Prom season approaching - acne problem

[luvthatdisney]

My DD16 will be going to the prom this year for the first time. Of course, she has purchased a strapless dress (she bought it with her own money )! The problem is that she has horrible "bacne" or back acne and we are trying to weigh our options on how to deal with it. She also has acne on her face usually covers her chin, forehead and hair-line.

I have debated taking her to the dermatologist, but the potential cost involved is what is keeping me from taking her. I know that sounds bad, but we have had some financial problems since last year that have our budget pretty tight at this point. I could afford the doctor copay, but I am not sure about what they may prescribe and if i could afford those copays.

We have tried some OTC treatments (maxclarity, acne-free, clearasil, and a few other things) but nothing has really cleared up her face. Can anyone recommend something else OTC we could try? Or maybe tell me what the first step treatment with a dermatologist might include so I could look up the copays with our insurance.

We have about 2 months until the prom, so we wanted to start something ASAP.

Thanks!

 

[NikitaZee]

My sister had troublesome acne all the way into adulthood. She swears by ProActive (sp) - you know the acne/cleansing regimen you see on tv. She has beautiful skin now, and she says its all due to the ProActive, nothing else seemed to ever work for her.

 

[laurie31]

My DD14 has this problem, and she had tried everything to wash her face with, when she read that Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid) can help. We figured we would try it, and it made a remarkable difference.

She already took a multivitamin for teens (One-a-Day Teen) but adding this really helped her acne. When I was her age, I was put on tetracycline fo the same problem and I like the idea of a vitamin much better than an antibiotic. (I don't think derms put kids on tetracycline any more, but still...)

 

[SydSim]

Niece had great results with Pro-Active as well. Just in case you run out of options (and time), theatrical make-up is an option for the night.

 

[erincon23]

Since you can afford the copay, get her to a dermatologist! We can't afford anything right now either, but the dr. put DS18 on an antibiotic that we can get FREE at the pharmacy (some have free or $4 antibiotics). My son is on Bactrim, which is a mild antibiotic, and it's made a HUGE difference. Our experience iwth Proactiv is that it helped right away, but the effectiveness went away after about 6 weeks.

 

[TheBigBadWolf]

She already took a multivitamin for teens (One-a-Day Teen) but adding this really helped her acne. When I was her age, I was put on tetracycline fo the same problem and I like the idea of a vitamin much better than an antibiotic. (I don't think derms put kids on tetracycline any more, but still...)

For a quick fix, doxycycline or tetracycline will clear her skin, immediately. But as soon as she goes off the antibiotic, the problem will return. Also, when taking doxycycline she will need to stay out of the sun and would not be able to tan, which many girls want to do before prom.

For her face I would buy her the Olay Pro X cleansing brush. It works great and will clean her face much better than a wash cloth. I hope she finds something that will clear her skin! I think a dermatologist visit would be well worth your money so hopefully she can get a handle on the acne once and for all.

 

[katesorad]

Do NOT make her use Proactiv. I had acne as a teenager and it only made it worse. I had laser treatments, several medications, creams, etc. Nothing really worked for me.

My acne slowly started to go away, but once in a while I will get a breakout. When I get them, I take an egg, remove the yolk, and will rub egg white all over my face. I leave it on for about 20 minutes or until it's dry, and then I wipe it off with warm water. It dries up ALL the acne. I was amazed by this. I tried it at the recommendation of my grandmother! Apparently this is what they used to do "back in the day" before big events. Have her do an egg white mask once a week and her skin should be perfect for prom. It's natural, cheap, and you can try it a few times before prom to make sure it works.

 

[wilderness01]

I'm another who votes for the dermatologist. By the time you add up everything you have bought over the counter, you may have the money for medicine.

My kids are on medicine and it helps wonders. Good luck.

 

[marcyinPA]

My DS15 has moderately bad acne on his face. We've tried all of those systems too, and nothing has helped. Last week, he was put on a four week course of Doxycycline because he was diagnosed with Lyme disease. His PCP mentioned that they often prescribe it for acne. Well, 2 pills a day for a week and a half, and his face is no clearer than it was. I was hoping that although the Lyme diagnosis stunk, maybe he'd have clear skin (looking for a positive here!) ...but so far, hasn't helped.

 

[minniemarie]

I can personally recommend Zineryt ( a topical solution), which is not as harsh on the skin/body as other drug/cleansing therapies.

http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/100002852.html

Also use oil free cleansers containing salicylic and stay away from oil based moisturisers. Neutrogena do a full range at pocket friendly price.

 

[wilderness01]

My DS15 has moderately bad acne on his face. We've tried all of those systems too, and nothing has helped. Last week, he was put on a four week course of Doxycycline because he was diagnosed with Lyme disease. His PCP mentioned that they often prescribe it for acne. Well, 2 pills a day for a week and a half, and his face is no clearer than it was. I was hoping that although the Lyme diagnosis stunk, maybe he'd have clear skin (looking for a positive here!) ...but so far, hasn't helped.

Sorry to tell you, but with my kids and myself, it took longer than 2 weeks. If you had said 2 months with zero results, I would have said to switch to have him take something else. You need to give it more time than that. My son's skin is so clear now, but he has been religiously taking by mouth antibiotics since August. My daughter has been the same antibiotic since November and her skin is crystal clear too.

See if the Lyme clears up and then see how his skin is. They more than likely won't be him on anything else additional because you don't want to have him on more than one antibiotic (most times) at a time so he doesn't get a yeast infection.

 

[clh2]

I also recommend taking her to the derm. The prescriptions that DD was given are stinking cheap (a daily pill, that is about $5 per month, and a cream that is a tube that costs about $10 and lasts for 2 or 3 months.)

Now - since no acne treatment is a miracle in terms of time - maybe you would want to get her make-up professionally done just before prom? Maybe they could do something with her back as well. (Although I would certainly be concerned about it rubbing off onto the dress.) Since prom is a busy-busy time for beauty appointments I would get those scheduled pronto, since you can always cancel if you find they are not needed.

I am so excited for DD's prom, mine picked out a dress about 2 weeks ago.

 

[flipturngirl]

you could try a mary kay product. I have been using the mary kay line and it has worked well

 

[aprilgail2]

Just take her to a dermatologist- don't bother with over the counter stuff. I would never let my kid suffer with acne without going to a Dr if I could help it! I see some adults with these horrible acne scars from net getting treatment!

 

[FINFAN]

anyone know of a non-pill antibiotic? DS has never been able to swallow a pill, ever, no matter what tricks-tips-anything. He says why bother for a dermatologist since he won't take the meds anyway. Anyone ever have a liquid perscription?

 

[wdw_girl_18]

My DD16 will be going to the prom this year for the first time. Of course, she has purchased a strapless dress (she bought it with her own money )! The problem is that she has horrible "bacne" or back acne and we are trying to weigh our options on how to deal with it. She also has acne on her face usually covers her chin, forehead and hair-line.

I have debated taking her to the dermatologist, but the potential cost involved is what is keeping me from taking her. I know that sounds bad, but we have had some financial problems since last year that have our budget pretty tight at this point. I could afford the doctor copay, but I am not sure about what they may prescribe and if i could afford those copays.

We have tried some OTC treatments (maxclarity, acne-free, clearasil, and a few other things) but nothing has really cleared up her face. Can anyone recommend something else OTC we could try? Or maybe tell me what the first step treatment with a dermatologist might include so I could look up the copays with our insurance.

We have about 2 months until the prom, so we wanted to start something ASAP.

Thanks!

I would just go to the dermatologist, and be persistent with going back. I stopped going to my dermatologist once my skin cleared up and my acne all came back. So now I go in 6 times a year and my skin has been so clear, and the scars are slowly fading.

The dermatologist also said that none of the over the counter stuff works (for my type of acne at least). Mine has me on Doxycycline and two different creams, while washing my face with white bar soap in the morning and before bed. When I first started Doxycycline I was on it 2 times a day, 7 days a week (so 14 pills a week). Now I'm down to only taking 2 pills per week.

I had a friend who was on proactive and her skin cleared up for a few months and then her acne got 100% worse. I would stay away from it!!

Good luck!

 

[clh2]

anyone know of a non-pill antibiotic? DS has never been able to swallow a pill, ever, no matter what tricks-tips-anything. He says why bother for a dermatologist since he won't take the meds anyway. Anyone ever have a liquid perscription?

There are a couple of acne-antibiotic cremes that are available. Differen and Retin-A if my memory serves me correctly. They are REALLY expensive - $150-ish range per tube. (FWIW - neither of the cremes worked well for DD.)

 

[FINFAN]

There are a couple of acne-antibiotic cremes that are available. Differen and Retin-A if my memory serves me correctly. They are REALLY expensive - $150-ish range per tube. (FWIW - neither of the cremes worked well for DD.)

yikes...thats why I was hoping for a liquid form, not topical...wow

 

[golfgal]

I also recommend taking her to the derm. The prescriptions that DD was given are stinking cheap (a daily pill, that is about $5 per month, and a cream that is a tube that costs about $10 and lasts for 2 or 3 months.)

Now - since no acne treatment is a miracle in terms of time - maybe you would want to get her make-up professionally done just before prom? Maybe they could do something with her back as well. (Although I would certainly be concerned about it rubbing off onto the dress.) Since prom is a busy-busy time for beauty appointments I would get those scheduled pronto, since you can always cancel if you find they are not needed.

I am so excited for DD's prom, mine picked out a dress about 2 weeks ago.

I agree-DS15's acne meds are about the same. He takes generic tetracycline-which you can buy at Walmart or other places for $4 if you don't have good prescription coverage-same with the face cream stuff he uses (can't remember that one off hand but it is also generic). For $8 she can be fairly acne free in 5-6 weeks.

 

[Mom loves Disney]

My son uses clyndamycine (sp?) liquid at day time and differin at night and it has helped. Both you apply to the face.