Interesting topic. Come to think of it, I've noticed the same. I wonder what they're all doing differently?

Most insurance covers acne treatment, and the generics aren't pricey. I don't think it's simply a matter of $.

They can afford better face creams, washes, prescriptions (like doxycycline and retinol), chemical peels etc.

It's very similar to how crooked/bad teeth are also signs of poverty.

My dd went to a private school and had horrible acne OP. My DH was adopted so we don't know if someone in his family had a bad case. DD took Accutane and also had laser treatments. Still has bad scars. I don't think it's a private/public school thing.

Roche pulled Accutane from the US in 2009 but is still selling it elsewhere. Generic isotretinoin is available by prescription in the US.

Accutane is seriously dangerous stuff.

I believe it's not even available in the U.S. anymore.

Anonymous wrote:All the rich kids are on BC. Acne, is hormonal. Balance the hormones, which BC does and you won't have acne.

So these 13 year old boys are taking birth control pills?

PP again. One has to consider if the families choose acutane for minor issues are the ignorant ones?

I choose not to put my son on anything like that. He will grow out of it. I don't think it is a big deal to him as he does not even commit to washing his face daily.

All the rich kids are on BC. Acne, is hormonal. Balance the hormones, which BC does and you won't have acne.

Interesting. I wonder if it's a combination of awareness and affordability.

I KNOW that DD will have moderate to severe acne when puberty hits. Both DH and I had it pretty bad. I also know that I will sign her up for what ever treatment works.

My mom was really into holistic stuff when I was a kid and gave me all kinds of crap that never worked. it was horrible for me.

They may all be taking accutane. Personally, I wouldn't touch it. My brothers both used retin a when they were teenagers, but the only thing that really worked was time, outgrowing it.

Maybe they're all taking Accutane? That stuff is the silver bullet for acne. I'm not sure what the minimum age is, but look into it if your son's acne is severe. Amazing (but extremely strong) stuff.

My BCBS insurance covers acne treatment and dermatologist visits. I think it is a matter of ignorance due to nonexposure (the parents couldnt go).

Like DH's mother grew up poor (spent years in an orphanage), and she never took DH to the dermatologist and he had horrible acne - and they had lots of $$$ b/c DH's dad was a sr. VP of a big corp.

Yesterday I was at an event at the most expensive private school in my area (not in DC and not my child’s school) and noticed that none of the tweens or teenagers had any acne. 195 boys & girls from 11-17 years old and not a pimple in sight and no noticeable cover-up on the girls. At my child's public school most kids have some sort of acne, including him. Are the medical treatments really that effective now for those that can afford the best. Were they that good 20-30 years ago and it just wasn’t done in my middle-class social circle? Also, we live in a smaller community, not really suggesting inbreeding (haha) but could it just be cream of the crop genes?