We just had a 15 yr. old foster daughter join our home and she asked me what she could do to get rid of her acne. She wears makeup (partly to cover it up) and so does need something to clean that off each day. Her acne is not terrible, but she does have some.
My own experience with acne was that the more I tried, the worse it got. Then, when I switched to just rinsing my face with a washcloth in the shower (just water) and then applying jojoba oil afterwards, my skin improved quite a lot. But I need advice for a teen who wears makeup!
I also talked with her a bit about diet and how it affects acne, but just a bit.
I suffer from adult acne. There are several supplements you can try that worked for me.
Flax seed oil works wonderful for me. It works the best at preventing the large volcanic like pimples that never come to a head.
Clear 5 - This is a multiviamin that I've started giving to my D14. It's a combination of B5, zinc and other vitamins. While my daughter is not completely acne free, I've definitely noticed a difference. Her pimples are fewer and smaller than before. She also uses a prescription benzoyl peroxide cream on her face but she doesn't wear makeup.
I use salicylic acid products on my face. It seems to work the best for me. There are several foundations that contain salicylic acid, - I used to use Neutrogena but can't find my shade anymore so now I use a Clinique foundation that contains salicylic acid.
Between using products that contain salicylic acid, and taking 2000 mg of flax seed every day, I manage to keep my acne under control.
I don't have any advice about acne treatments. I thought I would mention Cetaphil, a gentle, effective cleanser. DD has tried several different products, but she always comes back to it.
I change the pillow cases every other day. Also we use lather products that really helps. Also when I was a teen I did not wash my hair enough and the greasyness really messed with my face.
Is birth control an option? Although I'm not a fan or hormonal birth control now, when I was a teen, anything was better than acne, and for me, it was a miracle cure. I didn't find it to be a hygiene issue, I used all of the products available out there so my face was as clean as could be, but the only thing that worked was birth control.
My daughter had severe acne; we tried Clinique and Proactive. She now uses a skin cream called Epiduo that we get from the dermatologist. She also started washing her face twice a day with Cetaphil for normal to oily skin.
She goes to an all girls' school, so she doesn't wear make up every day, but she uses the Cetaphil whether she wears it or not.
ProActive is a MIRACLE ime. I understand it doesn't work for everyone, but oh my gosh it's unbelievable how wonderful it works for me. It even helps keep down the giant cystic acne I get with my period. It not only keeps pimples away, but it also makes my skin so smooth. I love the stuff. Now they have generic brands that say "compare to Proactiv" but all of them I have bought to save money do not work It's the same ingredients, I don't know why it doesn't work, but only the real thing works for me. I tried all the home remedies you can find online and that's the only thing that works.
They do make a sensitive formula but I just use the normal set. I also use it only every 2-3 days.
My daughter was on antibiotics for a sinus infection, and it totally cleared up her acne...face, shoulders, back, chest...it was all gone. She pointed out it cleared up after the abx and I googled it, and it is actually used at times for severe acne. I don't remember the name of it but you can google it, it comes in a cream form also.
My daughter had the same experience with Anitbiotics clearing up acne, but I can't keep her on them long term, although I know it is done. We found some women's formula vitamins at GNC and it really helped with her skin.
Proactive worked for my oldest daughter at first, but after about 6 months it stopped. My youngest daughter has more typical teen acne, not the bad stuff, and it works for her.
haha I know it's TORTURE!!!! I used to be known as 'The cookie monster'. (Even in my 20's!) I'm trying to be good. But my 12 yr old is VERY strict cause she does not want zits.
I like it cause she's way healthier now. (She had a few problems before.)
I was seriously asking though, outside of fat and carbs, what source of calories are left? We have to have one or the other in order to survive, and if you cut out all sugars, fat can't be metabolized anyway... and what do people do who are rail thin already?
As a teenager it used to bug me when people said zits are caused by bad diet or greasy hair or skin. Maybe in some people that's the case but for me, I was already a clean person and had a pretty good diet... the only thing that worked was hormonal birth control.
Now that I am an adult, even though I'm no longer on hormonal birth control and my diet is pretty much crap, I haven't had a zit in years.
I'm pretty sure for most teens it's a hormonal thing. Otherwise, why would it just suddenly appear at puberty?
Puppies also get acne around the same time... and most people just feed their puppies the same food their entire life outside of switching them from puppy food (which contains more fat and carbs per serving) to an adult food.
I have found that simple is better. I wash my makeup off with my homemade lye soap, I'd check out more natural soap selections such as "Kiss My Face". You might pay $4 for a bar of soap, but if you just use it for your face it lasts forever! In the morning I just rinse and wipe dry with a microfiber cloth (yes the kind you use to clean with or for automotive). If her skin isn't really oily just a washcloth would probably be fine, dirt and oil cling to microfiber but it can be drying.
As for makeup, obviously none is best. But that's not an option for me. I really like Neutrogena's skin clearing foundation, it has salicylic acid in it. Neutrogena also makes great moisturizers, I loved their combination skin one.
Hi, reading some of the comments and yes lots of good advice, wearing her hair back and making sure she washes her face at night, I always say don't let your pillow case be your washcloth, I found the comment about the antibiotic very interesting, it makes sense because usually acne is caused by an over abundance of bacteria, and bacteria loves to live off of and eat makeup!, however antibiotics are a stretch for clearing up acne, ( I know the comment stated the antibiotic were for something else with a glorious side affect for clearing her daughters skin, just to make that clear I am not criticizing her in any way)......my suggestion is to use a more natural Melaleuca oil, also known as tea tree essential oil, which has antibacterial properties ( as well as many other helpful properties) and Has been documented to clear up Acne, and used in many expensive care products , you can purchase a good quality one,( I like Doterra essential oils myself 100% pure, therapuetic grade), and add a drop or two to your mild and gentle cleanser, or just apply it directly to the face ( only use a drop or two) after washing, you will notice a big difference right away!!! Good luck!,
My daughter is already having problems with acne and our dermatologist recommended Citrus Clear - so I tried this and it worked immediately. She is washing her face and using it daily and is a much kinder and gentler than other acne products. She loves it !
I -- very seriously -- tried everything on my 13 year-old daughter who had a lot on forehead and chin.
Then I cut out cow's milk (she was drinking 2-3 glasses.day). Overnight the acne was flatter, less inflamed/swollen, less red, etc. It was very obvious. Now, about three weeks later, it is all dried up and clearly on its way out, though I'm not sure how long we have till it's completely clear (no red at all). She has had only two new pimples and those came up immediately after eating whipped cream with strawberries and white sauce on pasta. She was getting new ones every day.
She eats sugar and lots of butter (she's French) and has not problem with it.
I -- very seriously -- tried everything on my 13 year-old daughter who had a lot on forehead and chin.
Then I cut out cow's milk (she was drinking 2-3 glasses.day). Overnight the acne was flatter, less inflamed/swollen, less red, etc. It was very obvious. Now, about three weeks later, it is all dried up and clearly on its way out, though I'm not sure how long we have till it's completely clear (no red at all). She has had only two new pimples and those came up immediately after eating whipped cream with strawberries and white sauce on pasta. She was getting new ones every day.
She eats sugar and lots of butter (she's French) and has not problem with it.
Oops, forgot to add that most make up is absolute junk. Have her try a pure mineral brans like Alima. Bare Minerals is garbage, it has bismuth with will make her face shiny. That's why they sell Mineral Veil, it's basically cornstarch and parabens to cut down the shine.
Alima dries out the rare zit I get during AF. In fact, I sometimes leave it on overnight and maybe even daub an extra bit on a blemish before going to bed. It's good stuff!
ProActive is a MIRACLE ime. I understand it doesn't work for everyone, but oh my gosh it's unbelievable how wonderful it works for me. It even helps keep down the giant cystic acne I get with my period. It not only keeps pimples away, but it also makes my skin so smooth. I love the stuff. Now they have generic brands that say "compare to Proactiv" but all of them I have bought to save money do not work It's the same ingredients, I don't know why it doesn't work, but only the real thing works for me. I tried all the home remedies you can find online and that's the only thing that works.
They do make a sensitive formula but I just use the normal set. I also use it only every 2-3 days.
Yeah I only use it once a day. At night I just wash my face with dove and use a good moisturizer. I have had terrible acne my whole life with terrible cysts/boils, and this has helped tremendously. I get the odd tiny pimple but not the giant ones that scar my face. I have tried all kinds of washes and supplements and this is the only thing that works.
My daughter found that the cover-up makeup products that contain zink not only cover, but also heal. Tbey're by far the best solution she's found. You're basically covering with an antibiotic, instead of clogging and causing the blemish to get worse. She's also begun using a sonic-type electric cleanser, but those can be pricey. I'd only try them if these other suggestions given don't work.
Ha, I was going to come back and talk about zinc. My daughter was using Sudacrem, a British diaper rash cream containing zinc, for up & coming pimples and it zaps them outright. Plus, it smells good! I read that on mumsnet, I think.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Mothering Forum
16.5M posts
285.1K members
Since 1996
A forum community dedicated to all mothers and inclusive family living enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about nurturing, health, behavior, housing, adopting, care, classifieds, and more!