Acne help for teen!

[Anonymous]

My 14-year old DD suddenly has terrible skin (severe breakouts for ~2 months). Her poor chin has probably 20 whiteheads and is red, swollen and flaky/peeling in other places. Her cheeks look flushed and she has some smaller bumps on her forehead. It’s painful. She is feeling really bad about it and doesn’t want to start her Freshman year with her skin like this. She has an appointment with a dermatologist in September, but school starts in two weeks. What are your tried and true acne treatments? She just got a neutrogena spot cream with benzoyl peroxide that seemed to take some of the red out.

[Anonymous]

Find a derm who can see her now.

[Anonymous]

Differin.

[Anonymous]

Sulfur.

[Anonymous]

I really feel for your DD!

My DD has similar issues. She is using Differin and it's made a big difference, BUT . . . it takes a while to work. So I don't think that will help with school in 2 weeks.

Maybe a facial before school starts? But I would research that carefully - you don't want something harsh that makes things worse!

[Anonymous]

Accutane - it is the only thing that works. We struggled with my teenage DS for over 2 years with Epi-Duo, topical retin A, etc. before finally doing Accutante. Even my ped siad - try the others first, but the only thing that works is Accutante. I wish we would have gone straight to Accutane and I say this as someone who is generally embraces more holistic health solutions. Sometimes you unfortunately need the pharma big guns, as much as I hate saying that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Accutane - it is the only thing that works. We struggled with my teenage DS for over 2 years with Epi-Duo, topical retin A, etc. before finally doing Accutante. Even my ped siad - try the others first, but the only thing that works is Accutante. I wish we would have gone straight to Accutane and I say this as someone who is generally embraces more holistic health solutions. Sometimes you unfortunately need the pharma big guns, as much as I hate saying that.

Thanks for this info. Is it true that girls need to take birth control when they take accutane because the risk of birth defects is so high? That sounds like more than I’d want for her. The dermatologist she’s going to specializes in acne and does clinical research, so I feel confident that she will be in goodbye hands. She does have a facial scheduled before school starts, too.

[Anonymous]

**good hands

[Anonymous]

Does she drink/eat dairy? I know it sounds crazy (and I am the last person to believe this kind of stuff) BUT it worked wonders for my son! He was on every possible prescription cream and also antibiotics. Next step was accutane although I was very hesitant to try that. A friend mentioned the dairy thing so he gave it a shot and, wow, his face cleared up in 2 weeks.

Doesn't hurt to try!! Good luck

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Accutane - it is the only thing that works. We struggled with my teenage DS for over 2 years with Epi-Duo, topical retin A, etc. before finally doing Accutante. Even my ped said - try the others first, but the only thing that works is Accutante. I wish we would have gone straight to Accutane and I say this as someone who is generally embraces more holistic health solutions. Sometimes you unfortunately need the pharma big guns, as much as I hate saying that.

Thanks for this info. Is it true that girls need to take birth control when they take accutane because the risk of birth defects is so high? That sounds like more than I’d want for her. The dermatologist she’s going to specializes in acne and does clinical research, so I feel confident that she will be in goodbye hands. She does have a facial scheduled before school starts, too.

Yes - it is true Accutane can cause serious birth defects. I do not know if birth control is a requirement as I had a son taking it. Accutante also takes several months to work and things get worse before they get better. The holistic side of me completely agrees with the poster about dairy, but my 15yo was not having any of that as he is a huge dairy/cheese guy. Good luck! If you are confident in your doc, though, you don't need the input of DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Accutane - it is the only thing that works. We struggled with my teenage DS for over 2 years with Epi-Duo, topical retin A, etc. before finally doing Accutante. Even my ped said - try the others first, but the only thing that works is Accutante. I wish we would have gone straight to Accutane and I say this as someone who is generally embraces more holistic health solutions. Sometimes you unfortunately need the pharma big guns, as much as I hate saying that.

Thanks for this info. Is it true that girls need to take birth control when they take accutane because the risk of birth defects is so high? That sounds like more than I’d want for her. The dermatologist she’s going to specializes in acne and does clinical research, so I feel confident that she will be in goodbye hands. She does have a facial scheduled before school starts, too.

Yes - it is true Accutane can cause serious birth defects. I do not know if birth control is a requirement as I had a son taking it. Accutante also takes several months to work and things get worse before they get better. The holistic side of me completely agrees with the poster about dairy, but my 15yo was not having any of that as he is a huge dairy/cheese guy. Good luck! If you are confident in your doc, though, you don't need the input of DCUM.

Ah, yes—I see where you wrote DS. My info about accutane and birth control might be incorrect.

I do trust that the derm will give good advice, but am looking for something to help DD in the weeks we’ll be waiting for her appointment. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

For the short term, go to a derm that also has facials etc. Get a facial and ask the derm for a quick solution that can get her though day 1.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Accutane - it is the only thing that works. We struggled with my teenage DS for over 2 years with Epi-Duo, topical retin A, etc. before finally doing Accutante. Even my ped said - try the others first, but the only thing that works is Accutante. I wish we would have gone straight to Accutane and I say this as someone who is generally embraces more holistic health solutions. Sometimes you unfortunately need the pharma big guns, as much as I hate saying that.

Thanks for this info. Is it true that girls need to take birth control when they take accutane because the risk of birth defects is so high? That sounds like more than I’d want for her. The dermatologist she’s going to specializes in acne and does clinical research, so I feel confident that she will be in goodbye hands. She does have a facial scheduled before school starts, too.

Yes - it is true Accutane can cause serious birth defects. I do not know if birth control is a requirement as I had a son taking it. Accutante also takes several months to work and things get worse before they get better. The holistic side of me completely agrees with the poster about dairy, but my 15yo was not having any of that as he is a huge dairy/cheese guy. Good luck! If you are confident in your doc, though, you don't need the input of DCUM.

Ah, yes—I see where you wrote DS. My info about accutane and birth control might be incorrect.

I do trust that the derm will give good advice, but am looking for something to help DD in the weeks we’ll be waiting for her appointment. Thanks!

You are correct that birth control or abstinence are requirements for females taking Accutane. There is a government sponsored program called I Pledge for pregnancy prevention for females on Accutane. Again it was not that big of a deal for us because it was my son taking the drug.

https://www.ipledgeprogram.com/iPledgeUI/rems/pdf/resources/Prescriber%20Isotretinoin%20Educational%20Kit.pdf

"The patient must select and commit to using 2 methods of iPLEDGE Program approved
contraception simultaneously, at least 1 of which must be a primary method, unless the
patient commits to continuous abstinence (not engaging in sexual activity), or the patient has
undergone a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy, or has been medically confirmed to be
post-menopausal. Patients must use 2 methods of iPLEDGE Program approved contraception
for at least 1 month prior to initiation of isotretinoin treatment, during isotretinoin treatment,
and for 1 month after discontinuing isotretinoin treatment.
It is strongly recommended that a patient use a primary method of contraception and is
committed to using a second method as well, even if she says she will be abstinent for the
entire required period. Isotretinoin is not recommended for sexually active females of
reproductive potential whom you believe will not be able to maintain abstinence or will not
use contraception, as the program requires."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the short term, go to a derm that also has facials etc. Get a facial and ask the derm for a quick solution that can get her though day 1.

Antibiotics are usually a good, quick, temporary solution.

[Anonymous]

Ask your ped to call in an rx for antibiotics and buy a bunch of those circle things you leave on overnight