Help with teenage spots

[Hazey19]

My 13 year olds face is covered in spots and we ve tried everything. I feel so bad for them as I suffered at that age and it was horrible. They are really self conscious about it and none of their friends are suffering the spot stage yet so they feel pretty alone. They are very good at keeping themselves clean and shower once sometimes twice a day, also washing face twice a day. Have tried most things but just wondering if anyone has any tips or recommendations of something which will work on teenage spots please?

I went through this with my dd1 and seems it’s going the same way with dd2 as well. I was spotty so it seems it’s in the genes unfortunately.
i spent ££££ on trying all sorts of creams, vitamins and minerals with my dd1. Acnecide is a good brand to try at home- they do a gel that is similar to one of the creams you can get from the gp.
if you try a couple of the over the counter things then I’d see the gp. We went through the usual antibiotics, differin and duac creams and then ended up on the heavy stuff- to roaccutane. Thankfully that seems to have worked and we are now 2 years down the line without a problem.
while dd2 has spots she’s not bothered by them (at the moment). It’s really hard for them and dd1 really struggled with self confidence during this time x
hope you find some answers

Salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide products helped ds for a while (we used La Roche Possay Duo and Acnecide), they both work on the bacteria so take several weeks to kick in.

After that he went to the GP and was prescribed DUAC which worked really well for a year. They took him off that and moved him to antibiotics and Epiduo (pharmacist said it would be cost related) and his face exploded and was uncontrollable even when they tried to return to DUAC and GP gave up.

He was put on the NHS dermatology waiting last October and still haven’t heard anything back yet.

His skin was really bad, face, neck, chest and shoulders and I was worried about scarring so we went private. My work health insurance paid for the 3 consultations and we paid the private roaccutane prescriptions (~ £500 for around 22 weeks) and his face has now been clear of new spots for 4 months, still waiting to see if scars heal.

I would try the Salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide products if you haven’t already, don’t waste time with lots of different products. If they don’t help keep the spots at bay start the ball rolling with your GP.

I really feel for you both. We have been in a similar position. We are not completely clear (dd 15) but have found the following to be the most beneficial:

1. The Ordinary niacinamide serum. This is cheap and easy to use and does help. It was actually recommended by our GP as being one of the best over the counter products. The other Ordinary products (cleanser and oil free moisturiser also excellent)

1. Changing pillowcase every day and making sure bedding is changed once a week. This has really helped, particularly with back area.

1. Similarly using a clean flannel for every face wash

1. Lymecycline antibiotic. No side effects to date and seems to be helpful. One tablet a day via GP. We are one month in.

Hope some of this helps and that things improve.

Thanks so much some really good suggestions here. I actually use the ordinary stuff myself so I may give that to him to try too. Feel so bad for them don’t you! Thanks again xx

I’ve been to boots and bought the whole of that acnecide range so will try tonight. Thanks again x

Be aware that the Acnecide stuff will bleach flannels, towels and pillowcases - basically anything it comes into contact with.

We've found CeraVe blemish control cleanser and Thyme Out spray pretty good. Active Silver face wash worked well for a while but got gradually less effective.

Don’t overdo it with the acnecide - it is very harsh, drying stuff and you really do need to be careful to introduce it slowly. It doesn’t agree with everyone, especially those who have sensitive skin - all it did for DD was wreck her skin barrier and make the acne worse

Try 47 skin, it has worked wonders for my daughter and it also does a body wash

Ok thank you, he just used the wash and cream last night. Maybe I’ll do one off/one on with this x

i saw this brand and was going to try actually - what would you recommend please?

Hi silver serum from amazon helped my son's acne. I tried 47 skin, but it didn't help. I see a previous poster had success though so I think it's trial and error and findingvwhat suits. The sunshine is currently helping a lot with his spots as well.

My daughter has started the 47 skin serum last week and there is a noticeable change already in her spots. The inflammation seems to be settling down alot.

GP - there's many options. You don't have to spend ££££ over time on stuff that makes little difference.

Prescription antibiotic and skin cream for ds, his skin is clear as a bell now. Previously really sore/spotty and did wonder if he might have some scaring, but clear as a bell now.

I have tried several brands for my 12 year old including acnecide that I didn't want to use as it's harsh.
It didn't work
Has the best success with inaessentials probiotic lavender and mint water. They do a kit with soap too. Also Paula's choice salycilic acid.

Big yes to the Paula’s Choice salicylic - it is miracle stuff. Only needs to be used about twice a week to see results

When you say 'tried everything' - have you tried going to the GP?

This is a medical problem, not a try different brands of toiletries problem.

There are multiple highly effective prescription treatments available.

Savlon. Morning and night an absolute game changer for acne and cheap.

I've found cleansing oil helps. Cleans skin thoroughly but doesn't dry it out and make skin produce more oil to compensate

Go doctors and get topical antibiotic lotion. It’s like a roll on - can’t remember what it’s called. Worked on my kids.

Boy or girl? DD has tried everything- acnecide, various cerave concoctions, the ordinary, Paula's choice, simple, Duac, epiduo, Lymecycline and Levest, (not sure why on earth the GP prescribed this, as it's not a pill that is recommended for acne). Nothing made a jot of difference and her skin just kept getting worse. Her acne is definitely hormonal, (forehead clear, nose not too bad, chin and jawline awful, big red and cyst like spots all over her lower face). Anyway, at my insistence, the GP has prescribed Dianette, which is a contraceptive pill that has been shown to improve hormonal acne. We're only two weeks in, but I can see a slight improvement 🤞🤞🤞.
Not sure what we will do if it doesn't work out- we're not keen on roaccutane as she already has MH issues.
Anyway, what I'm getting at is if your DC is a girl, hormonal medicine could be an option.

@Hazey19 yes I would definitely recommend it, it's made a huge difference to my daughters skin, she obviously still gets spots but no where near as many as before and a lot smaller and calmer. She used to come out in boil like spots on her face before this. We buy the cleanser, serum and face mask and also have the body wash now. I can tell when she has stopped at her friends for a few days and not taken her face wash with her

Thank you, he’s a boy. But I do remember having the dianette pill when I was a teenager in the hope it would clear up. I think it worked from memory! X

Tried savlon on a few recommendations but unfortunately it made them worse. I think it might be ok for the odd spot maybe? But not for my sons skin anyway x

Yes I have tried this too. But I don’t think we were consistent enough with it x

Thanks everyone for some really helpful advice. Hes been using the acnecide for about a week now and it’s working fingers crossed. You can see a difference already. I am mindful however it is very harsh and as one person warned me - it has stained the towels. Something we can live with if it continues to work. And he seems a lot happier already, thanks again everyone xx