Any suggestions? My 15 year old son Jake has been suffering with acne for a couple of years now, and it's getting worse. Previously just his face, it's now spreading down his back and chest. I spend a fortune each month on various lotions, potions and skin wipes, but nothing seems to have much effect, and it's beginning to get him down.
The Doctor put him on long-term antibiotics, but after taking them for about 6 weeks, he was getting horrible stomach pains, so stopped taking them (they weren't having much effect anyway). I have every intention of taking him to the doc again, but just wondered if anyone had any ideas what to use? I have read a little about Roaccutane, but I don't like the sound of it, would prefer something topical if we can get something to work.
Thanks, Mandy.
I tried the antibiotics and accutane. Nothing worked. I used the prescription face washes for a while, but they were very harsh on my skin causing it to get very dry and sore. Then from as I got older, it got better. I would just use a acne soap, astrigent, and cream every night. During the day I used some dial soap (antibacterial hand soap). For about the past 4 years this has worked the best for me. For his case though, he may need the soap washes or accutane.
When I was a teenager (eons ago) I had very bad acne. The lotions and antibiotics provided by my doctor didn't work. I found the only thing that worked was a 10% solution of benzoyl peroxide. (A patch test is vital with this as my sister was very allergic to it - a small bit on her chin swelled her eyes shut for 3 days!). I don't know if this is still available these days as it's a pretty strong solution.
Despite what the telly adverts say acne is not usually caused by having a dirty face, it's just down to teenage hormones so keeping his face very clean can't hurt but it's not going to cure it.
If he has the stereotypical teenage diet then adding some fruit and vegetables etc might help - not because acne is caused by a bad diet but just because a good diet will help his immune system be in a good condition and more able to fight off infection.
Most people grow out of acne eventually (I know this is no help to him now though) and I've found that having the naturally greasy skin which made me more prone to acne as a teenager means that at 44 I have no wrinkles and my mum at 76 has only 1 or 2.
That 10% solution of benzoyl peroxide is still avilable to my knowledge. Here in the US it requires a doctors prescription. I used this a while back. It dries out the skin something horrible, so if he uses it, use a moisturizer with it. Also the doctor told me to wear sun screen every day while using this product, and there was a warning on the label. So to hit 2 birds with one stone, I got a lotion with sun screen in it.
Last edited by Kris; 01-20-2008 at 06:16 PM.
Reason: of course my spelling
Thanks Kris and Jane. I've got a Doc's appointment for Jake on the 29th, so we'll see what he comes up with. I'm really reluctant to let him take Roaccutane, the more I read the less I like the sound of it.
Jane, you may have a point about his diet. It's not the worst in the world, but it's by no means the best either. He eats only one veg, broccolli, although he does enjoy fruit, he could do with upping his intake a little. No excuse there, we always have 2 full bowls of fresh fruit in the house.
It may be worth me enquiring about the benzoyl peroxide, although with caution, Jake has quite a few allergies,and moderate/severe asthma, and I don't want an added triggers for that.
I'll let you know what the doc says, in the meantime we may have a chat about diet/acne connections! If he thinks it may improve it, I'm sure he'll make more of an effort. Problem is when they get to 15, you don't have the same control over what they're eating outside the house.
There is a product here in the US called Proactive. My brother suffered from awful acne as a teenager and once he started using this treatment....it's a cleaner, toner and cream....he totally cleared up. If he lagged or got lazy, the acne came back, but once he got back on the the program it really worked. I think it's like $40 US a month. All sorts of celebrities endorse it here....I don't know if you can get it in the UK, but might be worth a shot. They even sell it at kiosks in the mall here.
Mandy,
Jill beat me to it but I too was going to say proactive. I never have used it but I have a few friends that do and they swear by it. Other people I have talked to is passing have had nothing but great things to say about it too. I saw an article and it was rated the number one acne treatment. Take a look at that site. It might be worth a try.
It has to be tough for Jake. I really hope you can find something that helps him.
Thanks Jill. I've had a look at the site, and it can be ordered from the UK. It's pretty expensive, £39.90 per month, but when I add up all the money I've wasted on stuff that doesn't work, it would probably be worth it. I've never heard of it before, and if I'd found the site by accident I would have probably just thought it was someone out to make money, but it's different when people you know actually recommend something. They also offer a 60 day money back guarantee if it doesn't help, so that's got to make it worth a shot.
I'm gonna hang fire till we've seen the doc next week, but if he doesn't come up with something that helps, I will definitely order it. Thanks again.
Last edited by Mands; 01-30-2008 at 03:53 AM.
Reason: typo
The bottles may seem small, but your supposed to use the product sparingly. So you will have to let your son know that. My brothers went through a bottle in a week instead of a month.
Hi mand. My daughter used proactive when she was 12. I found out after cancelling, that there is a sensitive formula so if your son has sensitive skin see if they have that formula. and you really need to follow the directions. my daughter always used too much and it bothered her skin. we did stop due to it being expensive, guess thats why the stars can use it all the time! it is a good product, if you can afford it! good luck!
Well, we went to the doc's. He gave him a prescription for Zineryt, which is to be applied twice a day directly to the affected skin. The doc did say if this doesn't help there is another lotion to try, or a different oral antibiotic. I have decided that I don't want him to have long term oral antibiotics though, I worry about him developing resistance, he is limited as it is because of a pennicillin allergy.
The doc did say there is a lot of success with light therapy, so may refer him to a dermatologist to try that, if necessary.
He also said 2 weeks before we notice any improvement, but within just a few days a lot of the inflammation has calmed down, so fingers crossed!
