more teen acne questions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know there was a post on teen acne recently but I have some different questions. DS has been on a dermatologist prescribed regimen of daily antibiotic plus prescription face creams for almost a year. The dosages have been tweaked about every 3 months in that time because he still has a good amount of acne although his skin has improved. We tried a new dermatologist recently due to dissatisfaction with the progression plus inconvenient geography, and the new dermatologist wants to wean my son off of the antibiotic because she thinks long term use bad, and change up his skin creams and add a sulfur face wash.

I am very worried that his acne will return to its previously high levels if he goes off the antibiotic. To be clear, his skin isn’t perfect by any means while on the antibiotic, but it is about fifty percent better than before he started it. But I would need to go back to the original derm or find a third dermatologist because this new one doesn’t agree with use of antibiotics for acne treatment.

My son wants to try the new regimen - mainly because he doesn’t want to wait for another doctor appt! My husband wants to find a dermatologist who will discuss accutane with us, because he thinks trying different face creams is a waste of time (he used accutane as a teen and said it changed his skin dramatically). I don’t know what to do, but hate the idea of “doctor shopping” and trying to fit in another doctor appointment with school, sports, etc.

Did anyone have success treating fairly bad teen acne with just face creams and facial wash? Or have any other suggestions?

Many thanks. This does a number on my teen’s confidence and I can see scarring already so I want to be proactive about this.

Actually, the sulfur face wash has worked really well for my kid. We keep it in the shower and they use it daily on their face/back/chest every day. They also have a cream (Onexton?) that they are supposed to use 2-3 times/day. My other kid did eventually have to go on Accutane and it worked really well so I wouldn't rule it out, but I would give the sulfur wash a try.

Which sulfur face wash is it? Thanks!

Plexion - availble by prescription only, I believe

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My dd has been on spironolactone (2 50 mg polls a day). I see a huge difference in one week of use.

^ me again. She is 19 btw

My daughter is currently on this too after being on accutane a couple years ago (which worked wonders). The dermatologist said at this age (also 19) acne is most likely hormonal and the sprionolactone should work - and has.

My dd took spironolactone and ended up with a breast mass. Not super common but also not rare. Giant pain. It had to be biopsied and possibly having it removed as it hasn’t gone away.
I took spiro for years with no side effects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:anyone ever used sodium sulfacetamide wash?

Yes my son uses it with a lot of success.

[Anonymous]

I took accutane when I was 26. It was awful. Had to go on a fat free diet and have my blood checked every week for triglyceride count. I became incredibly thin, and my hair was thin, and my lips were painfully dry. Dry eyeballs too. I’m not sure the formula has changed since the 90s (has it?) Now I am 52 and I’ve been on spironolactone for about 10 years and it has been a game changer. Still occasionally get a pimple around my menstrual cycle but nothing like the cystic acne of my early 20s. Accutane was not a cure for me. Dd just started 2 50 mg a day and in a week I notice her face less inflamed. Thank you to whoever mentioned breast mass. I will alert my daughter to pay attention to her boobs. I have not had any breast changes myself.