acne help

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
acne help
21
Sat, 08-19-2006 - 11:05pm
my daughter's acne is getting worse in spite of us trying nearly everything on the market. Proactive, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, natural stuff, antibiotic wash, noxzema, etc.....
HELP!

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-07-2005
In reply to: mommy2boobaby
Sat, 08-19-2006 - 11:35pm

I had to take my son to a doctor, who prescribed antibiotics and a cream. His face has cleared up drastically!

Good luck,
zz

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: mommy2boobaby
Sun, 08-20-2006 - 12:36am


we went to the dermatologist for a few break outs and got a prescription for Retin-A...
we got samples of the .04% and the 1% (i think) because it can react strongly on some peoples skin so they told my dd to try both and if the stronger one is okay - to fill the prescription for it...it's been nothing short of a miracle drug... she still has the occasional break out - seemingly due to stress - but otherwise it's worked very well and I recommend it ...

good luck,
rachel

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-01-2006
In reply to: mommy2boobaby
Sun, 08-20-2006 - 8:29am

My daughter has terrible acne and we have not taken her to the doctor yet, but one thing we read that has helped is to make sure she's sleeping on a clean pillow case. I was kind of lax about washing her sheets every week, but once we made sure we did that and she was sleeping on a clean pillow case, it's helped quite a bit. Just another piece that might help some.

Right now, she uses Noxema wipes to clean her face and Stridex to try to keep the acne at bay. It's a battle, but the cleaning and making sure her pillow case is clean has helped. Not cleared, but lessened the severity.

Madalot

When I insist that I am 'right," I slam the door of my mind.  I remain locked in past

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
In reply to: mommy2boobaby
Sun, 08-20-2006 - 2:33pm
is retin-A okay to use during the formative and reproductive years? I was always kind of afraid of it...maybe I'm misinformed?
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
In reply to: mommy2boobaby
Sun, 08-20-2006 - 2:54pm

i didn't ask about that - but the derm prescribed it to my 14 yr old daughter so i imagine it's fine... only side effects are dry skin and red patches if exposed to too much sun... my daughter isn't much for the sun so it's been just fine -

rachel

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2004
In reply to: mommy2boobaby
Sun, 08-20-2006 - 3:54pm

Take her to your doctor. Both my kids have presciptions for creams ( anti-bacterial) plus DD
is on antibotics. The treatment made a big difference in DD.

Good luck.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-29-2004
In reply to: mommy2boobaby
Sun, 08-20-2006 - 3:57pm
Take your daughter to the doctor because it is harder to clear it up if it is well-established. The sooner the treatment is started; the easier it is to handle.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: mommy2boobaby
Sun, 08-20-2006 - 4:38pm

<<>

Well, you dont want to get pregnant on it ;) But Ive never read anything about it staying in ones system

I used it in college-I didnt have a single zit until then but I sure made up for it in college and my 20s

Avatar for momtolizabeth
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-02-2003
In reply to: mommy2boobaby
Sun, 08-20-2006 - 4:56pm

Hi! I've been on every acne med. known to man.... and have been very successful dealing with cystic acne - if you saw me, you would never guess that I have extremely severe acne.

Have you just tried OTC antibiotic wash, or actual antibiotics?

If you haven't already, as others have said, definitely take her to a derm. ...I am a strong believer that acne is an actual medical condition, and teens should be given every option that is 'right for them' to fight it... Teen years are hard enough without being embarassed by your face!

Derms have various options depending on the severity of the acne... Internal meds (ie antibiotics) and topicals, such as retin-a (differin), tazorac, BenzaClin, etc...

*Most* typical teen acne can be controlled with the right topical. If your dd's acne is limited to mostly 'surface' acne, I would expect the derm. to go this route. If it is a bit more severe, an oral medication such as minocycline or doxycycline should do the trick for most teens. If you notice her acne follows her cycle, birth control can also be extremely effective (also often prescribed with a topical). Good 'acne' birth control options include Ortho Tri and Diane 35.

If her acne is more severe, as in she is getting scarring or large red welts/bumps (nodules/cysts) - I would expect the derm to try clearing it up with a strong level of anti-biotics and than moving on to Accutane. Accutane is an extremely powerful drug, but very appropriate in acne cases which can not be solved with anti-biotics and in situations were individuals are experiencing scarring.

A note on salicylic acid - while it does work well for typical teen pimples, it does have the potential to aggravate severe acne.

If you would consider her acne severe (acne.org has some *great* resources for determining this):
Some things to consider for skin care prior to a derm visit (around here at least, it often takes 3 months to get an appointment)...
She should be using a gentle cleanser and moisturizer. Cetaphil is often recommended by derms, it keeps the skin clean without being too harsh. For moisturizers, Cetaphil, Neutragena SPF 15, and Aveeno all are good options.

Obviously, she should avoid touching her face - and always apply make-up with clean hands... Her make-up brushes should be washed weekly and stored in a clean location. What kind of make-up is she using? Avoid the 'cheap stuff' - it can make acne worse. Everyone reacts differently to different make-ups, but I have found that Physicians Formula works best for me.

You said that she has tried using Benzoyl Peroxide, but I would encourage her to continue using it until she has better direction from a derm. While it can be a pain as it stains - it usually has a least *some* positive effect on everyone. It can take up to 6 weeks of use to get the best results.
If her skin is dry, she can apply moisturizer 10 minutes before the BP to help with the dryness. I would not recommend using retin-a with BP though, that combo made my skin look horrible.

Also, as others have said - get on top of this now. I had other priorities as a teenager and wasn't able to treat my acne as well as I should have - and I'm paying for it now, as I still have acne (although well treated acne) at 24.

A caution about using antibiotics too - due to my acne treatments, I'm immune to several antibiotcs, including amoxicillin - so make sure you discuss with the derm how long it is appropriate to take them for. Derms are required to try anitbiotics before moving to more powerful treatment, but make sure that your derm is realistic as to what is going to be most effective long-term for your dd.

I'm currently taking Accutane, and it is working wonderfully. All other options are acne treatments (most commonly used because people generally outgrow acne), Accutane is an acne cure. As I said before, it is extremely powerful - with some definite side effects, but in cases where individuals will most likely not outgrow their acne, or in cases where the acne is severe, it can be a miracle drug.

Many general practitioners: family docs, internal medicine docs, etc... are also willing to treat acne - a derm appointment isn't always necessary.

Anyway, I know I got long - but I hope it was helpful! Good luck!
~Becca

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
In reply to: mommy2boobaby
Mon, 08-21-2006 - 12:19am
Becca, thank you for your reply. I'd say her case is moderate and at some times during the month, more mild. It's definitely cyclical, but I'd say it's bad 75% of the time, and mild 25%. I am going to find a dermatologist this week, and in the meantime, she is using Dove soap and also dove moisturizer just in the dry spots.
I hope to get is resolved in the next few months...I feel bad for her!

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