What does your tween use on acne?

[LizinSTL]

Cheap and easy way?

Nutragena clear soap (under $3) morning and night
Oxy cream on blemishes
Clean pillowcase every night.

Give it 2 weeks of regularly doing these 3 things and she'll be cleared up nicely!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Cheap and easy way?

Nutragena clear soap (under $3) morning and night
Oxy cream on blemishes
Clean pillowcase every night.

Give it 2 weeks of regularly doing these 3 things and she'll be cleared up nicely!

Really? Every night? Does it get that dirty in 1 night?

 

[Cynt]

You might want to monitor what they are eating. Sodas, candy, fast food and junk food. Junk in = junk out. My niece had bad acne when she came to live with me for 6 months. I don't purchase soda, cookies & cakes and processed junk food or eat a lot of fast food and it was amazing after a month how her face cleared. Make sure they're drinking plenty of water. I'm a tea drinker so it was a big change for her not to have soda 24X7. But she got over it.

 

[yourMaire83]

I have always had sensitive skin and at 27 I still have minor acne. I have found that products with benolyl peroxide irritate the heck out of my skin and maybe make break outs worse. But products with sallicilyic acid are magic : ) everybody's different. As a teen, I used Neutrogena's acne wash (it's orange, like Dial soap) and Walmart makes a generic version for half the price. For a lotion I like Clean and Clear. They also make an amazing spot treatment!

 

[LizinSTL]

Really? Every night? Does it get that dirty in 1 night?

Yes, every night. The oils from your skin are absorbed into it. Someone said change the sheets every night. My friend suggested just the pillowcase and it's totally worked for us. It's very little additional laundry and we have plenty of spare pillowcases in the closet.

 

[C-CMom]

From the American Academy of Pediatrics...

http://www.aap.org/publiced/BR_Teen_Acne.htm

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

Don't be afraid to try some oral antibiotics. We were able to get some from my teen's ped. He started with Doxycycline for about a year, and switched to Minocycline which has worked better. He looks so much better, and these aren't strong med's with issues like accutane.

He uses the Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Stress Control Power-Foam wash and night.

 

[WVMomof3]

Don't be afraid to try some oral antibiotics. We were able to get some from my teen's ped. He started with Doxycycline for about a year, and switched to Minocycline which has worked better. He looks so much better, and these aren't strong med's with issues like accutane.

I was just going to ask if anyone has used Minocycline. My daughter just got a scrip for this from her ped. I have not gotten it yet, wondered how effective it will be. Did your son have any side effects from it? She did have a topical cream, clindamyacin. Can't really tell how effective that was, because I don't think she used it all that often. Hoping the pill will work and that she will actually remember to take it.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Just wanted to mention, even though this thread started asking about tweens, it also applies to teens and young adults too. Some oral antibiotics can reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills.
I had a coworker that became pregnant with twins while on the pill and antibiotics.
Just something to consider if that applies.

 

[bethann1970]

My daughter started getting bad acne on her forehead and nose around 12. We tried everything from the pharmacy, and finally bought the Neutrogena Skin ID online. It cleared up her acne almost completely in 6 weeks. She's used it for 6 months now and her face looks amazing!

 

[Mom loves Disney]

My son uses clyndamicin (sp?) and differin. It has really worked well for him. He is 13 by the way.

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

I was just going to ask if anyone has used Minocycline. My daughter just got a scrip for this from her ped. I have not gotten it yet, wondered how effective it will be. Did your son have any side effects from it? She did have a topical cream, clindamyacin. Can't really tell how effective that was, because I don't think she used it all that often. Hoping the pill will work and that she will actually remember to take it.

No side effects. He does take it at a meal, but if I recall correctly, it is not to be taken within 2 hours of his multi-vitamin. The only time he had a problem was once he took it on a completely empty stomach in the am, didn't eat for another hour and felt a little nausea - but that only happened once. Taking it regularly is key - he takes two a day. Has some Retin-A, but honestly, I don't know how often he uses it. Showers every morning religiously(thank God). When I look at pics from two years ago before any treatment, and now, it is pretty amazing.

 

[hambirg]

I was just going to ask if anyone has used Minocycline. My daughter just got a scrip for this from her ped. I have not gotten it yet, wondered how effective it will be. Did your son have any side effects from it? She did have a topical cream, clindamyacin. Can't really tell how effective that was, because I don't think she used it all that often. Hoping the pill will work and that she will actually remember to take it.

I just looked at my daughters Rx bottle and that's what her Dr. had prescribed to her. It did seem to help in the beginning, but then seemed to stall. She hasn't taken it for a few months now and her skin hasn't gotten any worse. My daughter's friend takes it and her skin looks amazing now, so I hope it works for your son.

To the PP that posted about the Queen Helene Mint Julep mask, I was in Walgreens today and they had it so I bought some. The funny thing is when I had it in my cart some woman walked buy and said, "That is the best stuff!" Her skin was clear, but you could see that she had scarring. She told me that she had tried everything, but she swears by that stuff now. I'm hoping it works for my daughter. She used it tonight.

 

[4HOLIDAYS]

DRY-LO by Serius Skincare on HSN. LOVE IT! I have it on autoship evry 4-5 months now that DS uses it. Found it years ago and used for any occas brkout. You dip a Qtip into bottle and spot treat. Clears it up like magic. I mean in a day or twoit is gone. My DS14 puts it on at night (looks pinkish)while watching tv and leaves on for a couple hrs to overnight and by Am looks great. I've used it for DH and self, on arms,backs and face.

Can't say enough good things about this over the many other BP products, clean and clear...that we tried. He still washes face with the acne wash (like clean and clear ) to help prevent but the sec he feels something coming he uses DRY-LO.

 

[sookie]

Really? Every night? Does it get that dirty in 1 night?

yes, it does. because she is making more oil, and the oil and dirt / germs gets on the pillow - then back on her face. so she washes and gets on a dirty pillow - it can make a bad problem even worse.
the worst thing a child can do, honestly, is use something like DIAL soap that will strip their skin. then the body goes into making more oil to replace what was stripped, and boom - you have a major oil problem.
a lot of this starts because of hormones but can be exaggerated if you aren't gentle with the skin
washing with a gentle soap like cetaphil twice a day. no more (exception: if she works out and sweats a lot mid day, a wash then can be OK). you do not want to strip the skin of the natural balance of oils.
moisturizer - non-comedogenic. and yes she needs it.
and no picking!
if this doesn't improve it, start with a topical benzoyl peroxide treatment that is OTC. it will cause some peeling and redness (again - use moisturizer) in the beginning but it will go away within a few weeks and it will look great!

do the pillowcase thing.
do not let her use the same washcloth over and over again to wash her face.

and if it continues to get worse, go to your doc.

 

[sookie]

No side effects. He does take it at a meal, but if I recall correctly, it is not to be taken within 2 hours of his multi-vitamin. The only time he had a problem was once he took it on a completely empty stomach in the am, didn't eat for another hour and felt a little nausea - but that only happened once. Taking it regularly is key - he takes two a day. Has some Retin-A, but honestly, I don't know how often he uses it. Showers every morning religiously(thank God). When I look at pics from two years ago before any treatment, and now, it is pretty amazing.

actually it does have side effects. my husband had pretty bad acne and was on it longer term, and ended up with an ulcer from it, confirmed by the gastro who had to knock him out and scope him. we got some ugly pictures from that. just be aware. thankfully, my husbands acne has gotten a lot better over the past few years, and we are back to just topical treatment now.
it is a really good drug though for people struggling with cystic acne.
check out the AAP guideline someone posted. it is a good one and it outlines the steps in a patient friendly way that most providers will use when treating acne!

 

[CrAzY4DL]

I third Minocycline! Used this stuff a few years ago and I LOOOOVED it!! Had to get off when we started trying to get pregnant. Definitely looking forward to starting back up when DD#3 arrives!