Help for Son with Acne

I don't have any good advice, other than to switch from alcohol (makes oil glands produce more oil) to witch hazel. It smells funny, but for me in my teenage years, it worked better both as a toner and an acne fighter than any product I tried, to include ProActive.

Also, as an afterthought, maybe he rests his face on his hands? I find myself doing that as I sit here an type on the computer, so maybe he could try to become more aware of touching his face?

Maybe get him some cleansing wipes that he can take with him when he is out. That way if he's active and sweats a lot, he can wipe down his face. Also, try the liquid Neutrogena acne wash.

High testosterone might be the issue. Are his cortisol levels ok? That is what i would have tested- with a saliva cortisol test. Cortisol controls sex hormones.

I want to second the suggestion to look at his diet.

My 16 year old appeared to be going that direction when he was about the same age (his father had a problem with it too) - HOWEVER, when he went gluten free last year his acne almost completely disappeared. My younger son has been gluten free for a few years. 16 yo son noticed that he felt better when he stayed off gluten so he avoids it too. The acne cessation was quite a surprise bonus. Now he only gets a bump or two from his football helmet (oil build-up) or his orthodontic mask.

Good luck.

I've had troubled skin all my life. The only facial product that works on my skin has been the Philosophy "Purity" cleanser and "Hope In a Bottle" clarifying lotion. Also, The Body Shop has a cocoa butter bar soap that seems to clear up congestion on my back, chest and arms.

Like you, I do try to keep the things in my life healthy and free of toxins and I'm not sure where these two products rate on the EWG database but they work for me.

I know this is going to sound weird but the medical column in the LA Times recommended applying Milk of Magnesia. They said people have had very positive results from this where acne is concerned. It's also way cheaper than all the other products recommended and fairly "natural" too. Worth a try.

I know you have gotten a lot of great responses so far but I also have experience with Acne and know that some things work for some but not all.

My daughter and I are currently using Cetaphil face wash and lotion. I get it at Target (found it once at WalMart) for about $8.00 a bottle. There are ones for different skin types but I would recommend the one for oily skin. It makes my face feel cleaner afterwards. Good luck and make sure he stays on it! Boys are so hard with this stuff. If he isn't great about regular face washings at least have him use it in the shower, that's what I do with my DD.

If you want a more natural way to combat the acne, please take a look at Arbonne's acne line. It is botanically based and does not contain any harsh chemicals. It is working beautifully for my 14 yr old son and 13 yr old daughter. Rubbing alcohol is way too harse and making the oil glands overwork and creating a visious circle. Let me know if I can help.

Everyone is different and I don't know about applying any ointment or drug to help, but I can give a tiny bit of advice in controling the amount of breakouts.

I never had bad acne but when I was that age I did have some bad break outs on my forehead, chin and lower cheek areas. I looked at how I was holding my head at school or at home while doing homework and discovered that I held up my chin, forehead and face with my hands. Turns out that the oil, dirt, or bacteria on my hands were contributing to my breakouts. As soon as I got out of the habit of touching my face without washing my hands first, the breakouts stopped. I've had clear skin ever since.

Now I know this isn't the garrenteed "cure all". But it may help.

Hi NEVER put alcohol on his face it only makes it worse. I work for a cosmetics company and we carry facial products for both men and women its called Merle Norman Cosmetics we have stores all over the US we have a few facial cleansers that would work great for him my nephew has really bad acne and has tried all of the products on the market nothing has really worked for him until i gave him our men facial cleanser and moisturizer. good luck

I would also suggest witch hazel.
And if he's sweaty from being active, he's gotta wash the face!

Proactiv?

I prefer a more natural approach as well. Check out www.thepaleodiet.com - they have a book specifically for acne. http://www.thepaleodiet.com/paleo_books/

In a nutshell the Paleo diet consists of lean meats, veggies, some fruit, nuts/seeds, no sugar and little to no starch. Acne is caused by inflammation and inflammation is most often caused by environment or foods that we are eating.

Other than that, I don't have personal experience with acne, just the occasional blemish here/there but since going paleo - my skin is so healthy. I don't use any harsh chemicals either. My moisturizer/sunscreen is coconut oil - LOVE IT!

Stop with the rubbing alcohol. Over-drying your skin will stimulate the oil glands, making the problem worse. It can also cause a layer of dry skin to form, further trapping the oil and causing pimples.

A thorough but gentle cleanser is best. Neutrogena is good, but personally I like the liquid vs. bar. And I don't personally like the acne cleanser, just the regular cleanser.

And for severe, cystic acne, take Catherine C.'s advice.

I know you don't want a prescription, but if his acne is nodular, please consider taking him to a dermatologist. Severe acne is not only difficult for kids socially, but it can disfigure him permanently and cause scarring that he will live with his whole life. For me, the only thing that worked was Accutane. It's a very serious medication, but it resolved the acne permanently in my case when nothing else had worked. My doctor monitored me very carefully the entire time, and would have stopped treatment if any problems came up. I am so grateful that option was available, and that my skin has been beautiful ever since. The guidance of a good dermatologist is critical in resolving acne, in my opinion. Just my two cents.

Hello TL,

My now 14 year old was havig a pretty bad time with acne as well .. and tons of blackheads ..

I don't want him using harsh chemicals or to cause him pain .. I opted to go with witch hazel on cotton squares for cleaning his mug in the evening (he goes over his face 3 times, that's when the "dirt" stops showing up on the cotton) and I found clearasil pads for sensitive skin, with salicylic acid (that's the secret acne weapon!!) that he uses after the witch hazel. I also had him use the clearasil "fast dry" cream for a little while, until we got everything under control. For him AM shower, he uses Neutrogena grapefruit scrub, this stuff is a miracle! I don't like the bars because they seem so waxy .. and to me wax=clogged pores.

I used alcohol on my skin as a teenager and I swear it's the reason I have such BIG pores now .. too drying and damaging to young skin.

Anyhow we've been at it for a few months and his skin looks great. He even told me the other day how cool it was that what I told him to do actually worked! (get used to it kiddo!! ;)

Good luck to you and your boy
W.

I have not read the other responses just a few and I do agree that the rubbing alcohol is not good for his skin. Try Murad for Acne and if that doesn't work, there is also tea tree oil. Tea tree oil os great to add to moisturizers and cleansers, it cleanses the pores and is easy to use. You add a few drops to your favorite moisturizer and cleanser and it will help clear up the acne. There is also a mask that is amazing, I know you have a son and he might not like it, but I really recommend this mask to all my clients. I am an esthetician and love it. It is called aztec-secret, you mix it with raw apple cider vinegar. It smells like a salad is on your face but it cleanses the pores like no other mask I've ever seen. Anyone can use it and you can get it at any whole foods store in the skin care aisle. You can also get it on line. I also think that a new pillow case every day if his face is that greasy, stay away from night creams as they tend to be heavier. By the way the tea tree oil is to be used sparingly because by itself it is drying. It also has many uses for it if you want to buy something that has many uses. If you have any questions just e-mail me.

Couple of things that can help: a) minimize sugar intact b) drink the recommended 8 glasses of water per day c) reduce fats to less than 20% daily intake d) sweat from exercise or perhaps a steamy bath (to open pores) e) avoid margarine or oily chips. Use an antibacterial soap and there are some good not costly treatments too. Also can use tea tree oil when see blackhead starting which will help get rid of it.

Don't do the alcohol as it does naturally stimulate oil products.

I used to have acne on and off for over 25 years.
I have been on medications (oral and topical) and tried Neutrogena etc.

I would highly recommend trying Arbonnes Acne treatment line. Since using their regular lines I have not had to use medication and have been almost acne free since.

Cleanser, lotion and spot treatment. The spot treatment looks small but goes a long way and works. The supplements which include Zinc can be really helpful for fighting acne.

Note: the Clear Advantage Set does not include the spot treatment.

This is not as harsh as other products on the market and very effective. The new formula has seen teens seeing improvements results in as little as 3 days to a week.

If his pores are really clogged the FC5 Deep Cleansing Mask will help clear the pores and allow the medication to do it's job and the cleanser to get where it needs to. I saw significant reduction in pore size and in oil production.

You can check out the products at http://try.myarbonne.com I can offer you a 20% discount on products if you decide to place an order.

If you feel he needs additional antibacterial I highly recommend Tea Tree oil. Thursday plantation in the dark bottle is my favorite.

Let me know if I can be of anymore help.

I've used two or three different things on my daughter who has beautiful skin. First she has used the Proactive stuff and it worked great. Second we've bought products from LUSH, a little expensive but her face is very soft and smooth. Third, acne sometimes is produced because the skin is dry, at night after your son washes his face have him place Aquaphor on as a moisturizer. The consistency is similar to vaseline but it reduces the oil, helps with the acne and leaves the face feeling very smooth. Alcohol will only irritate his skin. The least expensive of these products would be the Aquaphor, have him try it for a week and hopefully he'll see a difference.

I've tried the Murad products, they are pricey but work well. You may also want to take him to get some facials and see what they suggest.

Good luck.

I have to agree with all the mommas advise below on the importance of a good diet, lots of water, and no skin care product is going to work with out regular use. I grew up eating only healthy foods- no sugar, processed foods, or store bought meats, but still had some acne issues- which I still have to this day. Never super bad, just small breakouts. I used Proactive for awhile, but it stopped working for me- I hear that they have a new line now, I haven't looked into that one. I have been using Zap-It entire line and changed my make-up to the Sei Bella line (which your son shouldn't have an issue with-LOL) and have had so much improvement!

I use Say Yes to Tomatoes Skin Care Line and it has helped a lot (95-99% natural/organic depending on the product). I also put toothpaste on big ones overnight. I too didn't want chemicals and other stuff as I am pregnant BUT I break out when pregnant or going through other hormonal changes (like when I quit nursing my 2nd baby). Good luck to him. I would do what you can to avoid scarring -- that will be with him for life.

These are some things you can try:
Try Cetaphil face cleanser & moisturizer.
Wash the face immediately after sports or sweating.
And keep the hands away from the face.
And Hydrogen Peroxide would be better than alcohol.
Wash the face and hair before bedtime and always have a fresh pillowcase every night.

If all else fails, visit a dermatologist. You may have to have him take a prescription - if only temporarily to get it under control.

Good luck.

Sounds like you're someone who really wants to be natural - and I'm all for that. I try to eat / feed my family organic when possible and practical - we try to limit our meat, I use vinegar and baking soda to clean much of the time - but I'm willing to use other products /food when neccessary. The Proactiv product line is supposed to work like magic. If your son is in public school, and since teenagers are cruel, and can be really brutal to eachother and this is such a tender age to begin with, I beg that you reconsider your position on natural vs. non-natural products. If using a non-natural product line for a while helps your son have more confidence and face the world in a better way I think it's worth consideration for his emotional well being.

The only other thought is that when kids are very involved in sports they tend to perspire much more and their skin gets more clogged. When my teenage daughter is in season for her sports she has to wash her face thoroughly the minute she gets home.

good luck!

Get him proactive. I would quit using the alcohol, that probably just irritates the skin even more.
Proactive worked great for me as a teen...the key is to make sure he consistently washes his face, my teenager complains about his acne but he will go 2 or 3 days without washing his face and wonders why it breaks out so bad.
Drink lots of water too...

Rubbing alcohol will just make it worse! I suggest going into a vitamin store, whole food store, or something similar. They can point you in the direction of a good, safe product.

Rubbing alcohol and all that washing could make his skin break out more.

Take him to a dermatologist, natural cures are okay for small breakouts, but when it becomes more severe or cystic or nodular, then he needs something more that can help fight the cause of the acne. They can not only be painful, but really injure his self-esteem and case scarring.

When I was a teen, I used Accutane, the only thing that worked but they have better prescriptions now.

Also, habits such as not picking at or touching his face, not putting his face on the phone, washing his hands often, cleaning his pillowcase regularly, drinking lots of water and less proceeds foods... all can help.

Look at acne as another illness. He needs to see a dermatologist. and he needs a prescription. Or maybe not. Maybe the derm has a remedy that is natural. You don't know until you go. I am a woman in her 40's. I still deal w/ acne. Chemicals in a drug may be the best thing. I am not a big fan of drugs, but, sometimes what is going on in our own bodies isn't so great either.

Updated

Look at acne as another illness. He needs to see a dermatologist. and he needs a prescription. Or maybe not. Maybe the derm has a remedy that is natural. You don't know until you go. I am a woman in her 40's. I still deal w/ acne. Chemicals in a drug may be the best thing. I am not a big fan of drugs, but, sometimes what is going on in our own bodies isn't so great either.

Updated

Look at acne as another illness. He needs to see a dermatologist. and he needs a prescription. Or maybe not. Maybe the derm has a remedy that is natural. You don't know until you go. I am a woman in her 40's. I still deal w/ acne. Chemicals in a drug may be the best thing. I am not a big fan of drugs, but, sometimes what is going on in our own bodies isn't so great either.

Updated

Look at acne as another illness. He needs to see a dermatologist. and he needs a prescription. Or maybe not. Maybe the derm has a remedy that is natural. You don't know until you go. I am a woman in her 40's. I still deal w/ acne. Chemicals in a drug may be the best thing. I am not a big fan of drugs, but, sometimes what is going on in our own bodies isn't so great either.

Book an appointment at the Dermatologist!!!! They are the professionals! Don't waste your money trying stuff from the drug store...his problem isn't that his face isn't clean it's hormones! I had acne growing up and for me it was at it's worst around 25. The dermatologist got it under control. He's 13 and we all know how unsure of ourselves we were at that age...having acne too is just torture for the poor guy. I'm all about no toxins, safe everything, etc. but he's going to need a topical medication to get it under control and then he'll have a good routine (prob light cleanser, astringent, lotion) with products that work for him.

Take him to dermatologist. I would think that putting a prescription cream on his face is preferable to possible disfiguring scarring.

I have not had to deal with teen acne, but I had a lot of problems as an adult. I tried all the over-the-counter stuff and all they did was dry out my skin (which I didn't need as dry skin contributes to wrinkles!). The products did nothing to eliminate my acne. I waited way too long to go to the dermatologist and am angry with myself that I didn't do it sooner (I could have avoided scarring). Acne of that caliber is caused from bacteria from inside your body. I took an antibiotic and it totally eliminated my acne. My skin has not looked this good in years! Take your son to a dermatologist and talk with him/her about options you feel comfortable with. It might be a lot easier than fretting over all the other OTC options and wasting money on products that don't work.

I would recommend Oxy Maximum Face Wash 2x daily. I use it as an adult and so does my 11 yr old daughter. Works great, but be careful what he uses to dry his face afterwards...can bleach some fabrics.

I agree with the mom below, if it is serious enough, you may need to go to a dermatologist and he may need a prescription. My 13yr old just started using Benza Clin. It is a prescription and she is starting to show signs of it clearing up. Nothing else worked before. Not even the Neutrogena soap. But, maybe thedermatologist can also recommend something without the chemicals for you.