Best treatment for acne...

[Safeway]

To the OP. Your son most likely does NOT need Accutane. Accutane should be an absolute last resort for your son and his dermatologist.

 

[Sassy Rabbit]

Acne is normal at that age. Before going to a dermatologist, try a simple solution first - wash your face after each time you exercise, or are in an oily environment (I used to work in an Italian restaurant and my face would start to break out in the summer on longer shifts.) Also, make sure you use a cleanser that is designed to be used on the face and not the traditional bar of soap. If that doesn't help, then start to consider a dermatologist.

 

[Tiamat]

This has been mentioned, but one of the habits you need to catch and stop (if present) is touching of the face. Any kind of irritation, or touching of the face with hands (that are most likely not clean) will make the condition considerably worse. Keeping a well-balanced diet helps greatly (esp. if you have a steady intake of proper vitamins and minerals). Dry skin can make it worse, if humidity is low, get a humidifier and use moisturizing lotions.

 

[Delta6Echo]

Originally posted by: thecoolnessrune
I will say that Proactive by far, was the most *effective* for treating my acne. It's a pain to go through the process every morning though.

Proactiv + a healthy diet (w/multi-vitamins, calcium, fish oil, vitamin E and bromelain) = the perfect solution

 

[irishScott]

I don't recommend you force it on him, but cutting artificial sugar (especially soda) will help loads. Health diet in general will help, but cutting sugar has the largest effect IMO.

Also, when mine got really bad, I went a dermatologist and got some prescription stuff. Worked better than any OTC solution I tried.

 

[syzygy]

Originally posted by: Delta6Echo

Originally posted by: thecoolnessrune
I will say that Proactive by far, was the most *effective* for treating my acne. It's a pain to go through the process every morning though.

Proactiv + a healthy diet (w/multi-vitamins, calcium, fish oil, vitamin E and bromelain = the perfect solution

there is no reason to overpay for Proactiv. The active ingredient can be found in other
topicals for half the cost. All those vitamins tossed into Proactiv are utterlyworthless
for treating acne and for anything else when applied topically.

 

[syzygy]

Originally posted by: irishScott
I don't recommend you force it on him, but cutting artificial sugar (especially soda) will help loads. Health diet in general will help, but cutting sugar has the largest effect IMO.

Also, when mine got really bad, I went a dermatologist and got some prescription stuff. Worked better than any OTC solution I tried.

if he is open to the idea, do try to tweak his diet by subtracting those blasted refined
sugars and excessive trans fats and by adding more water. Teach him to read and
research nutritional labels.

Above all else tho, measure and reduce his stress levels, if possible. Acne explodes
as a response to hormonal changes that can be excacerbated by stress.

 

[skace]

Originally posted by: syzygy
there is no reason to overpay for Proactiv. The active ingredient can be found in other
topicals for half the cost. All those vitamins tossed into Proactiv are utterlyworthless
for treating acne and for anything else when applied topically.

What is the active ingredient in Proactiv? Benzoyle Peroxide?

 

[crt1530]

Originally posted by: skace

Originally posted by: syzygy
there is no reason to overpay for Proactiv. The active ingredient can be found in other
topicals for half the cost. All those vitamins tossed into Proactiv are utterlyworthless
for treating acne and for anything else when applied topically.

What is the active ingredient in Proactiv? Benzoyle Peroxide?

2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide.

 

[scott916]

Try out www.acne.org, there are a lot of good tips there. Costco sells a Proactiv-like three piece kit that's supposedly quite effective and MUCH less expensive than Proactiv.

 

[Gibsons]

Originally posted by: crt1530

Originally posted by: skace

Originally posted by: syzygy
there is no reason to overpay for Proactiv. The active ingredient can be found in other
topicals for half the cost. All those vitamins tossed into Proactiv are utterlyworthless
for treating acne and for anything else when applied topically.

What is the active ingredient in Proactiv? Benzoyle Peroxide?

2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide.

I agree with syzygy.

Buy some OTC lotion with benzoyl peroxide, you can get it at up to 15% I think (will be much much cheaper than proactiv). If that doesn't work (give it at least a week) then you can start thinking about seeing a derm and maybe getting accutane.

 

[skace]

Always start at 2.5% and work up in 2.5% increments. 15% is ridiculous. There is also little proof that anything over 2.5% even helps that much more. You only increase once the current dosage is not causing any agitation at all with the skin. And 1 week is far too short of a period of time for any treatment. You may even break out worse over that first week/month.