbers of cases reported) and patients have their liver function monitored while they are on the drug. There is also the very real chance of foetal abnormality of a woman gets pg while taking it, so they have to use a good form of contraception. I don't know what the rules are for boys tbh.

That said it can have amazing results. A friend of mine when on it. She had the most awful cyst like acne, which caused her much pain and scarring. The results were a near miracle.

The doc can also prescribe topical drugs which are similar to ro-acutane, if it is the 'right ' type.

But if it is a problem for him I would uge you to get him to the gp. Acne can be a major probelm for kids, and can cause physical and emotional scarring if not handled well. If it is bad then it goes beyond the 'normal' crop of spots and needs to be treated appropriatly. Antibioltic may not be everyone's cup of tea, but they can work for some and are worth considering.

And you are right about the imrpvements in his gerenal diet. They wount help the acne, but they will help everything else.

WSM · 03/05/2004 20:32

I agree that troublesome skin can ruin your teenage years, well done you for helping him seek an alternative

Original poster
Lisa78 · 03/05/2004 20:37

I think we will see what the GP suggests then - none of the spots he has seems to have caused any scarring but I think a year of this is quite long enough to put up with it, poor darling

To be honest, he has handled it very well, he hasn't let it affect his confidence but I know he is upset now they have spread to his back as well, despite all his efforts. Hopefully, the GP will be able to help with something topical, rather than oral drugs

OP posts:
hmb · 03/05/2004 20:40

And there are lots that he can try. TBH they vary in sucess from patient to patien, what works well for one person, isn't so good for another. So he'll need lots of support if things don't go well immediatly. But with a great mum like you he'll be fine!

It is crappy thing to happen to any kid, let's face it teenage years are hard enough to cope with as it is And people sometimes think that it is 'just a few spots', not the case.

Original poster
Lisa78 · 03/05/2004 20:46

thanks for the vote of confidence - next time he flounces off to his room and slams the door, I'll shout up the stairs "OY, I'm a great mum"

OP posts:
carla · 03/05/2004 20:52

I had, what can only be desribed as 'boils' on my face from 33 -35. GP prescribed topcal ointment for them, then they disappared completely. Had a chum 'round last night who reminded me of them,though Even got one on my wedding 'photo

Janh · 04/05/2004 10:22

medinfo page on acne, Lisa. There's a link on it to StopSpots which is "aimed at adolescents" - looks useful!

Poor lad . Hope you can find something that works.

serenequeen · 04/05/2004 10:30

completely agree with everything hmb says - were you a sufferer?

Original poster
Lisa78 · 05/05/2004 20:51

thanks for those links, they are Excellent!

No, I get the odd spot - though more lumps and bumps under the skin than actual spots, you know, the sort of complexion you want to air brush!! But I never had spots all over my face and neither did my sisters

He sees the doctor a week on Friday, so fingers crossed

OP posts:
misdee · 05/05/2004 21:10

if he finds something that works over the counter, let me know as i suffer badly now with spots, even tho i didnt throughout my teenage years.

Original poster
Lisa78 · 05/05/2004 21:14

not fair - you shouldn't start getting spots when you are getting wrinkles

OP posts:
Branster · 05/05/2004 21:20

although approaching 30, i still get spots myself. annoying, but not much i can do about it. i found using pure tea tree oil on the spots does heal them fast. the trick is to apply the oil on clean skin, as soon as you notice a spot is about to appear there. it smells awful but it does the trick. another useful product was one from Neutrogena (a gel for spots), again effective, only use very small amount of the gel as soon as you notice the spots. however, i take on board the fact that your son's condition might well be more seroius, especially with all those hormones they get at this age (bless!) so worth asking the gp for something. i remember from my teenage years being adviced not to use drying soaps on my face , and probably the best soap for him to use on his face would be Johnson baby soap (can't harm), I don't personally think most of the 'specialised' off-the shelf products work that much. He'll get better and he'll have wonderful skin soon!

Original poster
Lisa78 · 05/05/2004 21:24

Thanks Branster, he tried some common sense things and then I got him the Body shop Tea tree stuff, but it hasn't helped much - the spots go a bit faster, but he still looks like he has chicken pox! And now they are on his back, in his ears, head etc, I think its time he sees the GP. Obviously its not life threatening and he is dealing with it really well, but I don't want to start experimenting with lots of different creams and soaps etc, particularly since you have to give them a good few weeks to take effect.

OP posts:
Branster · 05/05/2004 21:30

you're very sensible. i was actually reffering to the pure tea tree oil (which is useful around the house anyway) and it doesn't have bad effects on the skin on its own. only use a little bit because it does work. i was thinking perhaps spending time at the seaside would greatly improve his skin appearance (sun and sea water, fresh air). i raelly feel for him. it's so bad to have to deal with such a problem at 15 when there are so many other issues to deal with and everything seems so important to them. good luck!

Branster · 05/05/2004 21:31

you find it at health food shops or independent chemists. sorry to go on about it

hmb · 06/05/2004 18:40

No, other than the odd spot or two, the teenage years were OK. Ironically I am a bit more spotty now I'm in my 40's! I had two friends with the most awful acne, that left them scarred. I also worked for a drugs company that made some topical acne treatments, and we used to get the most heart rending letters from kids that were realy upset as a result of acne. When it is serious it needs to be taken seriously. Now I teach and I see just how upset some kids can be.

shrub · 06/05/2004 19:20

my heart felt sympathy to your ds1. i had mild acne in my 20's tried everything including antibiotics.i believe a combination of 3 things that cleared it up completely

  1. roaccutane - i was put on the very lowest dosage and went privately and felt for the first time problem was taken seriously.
  2. helen sher system see website if interested, i bought the information video which advocates splashing face with warm water 20 times twice a day, patting dry with clean towel. ( i added unrefined salt to the water and 3 drops of lavender). also drink half a pint of warm water before and after each meal. 3.since finishing 3 month course of roaccutane i have used comfort and joy 'oh no oh yes'(there is a website) natural oil treatment whenever i get a tiny spot which then has gone by morning.
  3. weleda do a baby oil which contains calendula, chamomile and sunflower oil, no chemicals which i now use as a moisturiser best of luck
Original poster
Lisa78 · 14/05/2004 20:22

I have been to the GP with DS1 tonight and explained that he has had these for about a year and despite facial washes and improvements to his diet, they are worse if anything and spreading
The GP was really lovely with him, he has given him hibiscrub facial wash and a low dose antibiotic and explained that it will take a few weeks to have any effect, but said he wants to see him again in 3 months
He has also given him some website addresses - the BBC health one, and said everytime he goes to the loo and washes his hands, to splash his face with water and pat it dry, not rub,to remove the excess oil. He said it was hormonal and bacterial and the antibiotics would work for the hormonal side, the hibiscrub for the bacterial side. He was really good with DS1, he took it as seriously as if he had gone in with a chest infection or whatever. He has stressed it would take a few weeks to have any sort of effect, but DS1 seems very relieved. He has coped with it really well and not let it get him down - or not that he has admitted to me, but he is certainly one happy chappy tonight
Thanks everyone for your advice, I showed it to DS1 at the time and he seemed to take quite a boost from it - I don't think he realised the doctor could do so much for him!

OP posts:
suedonim · 14/05/2004 20:51

That's excellent news, Lisa. The a/b's do need time. I had a course when I started getting a lot of spots in my 30's. I was also nervous about seeing a GP but she was very sympathetic. I had either 3 or 6 mths (can't recall now!) of antibiotics and that stopped the problem completely.

hmb · 14/05/2004 21:02

I'm so glad that the GP was supportive.

Hope things clear up asap.

ali3 · 25/08/2004 08:45

I took my teenager to see a homeopath. She prescribed a remedy which she said was to purify the blood. We also had some other remedies for general skin condition. The effect was truly amazing and I would definitely suggest you give this a go. The effect seemed to last for about half a term and then we would have some more. The chemist sells homeopathic preparations for skin conditions - also worth a go, but I think those that are prescribed by a homeopath are stronger. My 15yr old son - big pus-filled spots - just vanished. Give it a go.

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