My 16 year old son has terrible acne! HELP!?!


Question: I am a very lucky father of 2 boys. My oldest (16 years old) has done speech and drama from the age of 6 and has preformed pubically in debating teams, speech competitions and eisteddfords. In the last year, he has developed severe cystic acne. He has completely lost his self esteem and will not go out on stage and avoids at all costs meeting relatives and he doesn't invite over his friends anymore.

His face is completely covered in red spots with yellow tops and very oily. His upper back is also like this. He has also started shaving which makes the acne worse. I have bought him 'Clean & Clear' for him to use, and he uses it, however it doesn't seem to help. Is there any other way to help him, I don't want him to attain any more scarring!!


Answers: I am a very lucky father of 2 boys. My oldest (16 years old) has done speech and drama from the age of 6 and has preformed pubically in debating teams, speech competitions and eisteddfords. In the last year, he has developed severe cystic acne. He has completely lost his self esteem and will not go out on stage and avoids at all costs meeting relatives and he doesn't invite over his friends anymore.

His face is completely covered in red spots with yellow tops and very oily. His upper back is also like this. He has also started shaving which makes the acne worse. I have bought him 'Clean & Clear' for him to use, and he uses it, however it doesn't seem to help. Is there any other way to help him, I don't want him to attain any more scarring!!

I've heard Proactive is good, but never tried it myself.

As a teenager I suffered from severe cystic acne on my back. What did the trick for me was Differin (adapalene) 0.1%. It comes in creme and gel form. The creme form is less drying. Proactive could do the trick, but if not Differin is worth a try. Often the dermetologist can give you some samples so you can avoid spending money filling a prescription that doesn't work well enough/or you don't like, etc. (even w/ insurance it can run about $50 a tube) Always ASK for samples if they don't offer them.

There's also a medication called BenzaClin that is pretty good too. I used to use that on my face. Since it contains Benzol (sp?) Peroxide it does bleach fabrics.

GET PROACTIVE IT REALLY DOES HELP! AND WILL HELP HIM WITH SOME LADIES!

is it in his genes to get so much acne? its puberty sir... but if it is as bad as you say, go see a dermatologist. you can try different products and other methods for getting rid of it, but i've learned you save much more by going to a dermatologist and get the right kind of medication for you son. i'm glad you are a concerned parent understanding the emotional effects that acne has on a kid.

Yellow spots means your son is very healthy, because the yellow tops are pus which are white blood cells fighting the infection - which is good.

I highly recommend ClindaTech, although I'm not sure whether he will need a prescription for it or not.
If so, go see the local GP and ask about it for him.

Good luck!

ok, if it is bright red it is chicken pox (i think), go see a doctor immediately, ive got this problem aswell, anyway see the doctor and he/she will give some cream.

if you wait for a while the spots will be going black and then dark - causing scars which will take ages for it to recover - which happened to me but not recoverd yet.

Our son is only 13 (nearly 14) and his acne really turned cystic over night - my husband bought Proactive and if he follows it 100% twice a day he's really cleared up.

I highly suggest consulting an MD about this - they can offer Accutane which does have some side effects but short term may be able to clear him up and then be placed on some topical medications. Make the appointment today - his self esteem will return - acne hurts, outside and in.





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