If your son had acne...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, that devolved rather quickly. Let’s all try to be kinder to each other—this is a noncontroversial question about teen acne!

Some of us don't like misinformation about topics where there's actual scientific evidence and the results are black and white. If it was a matter of opinion or preference, it would be a different discussion, at least for me. I hope you appreciate the difference.

[Anonymous]

I think the question is what else have you tried and did the acne clear up on its own. A PP offered a different suggestion to try first.

The pro/anti Accutane argument rages eternal.

[Anonymous]

Rodan and fields spotless is working for my 14 year old. (I don’t sell it)

[Anonymous]

The thing that worked for my DC is Clinical Strength Head and Shoulders shampoo - daily hair wash, face, neck and back. It works better that any prescription product - we tried them all short of Accutane, the nuclear option.

[Anonymous]

When I was a teen, I went to the dermatologist for “acne surgery” (they used a metal tool to pop zits and blackheads) then zapped my face with UV light. Is that still a thing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Research shows that differin combined with benzoyl peroxide is one of the best treatments. The combination is marketed under Epiduo. However, you could use differin and a separate benzoyl peroxide wash simultaneously. Don't forget there are two strengths of differin. Accutane is really from a bygone era and has some dangerous side effects that are quite common. Don't forget, accutane is from the time when they thought pumping you full of oral antibiotics for the rest of your life was a good idea to prevent facial acne.

No, that era was pre-Accutane. I lived that era (1970s), then had a few decades of terrible skin, and went on Accutane at 33yo in 1994. It was a fairly new drug at that time, and no one was using antibiotics long-term for acne by then.

Both of my teenagers used Accutane as well, and are blemish-free now. Unfortunately, it didn't exist when I was their age, and therefore although my skin is clear now, I have acne scars.

Accutane is amazing IME.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Research shows that differin combined with benzoyl peroxide is one of the best treatments. The combination is marketed under Epiduo. However, you could use differin and a separate benzoyl peroxide wash simultaneously. Don't forget there are two strengths of differin. Accutane is really from a bygone era and has some dangerous side effects that are quite common. Don't forget, accutane is from the time when they thought pumping you full of oral antibiotics for the rest of your life was a good idea to prevent facial acne.

This is not what about ten different dermatologists with different kids we’ve visited have said. What do you suggest when the topicals don’t work?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Accutane completed eliminated my acne. Nothing else did. So I’m a proponent but I want to exhaust other options first. He already washes his face with 10% benzoyl peroxide wash. I’ll ask about different strengths of Differin.

OP, I'm the PP with two sons. We, too, exhausted other options, and nothing worked.

If you and your DC had/have acne, it is unlikely to resolve with topicals. IME

[Anonymous]

My DS had pretty bag acne. He was not inclined to see a dermatologist or really do anything about it. I was also slightly concerned about some of the drugs kids take. He grew out of it by 16/17. If he had wanted treatment we certainly would have pursued it...but after the fact, I am glad we did not have to worry about side effects and it cleared up with age.

[Anonymous]

Mine has been on two different antibiotics so far. The first one resolved about 80% of it. I'm concerned about trying accutane due to family history of liver disease.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DS had pretty bag acne. He was not inclined to see a dermatologist or really do anything about it. I was also slightly concerned about some of the drugs kids take. He grew out of it by 16/17. If he had wanted treatment we certainly would have pursued it...but after the fact, I am glad we did not have to worry about side effects and it cleared up with age.

That is fine if it doesn't scar. Just make sure you know it's not going to scar. My teenage daughter had very different acne than I did, so i felt very familiar with it but mine didn't scar. Her almost did and I was unaware because it looked very similar (and maybe even less severe since mine was more cystic around the jaw which are awful and hers was just small bumps all over the forehead).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Accutane completed eliminated my acne. Nothing else did. So I’m a proponent but I want to exhaust other options first. He already washes his face with 10% benzoyl peroxide wash. I’ll ask about different strengths of Differin.

OP, I'm the PP with two sons. We, too, exhausted other options, and nothing worked.

If you and your DC had/have acne, it is unlikely to resolve with topicals. IME

I'm kind of in this camp too. Acne can really do a number on their self esteem. Topicals can only do so much, and often make their skin look worse in the short term due to dryness and peeling.

[Anonymous]

My DS used accutane also. He had cystic acne. It cleared him up and it has been 1 year since he stopped it. He had super dry skin and lots of nosebleeds from it, but everything back to normal since he has been off.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone. My son has pimples whereas I had cystic acne. Did the dermatologist only prescribe Accutane if he had cystic acne? Did his pimples change into cystic acne over time?

[Anonymous]

OP again. Is Accutane still a 4-6 month course? I took it way back when for about 5 months. It is easier for boys to take it since they don't have to worry about pregnancy, right?