Teenager son skin woes - any advice?

[DenmotherSmith]

My fourteen year old son is really suffering with very spotty skin with as he says a 'gazzillion blackheads'!. He tries very hard to keep his face clean, is using the Neutrogena spot clear range, drinks lots of water and has a very healthy diet but all to no avail. It is really getting him down so I am considering finding a dermatologist and /or going to the GP. Has anyone any experience of this or a local dermatologist they could recommend. If there is a product that has worked for your teen I would love to hear it. He has heard a lot of "this is just a teen thing, it will get better" from me and his dad but his confidence is taking such a hit I just want to help him. Any advice most appreciated.

[bornagain]

Your poor son, ghastly isn't it?

My teen has similar problems and she uses this. Quite pricey but it does work. May not clear all but enough to make a real difference.

http://www.skinmed.co.uk/uk/AKNICARE__4_Product_System_with_Remover.html

[Otta]

Been a while since I was a teenager, but defo go to the GP. Remember a friend who's mum was a GP telling me she'd prescribed him some tablets which had really cleared his face up.

[BellendenBear]

Definitely go to GP. There are lots of treatment options for acne (not cures) but they all take a few weeks or months to work so best to start sooner rather than later. You will be taken seriously and not just dismissed as a 'normal teenage problem' as severe acne can leave scars.

Also look at British Assoc of Dermatologists website bad.org.uk

[GinaG3]

If you would prefer to go the natural root.. My sister had really bad acne for a long time. She keeps it under control by avoiding what she found to be a trigger, milk/white chocolate. She also spent a lot of money on treatment options that didn't involve medication, dermatology or GPs. She invested in one of these https://www.google.co.uk/shopping/product/13507208416458947004?q=clarisonic&client=safari&rls=en&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.62788935,d.ZGU,pv.xjs.s.en_US.UTNq5j5_43M.O&biw=1097&bih=674&tch=1&ech=1&psi=CfseU7SOKPDd7QbOiIHYCw.1394539274254.3&ei=EvseU-fpEqmw7Aaws4BY&ved=0CKkBEKYrMAc as soon as they were available, shipping straight from america and its been a savour to her skin. You may be able to pick up a Clarisonic on eBay for much less than you pay new. My sister is now 22 and the difference in her skin is remarkable considering no medical intervention. She also gets natural papaya 'paw paw' ointment, this is big in australia and can be shipped for around ?9.95 a tube. Green tea is good for drawing out toxins and I know a lot of people with acne drink it daily.

He will grow out of it, most people do. The key is to find out what is triggering it, in teenagers its generally hormone changes but it can be a 'sensitivity' as well and that should always be considered.

[jennyh]

Not the same but I have suffered with skin issues my whole life (psoriasis) and after seeing all sorts of people I found success with homeopathy. Tried steroid applications, dieticians, skin specialists, allergy testing but the natural route worked and I was quite astonished. Depends if you like a natural route or something more traditional. The only thing I would say is some treatments can be very harsh on the skin and as I've got older I have found my skin more sensitive to strong chemicals. Hopefully he will feel more confident with a bit of help. Being a teenager is hard!!

[DenmotherSmith]

Thanks for all the fantastic advice. Have made appointment with GP. Appreciate the PMs nice to hear there are things working for others he can try.

[tomo]

My brother had very bad acne as a teenager. After trying all the usual treatments, he eventually took roaccutane, which is a pretty harsh treatment, but it did work. It did really effect his confidence as a teenager and with hindsight I think my mum would have pushed for a more effective treatment earlier than she did. Best of luck!

[Saffron]

I've had teen and adult acne. Tbh, I didn't necessarily find dermatologists all that helpful. You need to find a dermatologist that specialises more in skin care than skin disease. IPL was the treatment that cleared up my skin the best for the longest. Proactiv brand products are also very good. https://www.proactiv.co.uk/

Roaccutane (isotretinoin) is really only used to treat severe cystic acne, or lesser types of acne that are refractory to all other treatments. This is due to the fact that Accutane has a rather nasty set of side effects that can occur even at lower doses, including inhibition of bone growth. So if you want to go down the Accutane route for such a young teen, be sure you get a second opinion on the dose and duration of treatment, and keep your child closely monitored for adverse effects. xx

[EmilyPie]

I think I remember hearing on embarrassing bodies that dairy can exacerbate acne? Worth checking though as I'm not 100%

[Loz334]

I had acne as a teenager and tried many different treatments from the GP. They would work for a bit and then it would just come back. I tried homeopathy but I didn't see any difference. At 19 I asked my GP for a referral to a dermatologist that my cousin saw. She'd been given roaccutane and her skin cleared up. I really had to be persistent

To get it prescribed but with one course of it my skin cleared. It meant a few months of even worse skin to begin with as I was warned it gets worse before it gets better but worth it for the end result.

Definitely worth exploring treatments with the GP. You might find something that works without having to go down that route as it can have side effects.

Good luck!

[fl0wer]

My OH's severe facial acne eventually cleared up one summer in his early 20's, when he went to S. France grape-picking and the sunshine was a fantastic help.

Viewed one way, teenagers 'ugly phases' repel sexual attention therefore can be protective if a youngster feels s/he is not ready for closeness and wants a bit longer to grow up.

The important thing might be to understand and allow for this. Rushing to cure that spotty mask, by medicating it harshly out of existence often makes someone find another symptom they can hide behind.

As for hormones and whether dairy is healthy,

soya is not said to be a brilliant alternative as it boosts certain oestrogen-type nutrients. In 2006 Felicity Lawrence wrote at length about it here => http://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/jul/25/food.foodanddrink

Intensive farming & complex import networks mean milk, butter, cheese, and meat could easily contain aggravating chemicals and drug traces.

Specially in adolescence the inner balance is already very sensitive.

Paying the little bit extra for organic seems worthwhile, not just for the planet but for personal health.

[healey]

Quinoderm 5 or 10 cream (Benzoyl Peroxide) around the sides of the nose, chin and mouth. Worked a treat for me and still occasionally use a dab even though my teenage years are long gone.

[alice]

fl0wer's '........often makes someone find another symptom they can hide behind.'

acne as a lifestyle choice? what crap!

[boyohboy]

There is an alternative to the Clarisonics machine and it is called treSonics - it is fab-u-lous and at ?40ish considerably cheaper than the Clarisonics. It's a bit like a giant sonic toothbrush but for your face and it comes with several different 'heads' for sensitive skin etc. It works wonders with my sons' skin but they need to use it! When mine don't' bother, the spots return. It's the sort of thing that can be whooshed around the face whilst in the shower so it's not difficult or intrusive to use. Try it, you won't be sorry!

[Ireland]

Roaccutane us fantastic stuff but you have to have tried everything else possible first! Go to the GP now and get things started. It's so hard as everyone use to tell me eat less chocolate and fatty foods and wash my face lots which made me feel that people thought I was greedy, unhealthy and dirty! Which doesn't do much for already dented confidence. I hope he gets sorted soon.