Spironolactone eliminated my post-pregnancy adult acne and gave me the flawless skin I never had as a teen or adult. Can't be used pre-puberty, however, and also can't be used if any chance of pregnancy, and can't be used by males. But for older teen girls and adult women, can be a miracle cure. Ask your dermatologist about it.

Anonymous wrote:This all makes me depressed.

+1

I didn't have bad acne, but my DH did so I'm bummed that my kids may go through all of this.

Anonymous wrote:This all makes me depressed.

Why? I think it's great and I wish my parents had a resource like this when I was a teen. I hope to save both of my children a lot of unnecessary heartache by helping them clear up their acne early so they don't have to go through what I went through.

Another vote for cutting dairy.

This all makes me depressed.

For those who recommend cutting dairy, is it really necessary to completely eliminate it, or is switching to organic enough to make a difference?

Anonymous wrote:Vitamin dim (if DC is a girl).

Another poster here. I use DIM as well (an herbal supplement) and it worked wonders for my skin, but I believe it's more effective with hormonal adult acne, not necessarily the teenage kind. My 11 year old daughter has bad acne and she started using a system similar to proactive called exposed skin care, which has been practically miraculous. Her skin significantly cleared up within 2 weeks, and I'm sure it's not just a coincidence because whenever she gets lazy about using it the pimples come back.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nothing ever worked for me as a teen

In my young 20's the Paul's Choice Acne line worked very well.

I never tried accutane.

^^ but I tried pretty much everything else. You name it, I tried it.

Same here. As an adult I still struggle with acne, and I finally dropped dairy from my diet 3 months ago. I'm not super strict about it, but the difference it makes is huge (for me).

Anonymous wrote:Nothing ever worked for me as a teen

In my young 20's the Paul's Choice Acne line worked very well.

I never tried accutane.

^^ but I tried pretty much everything else. You name it, I tried it.

Nothing ever worked for me as a teen

In my young 20's the Paul's Choice Acne line worked very well.

I never tried accutane.

Anonymous wrote:Antibiotics worked short term. Accutane worked more long term but definitely messes with the head. Differin was the best topical.

But it's different for everyone. Lots of trial and error.

I used accutane for short periods of time to get rid of acne as a teen. Really good, but hard to use for too long. Differin really helped/helps me too. Still keep a tube of Differin around as an adult. There is a generic for the Differin so that helps with the cost.

Epiduo was prescribed by our derm. Has worked well for child.
Proactiv worked well for mom over the years.

My daughter's skin also clears up when she swims alot.

www.acne.org -- great site for information, reviews of products, and their regimen really, really works.

Anonymous wrote:I also recommend cutting all dairy. Read all food labels carefully for casein, whey, etc. Try it for two months.

+1

Antibiotics worked short term. Accutane worked more long term but definitely messes with the head. Differin was the best topical.

But it's different for everyone. Lots of trial and error.