Stubborn teen acne? What's worked?

[Anonymous]

I took Accutane as a teenager. My biggest symptom was really dry lips.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP -- I'm glad you are working on it. I had horrible acne as a teen and into my 20s and it's so hard. Demoralizing at such a sensitive time in your life. Agree with others to see a derm. I totally get the concerns about accutane. I couldn't take it. I know it is what a lot of people do, but it's not for everyone.

Anyway, I won't tell you what meds to use -- a good derm will be able to figure that out and if something isn't working, or is working but overdrying, they can help you sort that out.

BUT I do want to recommend a product I often rec on these threads because it was a godsend during my years of addressing my own acne. It does not solve acne but it can really help improve the appearance and importantly FEEL of acne-afflicted skin. Acne, especially cystic, can be so painful. Sometimes when treating it, it becomes more painful and inflamed. This product will help a lot to ease inflammation, can help with redness and skin texture. I remember when I started using it, even though I still had acne, it actually helped me to sleep better because my acne hurt less. In addition to using it as intended, as a mask, I would sometimes use it as a spot treatment on a painful cyst or pimple and it would help ease the pain and also reduce it's appearance.

Anyway, here it is: https://www.origins.com/product/15346/62431/skincare/treat/mask/out-of-trouble/10-minute-mask-to-rescue-problem-skin#/sku/98644

The reason it's so soothing is the combo of zinc oxide, sulphur, and camphor. All of which can help separately, but something about the combo in this mask is magic. I know I sound like I work for Origins or something (I don't!) but really it's just that I have such sympathy for anyone dealing with persistent acne and I have been recommending this for over a decade because of how much it helped me!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Differin (Adapalene) is an over the counter next step. Works better than benzoyl peroxide.

Make sure you know the proper way to use it. It will likely get a little worse before it gets better.

What's the proper way?

[Anonymous]

Please rethink your resistance /reluctance to consider prescription including accutane. As a few others noted, this is internal and beyond clean towels, diet, & proactive. As my child’s dermatologist put it, “no diet or washing regime will take care of this.” Your child is already permanently scarred, so please reconsider.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Please rethink your resistance /reluctance to consider prescription including accutane. As a few others noted, this is internal and beyond clean towels, diet, & proactive. As my child’s dermatologist put it, “no diet or washing regime will take care of this.” Your child is already permanently scarred, so please reconsider.

+1
They may have other suggestions such as a round of antibiotics to quickly clear up and avoid some scarring.

[Anonymous]

Are you open to home remedies OP?

[Anonymous]

If yes, try fenugreek.

Wash and soak 1 tsp fenugreek in water overnight. Ask kid to drink the water and swallow the fenugreek on an empty stomach in the morning. It tastes disgusting but you will see results in a few months.

I had horrible acne when I was a kid and this was the only thing that helped. Clear skin in a few months.

I think it does something to the body temperature, acidity etc

Googled and found this article
https://www.acne.org/can-fenugreek-seeds-help-with-acne

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS has tried everything from Proactiv to Paula's Choice. It's not working.

Benzyl Peroxide
AHA salycilic acid
Retinols

I don't want him to take accutane (my friend took it and the side effects sound horrible).

Poor kid has such bad acne and scars.

What's worked for you teen's stubborn acne that I haven't tried? TIA

we did it all. Only the accutane helped. And zero side effects except some dry skin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Differin (Adapalene) is an over the counter next step. Works better than benzoyl peroxide.

Make sure you know the proper way to use it. It will likely get a little worse before it gets better.

What's the proper way?

I use adapalene and what I was told to do is:

cleanse
Mositurize
Wait a few mins
Apply cream all over (pea or less sized, I almost never do a full pea size)
pitter patter fingers to help absorb

It does still have benzol peroxide in it and still bleaches my sh!t but I like the results.

I would suggest OP try this (differin), and then get some tret. But realistically, if its that bad, accutane will be the best results with the most minimal scarring. Try this after, even as a secondary step.

[Anonymous]

Teenology shampoos worked wonders for my DD. It gets to the root of the issue: oily products that cause acne

[Anonymous]

Do you mean not even a fresh laundered towel from the linen closet?

yes, not even a fresh laundered towel from the linen closet.

[Anonymous]

Accutane is the only answer here. Two of my kids have used it and it’s worked beautifully as well as my son’s girlfriend and every other kid I know.

[Anonymous]

My son is currently using Twineo. It reduced the cystic acne to mild regular acne. He's much less bothered by it at least. I've been too nervous to try Accutane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d reconsider Accutane, especially if scars are involved! Four of my kids have taken it with minimal side effects and it was really the only thing that worked. What specifically are you worried about with regards to using accutane?

+1

I took it myself. Highly recommend.

[Anonymous]

I was also super, super nervous about my daughter doing Accutane and we tried many, many topical creams and antibiotics etc. Finally, Accutane seemed like the only option and I was reassured that you can start on a very low dose to test the level of side effects. Then you slowly ramp up the dose or just stick with the low dose (which is fine but will take longer). I’m so happy we did it as her skin is clear now. Her side effects were mostly dry lips.