Acne !

[wordsareveryunnecessary]

DS (now 15) has tried Acnecide/ charcoal products/ salicylic acid products and several rounds of antibiotics. He still has angry acne and lots of whiteheads/blackheads. Is there anything that actually works?

Topical Retin-A has been helpful for my teen. It does need to be on prescription and it takes a while to work - things only got better about 6 weeks in and after she’s moved up to nightly application but it’s been good. She still has spots here and there but they’re “normal” rather than OMG look at your skin. They also only last a few days.

The downside is that things can get worse before better - it speeds up cell turnover so there’s a “purge” period where all the bad stuff waiting to come to the surface comes out all at once which is hard psychologically, but worth it overall if it works.

I second Retin-A or Tretinoin. I got my prescription off Dermatica as you can do it online.

This was after courses of roaccutane and using Tretinoin afterwards is the only thing that has kept the acne away.

I suffered from acne from teenage years until a couple of years ago..and I'm almost 32.

Go to the GP.

Hydrocortisone

Spironlactone was a godsend for DD. Plus azelaic acid cream. Nothing else worked. A dermatologist has to prescribe though , not a GP, so ask for a referral.

You can’t use spironolactone in males.

@nolongersurprised

You can’t use spironolactone in males.

So sorry. I didn’t know that. Wish I had better advice.

Roaccutane. I had 3 years of antibiotics, meds, prescription creams, gels and lotions until I was finally referred to a dermatologist and got roaccutane. It needs a dermatologist to prescribe it so if you dont want to do NHS waiting lists then you need to go private. It's a difficult medicine and takes some commitment to managing side effects but I found it fine and it cures acne permanently 99% of the time

The only thing that worked for my son was Roaccutane.

My DD 13 was prescribed lymecycline which is an antibiotic specifically used for acne and she was given benzoyl peroxide as a topical adjunct

Her skin which was bad started to clear after 3 weeks and after 3 months sorted itself out.

Years ago I was prescribed roaccutane as a teen and it was magical- it cleared my acne permanently and changed my life.

So OP go to your GP and he should prescribe lymecycline immediately then after 3 months if it hasn't worked he needs to go in roacuttane

Meanwhile Cerave SA is a good calming facewash to use daily with a clean flannel in the shower

He's currently using Doxycycline. I have taken him to the GP twice

Roaccutane and Niacinamide 10% , from an adult acne sufferer who suffered since a teenager

Roaccutane not a good idea as DS has.adhd and it seems it can have some depressive type side effects ?

we've used clear start from dermalogica to clear up current outbreak.