Help please....good ways to tackle acne.

[Kayteee]

Hi all,
Could you please give me any tips that worked for you/your teen. My ds1 (12) has suddenly broken out with it and he's getting very down about it (to the extent that he doesn't want to go out)

He's usually very bubbly but this seems to have got to him big time.

He has said he'll try ANYTHING which might help so we await, with hopeful hearts, your various treatments

Also, he'd like change his diet as part of the solution. Which foods would you suggest he avoids/eats? I know greasy food's a no no.
TIA

Hey,

when I was younger I had terrible acne to. I used to Fill the sink with really hot water and then steam my face and then cleanse it then put moisturiser(sp?)on it. All products were fragrance free and non greasy.

I think drinking plent of water meant to help but not sure if this is a myth.

If all else fails I think the doctor may be able to help.

Clearasil lotion works for my DS (tho I know it doesn't for everyone). Then sudocrem or similar on bad spots.

I read somewhere that avoiding greasy food and chocolate actually won't make a difference (it's the hormones causing the skin problems). But still a good idea to have a healthier diet, and the vitamins in fruit and veg will help the skin no doubt. Plus plenty of water.

Oxy face wash followed by the cream works for my DD. They've reformulated the wash now and it seems to be targeted at boys so now she uses neutrogena wash and oxy cream. Both work well.
I did some internet research when she first got spots which suggested trying benzoyl peroxide[in oxy]first and if this doesn't work to go to GP.

Thank you ladies

we are trying this as I have just done a juice detox and felt I had much better skin and hair etc.

DD1 is 13 and is down about her spots too, she is not brilliant on veg but will have most fruits so thought it was worth a try.

We have also had some really good advice and free samples from Lush which seem to do products that are not so harsh.

Thanks for that Maple...like the idea of going for a natural approach too.

Just to add, if none of the home remedies work, the doctors are very good at clearing up acne these days. DH's niece had terrible acne but went to the doctors about it a fortnight or so, and when we saw her yesterday, it had almost cleared up! I remember only too well the days that the doctors couldn't do much for acne, but I've been very impressed with how quickly hers has gone.

I know she also tried Clearasil (ordinary and the Max strength, which contains some kind of peroxide that is supposed to be good at clearing it up) but didn't find it much good tbh.

The doctors also advise washing the face twice a day with an unperfumed cleanser, to keep the skin clean. My niece has the Boots "Skin Clear" one with witch hazel.

Hope that helps...

'Freederm' bought over the counter from Boots really works.

Have you tried

Clearasil Biactol gel
Clearasil Ultra deep wash
Clean & Clear Exfoliating daily wash

my dd went through this at about 13. i went out and cleared the chemists shelf. i didn't want her to remember this - as me being tight with money. s o we bought all the well advertised lotions, and also face pads and cleanser. and as teenagers find it paricularly hard to wash - i bought her face wipes - so she could wash her face - the lazy way.

i personally think that its all a right load of bollocks - but what she thought really mattered.

I think the best thing yu can do is keep your face clean - regularly - morning and night.

for serious cases go to doctor.

if all else fails he will have to grow a long fringe.

oral antibiotics from your gp is the only way IME

my dd13 tried every over-the-counter potion and old-wives-tale, they were all pish

oxytetracycline is doing the trick (slowly)

I would totally agree - go and see his GP. I had bad spots (although not full-blown acne) for years as a teenager and tried everything - face washes, herbal medicine etc - but the only thing that worked was what was prescribed by the doctor (think I had oxytetracycline too).

Clearasil etc doesn't work at all, if anything these face washes make things worse by drying out the skin. One thing that does help though is avoiding ever touching your face with your hands which is really bad for spreading bacteria.

Even mild acne can have a terrible effect on your self-confidence and as a bloke you can't even hide behind hair/makeup so I would try and see the doctor ASAP as medication can take a little while to work.

I hope it gets sorted out soon

Agree with all above. My friend's daughter went to GP and my friend was so impressed with prescription stuff she had to be held back from stopping spotty teeagers in the street to tell them!!
BTW Clearasil strips the skin and is not good for long term apparently....

One poster reported good results for her son's acne with the oil cleansing method. Worth a try perhaps?

I waited too long with my daughter..she was 13.. and tried all sorts of OTC stuff. I felt embarrassed to take her to the GP just for spots.. but when we did the GP said that no-one needs to suffer these days and prescribed a roll on spot thing (Zirtex) that was like a miracle medicine..dries up the skin but it does sort the spots!

That was a first level line of treatment and she hasn't needed the oral stuff

I wish we had gone earlier now
Jules

My DS1 , 13 , has had spots for 2 years. So far I've kept it under control with liberal use of sudocreme but I think we are losing the battle. His back and shoulders are a mess and his forehead looks sore. I've been reluctant to go to GP as others have said. Also I recall some acne treatments have nasty side effects?
My son doesn't seem bothered which is another reason I've not pushed it but I think I'm going to drag him along to see GP

ketsugo