Stupid Acne!!!!

Updated on April 01, 2015
S.R. asks from Kansas City, MO
20 answers

My DD has it pretty bad. Mostly on her face and back. We've tried proactive it just made it worse and her skin got very dry and flaky (I'm assuming bc of the alcohol), we've tried OTC products, we've tried natural soaps, we've even tried coconut oil, which helped a little bit but it wasn't a miracle solution. I remember my GF having it in high school and she said tanning beds helped her acne clear up. It didn't take it away completly but she said it cleared up a lot. My DD isn't opposed to this but of course we're both worried about the damaging effects of a tanning bed. UGGGGGGGG!!!! Anybody have any other suggestions? Maybe it's time to see a dermatologist?

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So What Happened?

Thank you everyone for feedback. Guess it's time for a dermatologist .

Featured Answers

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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

Yes, it is time to see a dermatologist. If is actually past time. Acne is easier treat before it gets out of control. Seriously make an appointment today, you do not want her skin to scar.

7 moms found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

A friend of the family had it bad.
This boy's acne was horrible - almost full body.
They worked with a dermatologist and tried 3 different prescriptions before they found something that worked.
You really need professional help with this.
No dermatologist will tell you a tanning bed is good for anything except for developing melanoma later in life.
No tanning beds. Period.

6 moms found this helpful

More Answers

S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

obviously a dermatologist is the next logical step.
NOT tanning beds! no, no, no! i mean, a little sun sometimes does a face good (it did help with my adolescent acne) but tanning beds are the worst of all worlds. you sure don't want to permanently damage your child's face forever.
the BC pill often helps girls.
but seriously- why NOT just go to an expert?
khairete
S.

6 moms found this helpful
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R..

answers from San Antonio on

Dermatologist!!

Do not use a tanning bed...skin cancer is a very scary thought years down the road.

Don't be afraid to try different dermatologists to find one that is good. I thought I had adult acne and went to three different doctors none of whom could get my face to clear. Finally I found a great doctor who actually looked at my skin, up close. I didn't have adult acne...it was something else.

A good doctor can help you find the right face products as well. Cleanser, moisturizer, make-up....oh and if they are trying to sell you their expensive products, find another doctor.

Good Luck!!

6 moms found this helpful
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K.O.

answers from Atlanta on

Its way past time to see a dermatologist,

6 moms found this helpful

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I would see a good dermatologist.

I took my daughter to the dermatologist as a proactive move when she was around 11-12. The dermatologist explained a lot about teen skin, what she needed to do , etc.

When I was young, facial cleansing routines were drilled into my head. The is one of the best things that happened to me because I did get that routine in my head and to this day I follow it and I truly believe it had paid off and is one reason that I have good skin.

I drilled the same info into my daughter's head. She is now 20 and follows the same routine faithfully.

I would not approve of my daughter getting into a tanning bed due to the other dangers which are worse that could happen to her for being in a tanning bed.

A Dr. can help determine how bad your DD's breakouts are and get some RX for her and possibly some sort of oral RX to get it under control.

Another thing to do is to watch her diet carefully and make sure she drinks a lot of water.

Our Dr. recommends Purpose soap or Cetaphil cleanser. We both use Clinique products for make up and it is a Dr. recommended line. When my daughter does have a breakout, she will use the Clinique Acne wash and use the products until she clears up.

I hope you find something that works.

5 moms found this helpful
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M.G.

answers from Portland on

Maybe it's time to see a dermatologist is right :)

There are lots of products to try out there - have a dermatologist examined your daughter's skin and go from there.

Diet plays a role in skin, so something else to consider. Dermatologist will likely have suggestions - including drinking lots of water.

Good luck :)

5 moms found this helpful
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M.T.

answers from New York on

Yes, it is time to see a dermatologist. Over the counter remedies are meant for the occasional pimple, not severe, chronic breakouts. There are oral and topical meds that can help, but only if you see the dermatologist. My older kid has gone that route. The younger one has that occasional pimple that can be dealt with using over the counter products.

4 moms found this helpful

M.M.

answers from Chicago on

Honestly have you though about putting her on the pill? Not for BC, but for acne. That's why I went back on it after adult acne kicked in for me. Cleared me up completely in a month....

4 moms found this helpful
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J.K.

answers from Los Angeles on

Please don't use drying products. They will actually cause the skin to produce more oil to compensate, which will worsen the acne. Instead, try using products made for "normal" skin. It will take your daughter's skin some time to adjust, but it will eventually get her skin to stop producing excess oil.

Also, check out the book, The Skin Type Solution, written by a dermatologist. It has a questionnaire to determine your actual skin type. Until I took the quiz, I thought I had oily skin. After the quiz, I realized I actually had dry skin. I stopped buying products made for oily and combination skin and began buying products made for dry skin, and it did wonders for my skin! If you don't want to buy the book, you can just go to a bookstore and take the quiz there. The book really helped me.

But definitely go see a dermatologist in case it's not just acne. Until you can see a dermatologist, your daughter should try Zirh's Fix blemish control gel that works well for me as a spot treatment. It's marketed as men's skincare, but a pimple is a pimple is a pimple whether it's on a man's face or a woman's face.

3 moms found this helpful
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M.P.

answers from Portland on

Yes, see a dermatologist to find out what is going on with her skin. It's likely acne but it may not be. I've heard often that prescribed antibiotics help to clear up acne. Until her skin is examined by a dermatologist you don't know what is really going on. I suggest that because many OTC products have not helped it's time to see a dermatologist.

3 moms found this helpful

D.B.

answers from Boston on

I've seen the best results when people work less on the surface with topical products and more from the inside. The skin is the largest organ and it really has strong nutritional requirements, beyond what the normal diet provides. It's more than just eliminating certain foods, which seems to be more based on folk tales and casual anecdotes than real science. The acne is generated below the surface of the skin, and so these solutions you are using (as well as possible tanning) aren't getting to the core of it. In my work, I've sen the same with other skin conditions like eczema, scalp problems, psoriasis and so forth. The irritation occurs on the surface of the skin but that's not where it starts. Instead of spending a fortune on topical creams and oils, and I do share your concerns about tanning, you could consider food science and supplementation on a comprehensive level. You could also consider medication but that has risks.

3 moms found this helpful
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K.F.

answers from New York on

I agree with others about seeing a dermatologist but I would also encourage drinking more water and eating more fresh veggies and fruits. Often it's what we are eating and drinking that has an impact on our skin just as much or more than what we put on top of it.

I use coconut oil on my face at night after shower and before bed.

3 moms found this helpful
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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

Yes, please see a doctor. My granddaughter has what we thought was acne but it was a different thing. Most of what people think is acne is this too. Some call it chicken skin but it's basically where the Keratin secretes out out of the skin pores but it gets stuck at the exit.

Then it gets hard and inflamed and swells and ruptures and more.

We found out that if she just scrubbed with a good facial soap then put on a great moisturizer several times per day she'd keep the pores open and her skin would be smoother. Coconut oil is good for this.

3 moms found this helpful
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B.S.

answers from Boston on

A teen who has acne should wash their face with a mild soap twice a day. Washing more than twice a day will dry the skin out which will worsen acne. OTC products can be helpful to some, but shouldn't be used more than recommended (see directions) or they will really dry the skin out. Sounds like you've tried the mild soaps and OTC products and they're not working, take her to a dermatologist! They can prescribe a medicated product that's more effective. Drinking water and eating a well balanced diet will help. Acne occurs in the teen years because the skin becomes oiler due to hormones, hair follicles become plugged with oil and dead skin cells and the skin becomes inflamed.

Please do not allow her to go tanning! Tanning beds greatly increase her chances of developing melanoma, the most fatal form of skin cancer. Tanning will also just lead to her skin over drying. It also causes premature wrinkles. Not worth it, especially losing your life to skin cancer.
http://www.skincancer.org/news/tanning/tanning-beds-who-i...
http://www.cosmopolitan.com/health-fitness/advice/a3060/s...

2 moms found this helpful
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E.B.

answers from Beaumont on

My son had horrible acne and we found acne.org. They sell the products but they are very reasonable and work. It's a regimen but if you follow the steps, exactly, it will work. Proactive didn't work for us either.

2 moms found this helpful
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L.M.

answers from Boise on

My daughter (15) is also battling this. There is a product that is sold at Target and I'm sure many other places, that seems to be working really really well for her. Keep in mind that we have tried medications, ProActive, OTC solutions, homeopathic "cures" and many others over the past 2 years. I believe this product is meant for people of color, primarily, but I could be wrong. In any case, it has really worked.

Shea Moisture (brand name) African Black Soap Clear & Balance Problem Skin Facial System w/ Tamarind & Tea Tree Oil ... Clear & Balance Blemished, Oily Skin.

I know, it's a lot to read and research, but I just typed it as the box states it. It's in an orange and black box. www.sheamoisture.com

However, for my daughter, it hasn't helped as much on her shoulders as her face, but still,

Her doctor wants to have her use Accutane, but I've read horror stories about this when teens use it and my daughter actually has a friend who was prescribed it. Not good!

Best of luck and I look forward to reading all your responses and educating myself a bit more on this.

L.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.H.

answers from Atlanta on

Hi S.,

Most acne is systemic...it comes from the inside out. My daughters face cleared up when I put her on an absorbable multivitamin. Food today has so many pesticides and preservatives that the skin has a normal reaction and just breaks out.

The other thing is change your laundry detergent. Make sure it's not a mainline brand. Most that say they are safe...aren't!

God bless,
M.

1 mom found this helpful
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L.*.

answers from Chicago on

I've heard that applying apple cider vinegar helps acne . It's worth a try for sure . Also , I've read that eating a lot of carbs like bread and pastas can trigger out breaks . Good luck ! I hope this helps 😊

1 mom found this helpful
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M.R.

answers from Washington DC on

I hate to say this, as it brings up so many other issues, but I wish my parents had put me on BC as a teenager. Not for the purpose of BC, but because of hormonal acne. My self esteem was damaged. Tried accutane, which helped, but was too strong. Being on BC for 20+ years on and off has cured not only acne, but pms as well. Not looking forward to this with my dd, but now I'm aware it could help her deal with the embarrassment of severe acne, as long as she is aware of the risks. See an ob/gyn or dermatologist and good luck. =)

1 mom found this helpful
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