Can you recommend an over-the-counter acne product...

[Anonymous]

Tea tree oil always works wonders. Great for all types of acne including blackheads.

[Anonymous]

I like the 2% salycylic acid lotions (neutrogena) for daily use. I put it on 2x a day and it helped big time with breaking out. DH uses it too.

[Anonymous]

My 12 year DD has been using proactive for about 4 weeks, and I do see some improvement. We had gone to a dermatologist who prescribed Epiduo, and that didn't really work. I would give Proactive a try. They have a $14.95 special in Sunday paper ads. Online it's about $5 more for their basic package.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm nervous about using acne medications on my 11 year old, who has pimples all over her face. She's using an acne scrub I bought at Whole Foods (Aubrey Organics?) that seems to be helping. I've heard that Virgin Coconut Oil and Unfiltered Apple Cider Vinegar can help with acne, but we have not yet tried these remedies.'

In DD's case, eating rice is a big factor. She has a number of food intolerances, but rice makes her face break out big time. Odd, isn't it? She doesn't eat wheat or dairy either, or peanuts, but she used to eat a lot of rice. She's approaching puberty, so I'm sure it's hormonal. I'll report back if the VCO or ACV works!

I wouldn't try coconut oil on my face. I'm 46 and have struggled with acne for years. Proactiv works really well for me!! I did have someone really into natural remedies tell me that Proactiv is bad for me because it works so well. She wanted to sell me a natural remedy probably similar to your whole foods product. A friend also told me to use a cleansing oil with a whole story about how it would counteract the oil in my skin. Thanks but I will stick with Proactiv.

[Anonymous]

Bad acne whether cystic or not is scarring for most teens either physically or emotionally or both. If you can at all afford it, take your teen to the dermatologist. It is a way of showing you care about them, and it is usually far more effective.

In girls, be aware this could be PCOS and addressing the hormone imbalance often works when dermatological and OTC treatments fail.

[Anonymous]

A gentle cleanser, chemical exfoliant, 2.5% benzoyl peroxide lotion, sunscreen, and a gentle moisturizer. Morning and night. (Well, sunscreen in am, exfoliant in pm.)

I recommend:

- Cetaphil
- Nip+Fab wipes (mild AHA - or go Paula's Choice for a salicylic acid/BHA version)
- Neutrogena On the Spot or Acne.org pump (better value)
- Watery Essence Biore sunscreen (http://www.amazon.com/Biore-JAPAN-Sarasara-SPF50-Sunscreen/dp/B00SM99KWU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1442247047&sr=8-1&keywords=watery+essence) OR if you want something American/FDA-approved the EltaMD line
- Cerave cream in the tub (make sure he washes hands)

[Anonymous]

I would go to the dermatologist but if you don't want to, Effaclear Duo works really well.

[Anonymous]

The French stuff from CVS. It's expensive, but it works. I can't remember the name, but it's in a white tube with blue and orange writing.

[Anonymous]

Go to the derm. They can also reccomend an OTC routine. Mine did that when I was a teen, tried a couple different options, didn't work so we went to low dose prescriptions and then the big guns.

[Anonymous]

As a teen I wish I hadn't put off going to the dermatologist for so long. Anyways, I went with proactiv first and it was ok, but not as good as what the derm gave me. As an adult I still use products from a dermatologist (different than when I was a kid) but I also wash with the neutrogena acne wash.

[Anonymous]

Clara sonic and a foaming face wash with 2%salycilic acid worked well. Followed up with astringent after the clarisonic.

[Anonymous]

OP. you must read this book:http://www.amazon.com/Acne-Cure-Terry-J-Dubrow/dp/1579547427/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1442284086&sr=8-5&keywords=acne+cure

It only uses over the counter products and makes a lot of sense. I read the Amazon reviews and checked the book out of the library the next day.

My daughter has had acne for years. We tried the prescription from the dermatologist - no help - and a variety of products on our own - no help. She started this regimen three weeks ago and I can definitely see an improvement. She has three weeks to go before we know for sure.

I wish I had discovered this book years ago....

[Anonymous]

Acne is usually (if not, always), caused by a hormonal imbalance. This is why you see teens (going through puberty), hit the hardest with acne. OTC products will do nothing for acne. In some cases, it will just aggravate the skin. Please go to a derm who can attack the actual problem. Acne is not about being dirty. Washing your hands, not touching your face, etc makes zero difference.