How can I get my sons acne to go away

Debi - posted on 05/26/2010

My sister took her soon to a dermatologist who put him on some kind of daily medication for it.

Karen - posted on 05/26/2010

Yes, my daughter had it really bad... we took her and the doctor prescribed Retina which is very expensive $200.00 a tube and then an antibiotic. The retina was far too much so we skipped that but the antibiotic worked well but it will take time. He also should get skin id kit or proactive if you don't get the retin- A. I promise you if he does this religiously and is committed to it and does not skip a night where he doesn't wash and a pill, he will be very happy in 6 weeks. It is the summer and he could have a new life next year. my daughter now after about a year an 1/2 doesn't do anything but use a good cleanser.

Denise - posted on 05/26/2010

Hi, this is my grandma's recipe and I am getting my 14 year old to use it. I figure it is worth a try and it is not toxic, like some of the stuff you buy in the pharmacy.
Three tablespoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon powder paste. Apply this paste on the pimples before sleeping and wash it next morning with warm water. If done daily for two weeks, it removes pimples from the root.

Carol - posted on 05/26/2010

My son has the same problem. It started when he was about 13 as well. He is now 19 and it is just starting to clear up. There are hundreds of products on the market, and whatever he tried, did not seem to help much. The only suggestion that I can make is that he get plenty of sleep, drink lots of water, and try to stay away from too much junk food (you can't take it all away). Keeping his skin clean is also very important. Good luck.

Debra - posted on 05/26/2010

try this...buy some dog shampoo. make sure that there is sulferdine in it. my best friend had really bad acne, she tryed everything then she prayed. an angel came to her and told her to wash her face in dog shampoo. i know this because i was there. she tryed it and guess what she has no acne and her face has been clear since.

Felicita - posted on 05/26/2010

Hi! Take your son to the doctor, his Pediatrician or a Dermatologist can help him. Act fast, so that he can avoid permanent scarring. On the meantime, over the counter creams can help, Neutrogena has good products for cleaning and promote healing, Pro-Active is also a good option. Acne can pose serious self-esteem issues so explain it's natural and with the right treatment everything will be ok soon. Good luck!

Niki - posted on 05/26/2010

Thanks!

Stephanie - posted on 05/26/2010

You leave it on, that is the power of drying out the acne, and why you make sure that it is only placed on the spots which have the acne. Of course your child will smell quite yummy afterwards! Actually, it isn't that bad, and if they use it first thing in the morning they are fine in no time with the smell.

Niki - posted on 05/26/2010

The lemon thing, do you leave it on there or do you wash it off?

Stephanie - posted on 05/26/2010

I like the Dove bar and lemon treatment.

TaKisha - posted on 05/26/2010

Epiduo and Differin gel both work great! Of course, they are prescription only so you would have to go to a dermatologist. They are both expensive so many insurance companies won't cover them. However, the Dr. has samples and/or discount cards you can use if that's the case. Best of luck to you and your son!

Bonnie - posted on 05/26/2010

Spectro Jel is great! He could use it twice a day! He could just use his clean hands to wash and rinse with it, facecloths are not good if it is really bad. I had terrible acne when I was young. The dermatologist told me to have 2% milk instead of whole (today, I would have none, but I now know I am allergic). He also got me to take a zinc supplement (Zbec) and put me on antibiotics because it was so bad. I should have taken acidophilus afterward, but didn't know about it then. I would say eat lots of fruit and veggies and less junk food. Tell him not to pick them, if you want you can put some polysporin on them to kill the bacteria. Good luck!

Elisabeth - posted on 05/25/2010

My oldest has it super bad. Face and back. I have read all the replies and just wanted to say ty one for posting the question and two for all the ideas. I think we will try the dove and lemon one first if it doesn't work maybe we will give Proactive a try. He has been the doctor route to no avail so I am pretty desperate. I call him handsome and he gives me that look like yea right mom. Would love, and probably would cry, to see the look in his eye that he finally believes me when I call him that.

Vicki - posted on 05/25/2010

I found this incredible tip. Steep 1T of basil in 1C boiling water (like you were making tea). Best if you can put the basil in cheese cloth, but otherwise, just strain it out after it cools. Put it in a jar or other container in the fridge. Have him wash his face 2-3 times a day and then dip a cotton ball in the basil tea and wipe his face with it. Pimples already there have to run their course. But this may help prevent new breakouts. Apparently the basil tea has some strong antibiotic properties that get into the layers of the skin.

Christine - posted on 05/25/2010

one of my friend had acne so bad that it had some with pus in it he has use clear now treatment with the supplement as well .go to my website at www.amwayglobal.com/ChristineIsaac. under skin care. these product have never failed. glad to help

Natalie - posted on 05/25/2010

hi my 13 year old daughter had the same problem... i took her to the doctors and he gave her a roll on antibiotic to use, u could see the difference in 2 weeks and no one else has to know!

Leonor - posted on 05/25/2010

try going to your local grocery like" whole foods" "central market" ive found its less expenseve and my daughter is happy and see the differance must be consistent. try cranberry (wash) cleanser/blemish control lotion (like a toner) these are organic!

Sandy - posted on 05/25/2010

We have tried Mary Kay products and they cleared up my daughter's skin. We used the Clarifying Mask Formula 3 and the Acne treatment Gel with 5% Benzoyl Peroxide. It really helped her.

Peggy - posted on 05/25/2010

Both my son and daughter struggle with acne daily, both ahve been to a Doctor for it and you will have to sort through just like I did. Proactive did not work for my son, he is allergic to pencillen so this medicine made his face break out in a rash. finally took him to a Doctor and he now is on a Pill to help, it still is not 100% but much better. Proactive works for the most part on my daughter but not completely, her back is bad so I think I might try that lemon idea since I just read about it...Thanks all!

Katherine - posted on 05/25/2010

Acne is a skin disease. Over the counter stuff is a waste of time and money. Get to a doctor quick.

Katherine - posted on 05/25/2010

Dermatologist, baby! They will give him topical treatment and prescribe an antibiotic. You could start with your regular pediatrician/physician who will give you the treatment or refer you to the dermatologist.

Laura - posted on 05/25/2010

Hello, i want to share with u...my son had the worse back zits ever...i got this all natural soap on ebay... made with cedar oil and some others...it cleared up in one weeks time. it was only like 5 or 6 dollars a bar and lasts for a few months... i will find the seller and get with u on this..its great. Laural

Crystal - posted on 05/25/2010

no matter how clean you keep your face, some people are just proned to get acne.....my son had it and we tried lots of OTC items and then proactive, then I took him to a Dermatologist, they tried different step before finally putting him on Acutane.....yes, it is expensive, and you have to have blood work, and it dries your body out, but in 3-4 months his face was clear, he thought it was worth it, they way it was looking, his acne would have left scaring, but thankfully he has no scarring, he was a freshman in high school when he started. I hope this helps in your decision making...good luck!

Melissa - posted on 05/25/2010

Honey! a simple jar of honey. I tried EVERYTHING! I sell these amazing beauty bars, but dove will work. clean face twice a day. 2-3 times a week use a honey mask. leave on for 15 mins. rinse with warm water

Jennifer - posted on 05/24/2010

My daughter had bad acne. I took her to her PCP that gave her a cream to try (Retin A). That didn't help. PCP referred her to a dermotologist. We were visiting the dermotologist about once every six weeks. He tried several antibiotics. We were at the point that Acutane was our next step for her. However before going to that extreme, we tried one more combination. She didn't have to go on the Acutane. Acutane is very highly regulated. There should be no sex what so ever while using it. Boy's have to sign a contract that basically states they are using condoms. Girls have to sign a contract that basically states that they are using birth control and condoms. There are monthly blood tests that have to be done. There is a website that the patient has to sign up on. On this website the patient, the doctor, and the pharmacist all have to have the same answers or the Acutane WILL NOT be approved. I have a couple of nephew's that were put on the Acutane. Their mother is an RN, therefore they really knew and understood the side effects. Their skin is very clear today. We tried all kinds of OTC stuff and nothing seemed to work for my daughter.

Stephanie - posted on 05/24/2010

I love this show that is called, "Doctors" it is on the Oprah channel. they have said that if you take 2 aspirin and mash them in a plastic zip lock with the back of the spoon then add a few drops of white vinegar at a time to make a paste, If you apply it to the acne it is supposed to dry it quick because of the silic acid in the aspirin and in case you didn't know vinegar is a natural astringent. Good luck

Joan - posted on 05/24/2010

I have a 21 year old daughter who had acne since she was twelve and she has tried it all! I read in a magazine several years ago about milk having something in it that makes acne worse, so she stopped drinking milk and voila, her acne went away. She now drinks milk but sparingly. Vitamin C also helps, 500mg twice a day will make his complexion much better. These things won't help without a good cleaning regime morning and night.

Debbie - posted on 05/24/2010

My daughter was put on acutane when she was a teenager & I used in when I was in my 30's. It has side affects & must be monitored. A blood test must be done monthly. He would take it for 3-4 months. It's very drying & his skin would be dry & flakey, but once he was done taking it that would all go away & his skin should clear. Consult a dermatologist to see if they would think this is an option for your son. If it's that bad, I would check into it. Proactive works too.

Susan - posted on 05/24/2010

What is he eating? Eating alot of processed foods will contribute to acne. have him eat more fruits and veges, less sugar. You may want to remove dairy and /or wheat for a month and see if there is a change in his skin. If you see a change then he might have an intolerance to one or both of them.

Beth - posted on 05/24/2010

try pepto, wipe face with pepto eveynight, girlfriend said helped her and no girly creams for him to hide from his buddies, hee hee

Tina - posted on 05/22/2010

my son went on actutine it clear up after 6months he has had no problems since freshman yr highschool was the worst for him cause of acne

Kirsty - posted on 05/22/2010

take him to docs my partner had it they gave him this liquid stuff he had to put it on every night it drys them out much looks better now x

Stacey - posted on 05/22/2010

My daughter used Proactive and it does work!!

Gina - posted on 05/22/2010

Apple Cider Vinegar. Its helped my 16 year old son with his bad breakouts

Michelle - posted on 05/22/2010

My son, now 21, got bad acne when he hit puberty, part was hormones and part was not cleaning well (I think most boys have issues in this area). As a cosmotologist I tried everything I knew to clear it up. After must frustration I found two things that did the trick.
1 -- place honey directly on the acne. Honey has a live enzyme in it that actually "eats" the bacteria that causes acne. As their body heats up the honey will melt and begin to drip so I used to mix Danny's with a small amount of oatmeal, which also helps dry up th oil the honey is pulling out of the acne. Leave the honey on for about half an hour and then wash with a facial cleanser.
2 -- Tea tree oil soap. I am not sure if you have a Sallys Beauty Supply near you .. if so you can get it there. Go to the shampoo aisle and find the black and white "Generic" products. The tea tree soap is kept next to the tea tree shampoo (which by the way is great if your son also suffers from oily hair as well). Tea tree oil is one of natures strongest antiseptics so it works to clear the bacteria on the skin that causes acne and also removes the shine from the skin.
Both remedies work wonders .... treatments should be done at least twice a day ... I always had Danny do it before school and at bed time.
It is important that what ever you use DO NOT use anything that has a scub aspect to it as this can break open the acne and cause it to spread and get worse.
My 13 year old neice just started using the tea tree oil soap two days ago and the acne patches she had on her cheeks are so faint they are hardly noticeable. And since it is a bar of soap and inexpensive it is easy to use over the body if they have body acne as well. If you don't have a Sally's near u I am sure you can order it online.

Deana - posted on 05/21/2010

I used Mary Kay for years and went to a couple of dermatologists, who, in my opinion, were quacks and had me on Eurythromiacin for years. Not good to say the least. The most important thing to do is get on a regimen of cleaning the face and affected areas. Mary Kay eventually did not work for me and I have had to try new lines. Biore is great if you can find the 4 in 1 wash. We were able to find it at Target after Walgreens discontinued it on their shelves. I also believe Kmart has it. Not only is it important to wash, but moisturize too so the skin isn't feeling too dry and consequently making more oil and more problems arise. Biore has a cleanser specifically for acne but we found that the 4 in 1 workes better on my 13 year old daughter's acne. yes she still has outbreaks but not as bad and it has helped to clear up black heads.

Telika - posted on 05/21/2010

its common i have a regimn,bc as an adult i still get miminium breakoutsand my 15 yr old and 12 yr old have breakouts so here's my regimn:
1.have him wash w/ a medicated soap,like neutrogena(i buy the generic brand it works just fine)
2.get him some astringent have him do #'s 1 and 2 twice a day
3.follow up w/some acne cream
and he should see results in about 2-4 weeks.he should do a mask once a week and it will be helpful if he washed his face after playing sports,bc sweat aggravates the acne,also i purcahsed a facial scrubber like for 97 cents at walmart,its like a mini loofah for your face,also check out michelle phan on youtube her aspirin mask does work good luck

Mariah - posted on 05/21/2010

My son had acne and I bought Acne- Free from Walgreens. It only cost $20 and it worked really well within a few days.

Kelly - posted on 05/21/2010

My 14 year old woke up one morning this year and out of no wear ahd developed a problem w/ acne. I use the 3 step skin care system by Clinique and immediately showed my boy how to use it. That was all he needed and he was back to having perfect unblemished skin within 2 weeks - Clinique also has a skincare line specifically for acne prone skin that worked wonders for me a few years back when my skin went haywire. I was one who tried Neutrogena and ProActiv, but the only thing that was 100% for me was Clinique (located in all Macy's stores). It is a little more costly than OTC remedy's, but not as much as Dr. prescribed and I guarantee it will work! FYI - They also have mini versions so you can "sample the products" and keep your receipt, as used or not, they offer a 30 exchange/return policy on all of their products! Hope I have been some help. Good luck-

Sherri - posted on 05/21/2010

I agree go to the doctor to discuss it. Models also use toothpaste put it on acne overnight.

Angie - posted on 05/21/2010

Proactive works if he's diligent about using it EXACTLY as instructed. My son wouldn't and I spend a lot of money for nothing. We took him to the doctor and she gave him a prescription for gentamicin lotion which is mild and costs about $1.50 for a 2 or 3 month supply. No more acne within a week and he rarely gets a breakout now.

Kelly - posted on 05/21/2010

Hello there. My son too, struggled with bad bad acne. He has seen a dermatologist, and they put him on antibiotics and a very strong face creme called Epiduo. It's worked! His face is very clear, he also washes his face 2x's a day with an acne soap. He was very embarrassed and it crushed his self esteem. I know how your heart aches about this. It's a little expensive, but worth it for them. Good luck! Kelly Shepard

Lesa - posted on 05/20/2010

I was told to take zinc once a day try that....

Mindy - posted on 05/20/2010

Yes they have to wash their face . Cetaphil works well .
Its a moisturizer and also kills bacteria . My son got a very bad staph infection and the doc told him to wash w/ Cetaphil on a daily basis even after the infection was gone ( the infection was on his stomach ) it kills almost everything .
Honestly I would try the lemon first. Some of those acne meds they use have HORRIBLE side affects and can make their faces look much much worse before they look better.
They can also have long term side affects. So i would try the lemon first. It does work !

Angie - posted on 05/20/2010

my oldest son has tried alot of things. the lemon works. but once it is cleared up it is important that he cleans his face in the morning and night with a mild soap. nutragina (Sorry cant spell that.lol) bar acne soap works really well. It cleans and keeps the acne at bay. but it is important that they no that it is part of growning up. my son is obbsesed with his acne and its not really that bad, just let him no that it wont always be this way.

Theresa - posted on 05/20/2010

Go see his doc. They can either refer you to a dermetologist or they can prescribe something to help.

Loretta - posted on 05/20/2010

ProActive is a great product I have used it over the years and it does clear up your skin. It works in 3 days you will see visible results.

Mindy - posted on 05/19/2010

NO Kidding I am not lying do this . Dove soap ( the bar ) and a lemon . Have him wash his face w/ the soap really good . Cut the lemon in half and rub it all over his face where there is acne. I have a friend who was a model and she said the modeling agencies would tell them to do this . It will work w/ in days ! My son's acne was pretty bad and he did this w/ in a week it was cleared up . The soap cleans the skin , its an antibacterial soap , the lemon dries out the acne so it will not come back ! It works and its CHEAP !

Kristy - posted on 05/19/2010

Hey, the ProActive they advertise on TV, it really works. And i think they are carrying a small set at Wal-Mart now, so you don't have to order it in. I would try that before doing a prescription of a steroid or something. the prescriptions they prescribe for acne are reeeally harsh and have all kind of side affects. ProActive is realtively inexpensive and is worth a try!

Gloryanne - posted on 05/19/2010

If it's really bad, take him to a dematologist. They can prescribe topical treatments that are stronger than the over the counter medication. You want to stop the acne before it gets too bad and for his self confidence.