Recommend dermatologist for 12 year old AA girl.

[Anonymous]

Looking for a dermatologist for my 12 year old DD. She has really bad forehead acne. Forehead is very oily and covered in small whiteheads. Rest of face is fine. We have tried several over the counter meds as well as proactiv but acne is getting worse and starting to scar. She is starting to get self-conscious about it. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Willing to travel to DC/Bethesda or Northern VA for a really good one. TIA.

[Anonymous]

Try to change her diet to see if it helps. Forehead acne is directly linked to the digestive system, or possibly hormone imbalance. Dermos will just give you drugs (either creams or pills), don't start your DD on that especially at this young of an age. Try to cut out the processed sugars and increase veggies and fruits and whole foods. People will say there is no link, but your holistic docs and/or nutritionist will say otherwise, along with some research (you have to look for it). My suggestion: try the natural route first. My DD16 is/was battling the same forehead acne issues and once we made changes in nutrition and cleansing, it has dramatically improved. I can actually tell when she has eaten her favorit candies (skittles, starburst, etc) or has had juice or soda (her forehead will break out immediately. I'll come home from work, see her face with new forehead pimples and say "you had some candy today, huh?". The answer is always, "Yes". She's starting to see the connection for herself now. Good Luck with your DD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking for a dermatologist for my 12 year old DD. She has really bad forehead acne. Forehead is very oily and covered in small whiteheads. Rest of face is fine. We have tried several over the counter meds as well as proactiv but acne is getting worse and starting to scar. She is starting to get self-conscious about it. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Willing to travel to DC/Bethesda or Northern VA for a really good one. TIA.

Have you tried any of the online rituals? If you google, there are several websites dedicated to curing acne. FYI, Proactiv was too drying for my oily forehead. It basically made it go into overdrive, making the problem worse.

What type of cleanser/brush is she using? Have you tried a clarisonic? You could also try some really, REALLY light peels, but I would maybe take her to an esthetician for that.

As for a derm, try Dr. Cheryl Burgess.

[Anonymous]

OP here,
Thanks for the replies. She probably does need to change her diet. She doesn't eat candy or drink sodas, but she also doesn't eat very many fruit or veggies. She eats a lot of carbs and meat.

We are using a clarisonic-like brush (oil of olay brush actually). Proactiv was ineffective and a total waste. She has just gotten to the point that she wants it gone. I didn't have much acne as a teenager, and what I did have disappeared using Sea Breeze and Noxema. I actually think a light peel would help, but I want to get a medical opinion first.

[Anonymous]

Dr. Brown at WAH in Takoma Park.

[Anonymous]

Does she sleep with a scarf or bonnet covering her hair? Hair products could be the culprit. Especially anything with oil or placenta.

[Anonymous]

Cultura on Wisconsin Ave is really expensive but worth it.

The doc who runs the about faces spa in Old Town is wonderful. Her name is Dr. Leslie Pickens. She is AA and understands the different concerns (primarily scarring and things that don't happen to lighter skin).

[Anonymous]

My AA teenage boy was seen at Chevy Chase Cosmetic Center. We went because he had a funny looking wart that he wanted removed, but they also made suggestions for his acne that turned out to work really well. The office looked like a boutique or a spa, and so I was skeptical when our pediatrician (Capitol Medical Group, in the same building) suggested them, thinking that they'd be super expensive, but it turned out that they took our insurance.

So, overall a good experience, although my son's issues weren't particularly complex.

[Anonymous]

Dr. Paula Bourelly in Olney.

[Anonymous]

Hey folks, these are some great recommendations.

I had called Cultura, but yeah...too expensive and they actually didn't seem very interested in tween acne.

She does not sleep with a scarf or bonnet now and I absolutely think oils from hair may be part of the problem but she claims she can't sleep with the scarf/bonnet. I will just have to make her wear it.

My DD's pediatrician is in the Capitol medical group as well. I'm going to give a couple of these docs a call to see who takes my insurance.

Thanks everyone.

[Anonymous]

Just take her to any dermatologist in network. She needs prescription strength.

[Anonymous]

Yes definitely a dermatologist. Dr. Joy Chen is great. I'm AA and was happy with her.

[Anonymous]

Lynne McKinley Grant, MD

[Anonymous]

Dr. Howard Brooks in upper Georgetown/Glover Park. He is good with AA being AA himself. We are not AA, but have found him very knowledgeable and efficient at tackling problems.

BTW, OP, agree totally with you wanting to get on this right away. You can try natural this and natural that, and blaming the child for not eating right or not being scrupulous enough in their cleaning regime but IMO it is a big mistake to underestimate how psychologically devastating it can be to certain kids to have bad skin. Been there, done that and regret not having treated teen acne as more of a medical emergency rather then a simple annoyance.

[Anonymous]

Brooks is efficient and takes insurance. Burgess does not take most insurance.