Teenage boy acne

[SayWhatTheWhatNow]

Can anyone help me with products that work
Definitely do not want to go down the Roaccutane route at the moment
He's 15 and been spotty for a year
We have various things we have been using but it doesn't seem to clear
I feel I'm constantly nagging him to use them so they obviously don't bother him but I don't want them to get too bad for him

DS found his skin very upsetting went to the GP and they worked their way through the sliding scale of medications - he ended up needing a referral to a Derm and getting Roaccutane.
Dd did the same thing - first rung on the ladder worked for her.

I think you should go have a chat with your GP together, see what your options are.

If my DS uses La Roche Posay Effaclar range then it really keeps his skin under control. The difficulty is getting him to use it regularly. You can get a starter kit.
www.boots.com/la-roche-posay-effaclar-anti-blemish-2-step-kit-10263626

DS has been on Lymecycline for about 9 months now. It's kept a lot of his spots at bay - although his skin isn't totally clear it's greatly improved.

Both my boys cut out dairy, so plant milk in drinks and cereal. Acne cleared up really quickly.

We tried the diet route too but it didn't help. Dairy and sugar often makes things worse.

my DS after many years of refusing medication for the problem is on Lymecycline and its made a massive difference.

My DS tried dermalogica, has cut out dairy but it made no real difference. Went to GP and after being offered milder options first (which didn't work for us) we went for roaccutane - it worked wonders and after 6months treatment there is no trace of anything at all.

I would deffo go to the drs. Ours was really nice about it - said look mate, no one wants or needs to have spots, let’s get it sorted. We got Duac, which is the first line they try I think and it worked v well. Within about 2 weeks DS was a lot better and he uses it off and on (we have a repeat prescription). I’m really glad we moved on from over the counter stuff.

Thanks everyone for the replies
He's quite shy, I think he would refuse a drs appointment. Although mine are still doing mostly phone consults so I may persuade him that way.
He says they don't bother him but I don't know if he's just trying to blasé about it

Look at the reviews for Nip and Fab, it's brilliant! They do a teenage range too.

@SayWhatTheWhatNow

Thanks everyone for the replies He's quite shy, I think he would refuse a drs appointment. Although mine are still doing mostly phone consults so I may persuade him that way. He says they don't bother him but I don't know if he's just trying to blasé about it

We had a zoom call the doctor was lovely - if you get to that point - which I personally was against but we tried everything, ask around to find a lovely derm - tell them beforehand that teen is embarrassed and they need to go easy.

My ds16 had v bad skin and had to go off to a new school in September with a chin covered in spots, but I think he’s turned a corner. You can photograph and send to gp at the moment, then call to discuss. No need for him to go in person.

I think the thing is as well I don't want to make him feel like they are an issue if they really aren't to him if you know what I mean?

SayWhat with mine, I just said that they could let me know if they wanted me to ring the Dr, it was up to them to decide when. Although, with DS2 I'm making the decision for him as his have arrived during lockdown and got really bad and he's only 12 (DS1 and DD were older than this before their acne started). There are lots of options to try, topical and oral, and I've found Drs to be really supportive. My eldest DS couldn't tolerate roaccutane, even the lowest dose, because it triggered severe nosebleeds and then had an awful allergic reaction to the antibiotics they prescribed instead. So he now has a different cream and his spots are much reduced. We have another antibiotic lined up if he gets to the point of wanting more help again, but I'm really hoping as he's nearing 18 that he might be coming out the other side now. So, it's a case of trial and error to find what works, but just let your DS know that if his skin bothers him then there are things you can do to help him.

Both mine ended up on roaccutane having tried lymecicline unsuccessfully.

It was a resounding success. Side effects are very worrying, but the overwhelming success it achieved gave hugely positive mental boost and improved confidence no end.

The only side effect has been dry lips, and ds had a few nose bleeds.

Ds is younger, he started on low dose roaccutane just before he was 14. At this point his hair and skin would be dripping in grease and when the spots started on his back I asked him if he wanted us to see what else the doctor could offer.

I was vvv worried due to the side effects, but thought as it was winter and yr9 so a good time to start as no real exam pressure and could hibernate over winter and come out fresh faced for summer.

Dd was more worried, but saw the huge success ds was having, so she started at the beginning of L6th. Again, timed to be less over winter and a less stressful time of her life compared with exam period of Yr 11 or u6.

Clear skin has given them the confidence boost they needed.

Please chat through with a Derm for the options available. We went private for both ours as this was the quickest option.

[quote Deux]If my DS uses La Roche Posay Effaclar range then it really keeps his skin under control. The difficulty is getting him to use it regularly. You can get a starter kit.
www.boots.com/la-roche-posay-effaclar-anti-blemish-2-step-kit-10263626[/quote]
Based on this post we ordered the la Roche posay as Ds(16) spots are spreading from t-zone to cheeks and neck. I ordered the skin care for men version which is just a sticker on the normal version 🤣 but haven't told ds this as he likes the idea of its for men 🙄

He has been using both products morning and night for just a week so far, his skin looks less shiny, more matt. Nose pores look a bit cleaner/smaller. Face spots still there but hard/drier which I hope it's on the way to disappearing, he has committed to using for 4 weeks as a trial, so will keep going 🤞🏼