Daughter has acne and was starting to get scaring even wish topicals. She has added Doxycycline to her regimine. Outbreaks are somewhat Better.
Would birth control pills work? And
What nutritional tests/info is available?

Anonymous wrote:If your son had acne as a teenager, when did his skin start clearing up? Do you think it cleared up due to some product he used or just due to age? My son is 14 and his skin is getting worse even after using a BP cleanser, clindamycin and adapalene. Did anything else help? Thanks.

OP- I had terrible acne as a teen-- I did a lot of over the counter, was careful about washing my face, etc. There's just a certain point where OTC can't keep up with teen acne. I went straight to accutane a 16 and bypassed all of the antibiotics-- after reading stories about gut health later, I'm glad I did. To my knowledge, I didn't have any side effects. I do have anxiety, but it didn't start with accutane, and I discovered much later that it runs in my family (didn't know this).
My DS13 is developing acne on his face and neck/shoulders-- we're starting with BP face and body cleanser + differin + and spot acne cream. I'm going to be patient for about six months to see if a strict regimen clears it (I've read that if we're absolutely consistent with this treatment, that it may hold off the worst of it for awhile). Once the acne is too much, we're going to a prescription topical. After that-- we're looking into accutane. I want to wait on the accutane because it is a serious drug, but I know it's in my back pocket.
I won't do oral antibiotics-- IMO, I think they may actually do more damage than accutane.

Accutane

Anonymous wrote:Accutane

Accurate really worked.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 14 yo son’s (non-cystic but pretty significant) acne has improved significantly with very, very close compliance to a multi-step routine prescribed by his dermatologist, down to the timing (e.g., wash face, wait an hour, apply cream). The difference between before (using the meds but not following her very specific schedule) and after is pretty dramatic. It’s not 100% cleared up, but it’s much better.

We have some family medical history that makes both antibiotics and accutane risky, so we’re doing everything we can to avoid that path.

OP here. Can I ask what topicals he is using? Do you have to supervise all of this? My son has ADHD and his meds have worn off by bedtime so I have to stand next to him to walk him through it.

Clindomycin in the morning and highest concentration of Retin-a at night (at least an hour after washing his face), as well as a prescription dandruff shampoo 3x/week. He’s very disciplined/routine-oriented, so I don’t have to supervise. But I totally would if I needed to—the results have been worth it.

Can you please explain how this affects acne? Thanks

As I understand it, both dandruff and acne are caused by oil production. The dandruff shampoo helps control oil; the dermatologist recommended using it on his forehead as well as his scalp.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 14 yo son’s (non-cystic but pretty significant) acne has improved significantly with very, very close compliance to a multi-step routine prescribed by his dermatologist, down to the timing (e.g., wash face, wait an hour, apply cream). The difference between before (using the meds but not following her very specific schedule) and after is pretty dramatic. It’s not 100% cleared up, but it’s much better.

We have some family medical history that makes both antibiotics and accutane risky, so we’re doing everything we can to avoid that path.

OP here. Can I ask what topicals he is using? Do you have to supervise all of this? My son has ADHD and his meds have worn off by bedtime so I have to stand next to him to walk him through it.

Clindomycin in the morning and highest concentration of Retin-a at night (at least an hour after washing his face), as well as a prescription dandruff shampoo 3x/week. He’s very disciplined/routine-oriented, so I don’t have to supervise. But I totally would if I needed to—the results have been worth it.

Can you please explain how this affects acne? Thanks