my son 15 has severe acne on face back and legs. can anyone recommend anything that actually works please.?

Answer 1

There are different types of acne so you need to find out which type to get the best treatment.I strongly recommend getting advice from your GP and getting referred to a dermatologist.I had cystic acne for several years (starting at age 28!) and it was later discovered to be an over active thyroid, so not always to do with hormones or cleanliness.
As he is 15 it is more likely to be related to pubity but there are really good treatments available.
1. Ro-ACcutane is a treatment that is helpful but unlikely to be prescribed on someone so young.It also has side effects such as making the skin sun sensitive and thinning the skin.
2.Anti-biotics.Likely to be prescribed Oxytetracycline or Erythromycin proven to help Acne
3.Topical treatments such as anti-biotic lotions can be helpful but also tend to dry the skin out.

I would also invest in some good skincare-SK-II do some great skin balancing products such as Facial Treatment Essence that really helps balance the skin and renew and Skin Refining Treatment which contains salycilic acid to help unclog blocked pores and reduces swelling and inflammation.

Answer 2

Accutane is the gold standard drug if he's tried everything else, and especially if it's cystic acne. If he hasn't tried everything, I have found that a combination of benzoyl peroxide in the morning after cleansing and salicylic acid in the evening can be effective: they're available over the counter and worth a try. If the doctor doesn't want to prescribe Accutane (it's very strong, and basically permanently shuts off oil production in your skin, leaving it dry), then there are other things he can put on his skin that are also effective.

Answer 3

First, if you haven't already, ask your GP to get your son an appointment with a specialist at a hospital dermatology department. They will be more expert at prescribing something than your GP. I had really bad spots when I was younger, and in the end was prescribed "Roaccutane". Its a strong drug, and you have to stay on for at least 6 months for it to work. It drys up your muccous membranes (inside of nose and eyes), so causes some discomfort, but it worked for me, after trying countless medications that didn't work. Good luck.

Answer 4

First of all, change your son's bedsheets and pillow cases every week, because they collect grease and oils which could create acne. Also, there's a product called Proactive. It's one of the leading acne medicines in the world.

Answer 5

easy cured this one...i had real bad acne from 12 until i was 18...wasnt through lack of hygein or diet ....

finally got sick of it and TOLD the doctor i wanted to go to hospital to see a specialist.....my local hospital has what amounts to a stand in tanning machine thing over six weeks i went in three times a week ....the first visit i was in for 2 seconds and progressivly built upto to 15 seconds over that period worked a treat and still get the odd spot but who doesnt hope this helps.

Answer 6

i know what u talking abt since i've been through that.
Tried everything but nothing worked.
Finally my dermatologist prescribed me Tetracycline or something like that. depending on the weight of the person, it is given for a period of time. i did take it for over 6 months. and it was not cheap either. close to 300$ a month. but now i am MUCH better off and i'd say it was worth it.

As is said, I am not 100% sure of the name but it was some tetracycline.

Answer 7

Since bacteria can exacerbate the condition, always wear clean clothes,When washing your back use a loofah, sponge or exfoliant to help remove any dead skin cells that may clog up pores. Use a gentle action and don’t be too harsh otherwise you will end up breaking the skin. Check out http://useinfo-acne.blogspot.com/ for more useful info.

Answer 8

I find detoxing helps the most, try chinese herbal tea or 'Ultralife' detox drink. It reduces the pain, redness and swelling within a week of taking it. The problem is though, when you stop taking it it eventually comes back. If you havent already tried antibiotics, its worth giving them a try although you wont notice any results for at least 6 weeks.

Answer 9

Long term antibiotic course - see your GP. There comes a point when over the counter remedies won't help anymore. It is all hormonal so topical creams etc rarely work.

Answer 10

hi!
for a start, gallons of water a day,regular fresh fruit and veges and of course low amounts of 'junk food'.
this might sound weird but acne is related to very low self esteem. and of course the worse he feels about himself the worse the acne gets and so on, its a vicious circle. it can be difficult but he needs to give himself a break, tell himself everyday that he is handsome, healthy and perfect in every way, even if he has a hard time believing it. doing activities that leave him feeling happy and fulfilled will boost his self esteem greatly.