Seekig Moms

Hi,

I see that everyone is saying to go to a Dermatologist and to try pro-active, but they can be expensive..I use (at 31 still have pretty severe breakouts) St Ives Apricot scrub for oily/acne prone skin..its the blackhead and blemish formula. It works great..and it's under $5..Try that first..have her use it morning and night..wash with HOT as hot as she can stand it and rinse with cold. The hot opens the pores so the scrub can get in and clean and the cold will close them up. Try it EVERYDAY..2X a day!!

Good Luck!!

Hi K.,
My sister had really bad acne when she was a teenager and tried everything. The only thing that ever worked for her was ProActive. Good luck!

I recommend the clean and clear from wal-mart as well, Ive been using it for over a month and no longer break out near as bad as I used to.

Hi K.,

I know everyone is saying Proactive is the way to go, but I have had friends switch from proactive to the Arbonne acne line and have better results. It is a pure, safe, botanically based product. Please check out there website to learn more about it at www.arbonne.com
Let me know if you have any questions.

C.

Hi K.! I know of a great acne line for both teens and adults. It's called Arbonne Clear Advantage. I'm not sure if you have ever heard of Arbonne International or not. Arbonne has botanically-based skincare and much more. No harsh chemicals, etc. This line also comes with a supplement to support from the inside out, great for people that are prone to acne. Would you like information about this skincare line? Go to theresamarquette.myarbonne.com.

Good Luck!

T.

Hi there.... I have had the same problem for as long as I could remember. I would NEVER recomend buying something off the TV unless I didnt fully back it up. Pro active!!! Its a little expensive,($50) but once you use it for two full weeks, you will never want for anything else!!! I have used everything... and all the home remedies, and I mean ALL, and nothing worked untill this.
Good luck!

As a woman, I had very bad acne right after the birth of my oldest son, now 3 1/2 years old. I know this is going to sound like an infomercial, but proactive really worked for me. And it didn't take long. A lot of celebrities use it, which is a good point to make with your teen. I told my sister about it, who at the time was a teenager, and now she swears by the stuff. Our mall now carries it in vending machines, like a Soda machine, right next to the movie theater. Tell her to give it a try!

Hope this helps!!!

K.,
Maby I can give some advice if you don't mind. I sell Mary Kay and I do alot of teen facils so I have a little experience in that department. I don't just sell Mary Kay.I teach skin care. If you need any assistance with this situation please feel free to call me.
Thanks
A. Brown
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____@____.com

Ask your pediatrician, they can give you a prescription for a cream for her to use. My daughter just has the typical few pimples around her cycle. But her doctor gave her a prescription for this cream and she uses it everyday just on areas where she has them and her face is so clear.
You can do that and not have to go to the dermatologist.
I have also heard that Proactive works but never have used it.
Good luck.
Lots of water will help to flush her system as well. But it's just an over abundance of oil being secreted by her right now.
I and my daughter also use Purity face soap. I know this stuff is great and keeps your skin completely clean and is safe for sensitive and acne prone skin.
It is made by Philosophy and can be found online at Ulta and Sephora now.
Good luck.

Have you tried "Acne Free". It is over the counter and its a knock off of Proactive. You can get it at CVS and they have it for Severe Acne aswell. That may help with the control. I use it and love it....it has helped me alot. I break out when I get stressed....which seems to be all that time!!!

Three things:

-eat healthy
-take Vitamin E (it's great for skin!)
-do raw egg yolk masks (they are packed with E)

Order Proactive for your daughter. It works really, really well and is worth the investment. If you order it online and continue with the proactive program, I think it's only about 20 dollars a month. (or less)

The first thing I would assess is her diet. Are there more fruits and veggies than sugar (sodas), high fat foods? this is critical. The other thing is stress. Is she feeling over stressed about school (grades), friends, relationships, family? Teenage years are highly hormonal at the very least and then with any added stresses this can effect hormone imbalances even more.

I had terrible acne growing up. I started using proactive and it worked great!

I had only mild acne as a teenager, but it didn't respond to anything (antibiotics, face creams, etc...) Any acne is embarrassing to a teenager and my Doctor knew it. He also had a teenage daughter with the same type of acne that I had. He put his daughter on Accutane for relatively mild acne and said it worked wonders for her acne and her confidence. My mom agreed to let me try it and my skin looked amazing just 4 weeks later. The worst side effects for me were extremely dry scalp and lips. So, I would recommend starting with a shampoo like Head and Shoulders and using chapstick immediately if you decide to go this route. I have heard in the news about this drug causing symptoms of depression in teenagers so, if your daughter exhibits any of these signs already, you may need to give it a little extra consideration. I'm sure your Doctor will explain all of the risks and benefits. Good Luck!

Clean and Clear Advantage is the answer. I'm 38 and have had acne since hitting puberty. I've been on prescription meds, proactive and everything else. A month ago I purchased the kit from Wal-mart at $17.96 and my face is completely acne free and all the old spots are fading as well. I'd recommend this product to everyone. A.

Your daughter may need to see a Dermatologist, but in the mean time you may want to consider using ProActiv. My grandson has a problem, and after being on this for a few weeks his skin clears up. When it starts getting low he begins to panic, because it makes such a difference. You can order it online. Good luck I know this makes your daughter very subconscious.

When I was a teenager, I had some acne that always bothered me, but I was embarrassed to go to a dermatologist when my mom suggested it. I finally went when I graduated from college (i was ready for it to be gone for good!). He gave me some prescription creams which helped immensely. I also found out that my face was sensitive to a lot of the over the counter types of acne washes and creams as well as the majority of makeup! I now use oil of olay face wash with no scents, and my face finally stays clear. I also have to be sure that the makeup I use is for sensitive skin, or natural minerals.

Consider taking to a consult with a dermatologist. Many will give you samples of face washes so she can see which one she likes and her skin is happy with. Many can also give you samples of the medicated creams as well. Everyone's skin is different and will react to meds/washes, etc. different. It is to some extent finding what makes her skin happy. Good luck.

If you can find one, take her to a dermatologist. She's a teenager now and all teens think their mother's and father's are wrong and they are right. A dermatologist can tell her why this is happening to her and what she can do about it and she'll listen to him cause he's a professional. He'll most likely give her a prescription for a cream or gel to put on her face daily to twice a day. Extreme cases get pills.. H. all goes well if you decide to do this.
H.

I have my son (16) and daughter (14) take extra zinc for a few days and it always clears it up.

Try pro-active. I had really bad acne when i was a kid and it really works. kinda pricy but who can put a price on feeling pretty?
Hope that it helps. Im pretty sure that you could find their info on-line. Called pro active solutions.
Good Luck
T.

A friend of ours has a teenage son with severe acne. Nothing has helped thus far. Now he is seeing a dermatologist and will begin a pill regiment for one month. It's a antibiotic type medicine. They also have to monitor him as it can affect his liver. Scary I know, but I guess it's so bad that this medicine may be their last resort. I know proactive works well to, but she has to be diligent about her cleaning regiment and not give up. I understand you don't get good results for a few weeks. I feel for her..it's not easy being a teenager, much less having to deal with severe acne. You can find Proactive on line or even at a kiosk in the malls. Tyrone mall as one. Good luck!!

get the poor girl to a skin doctor. Acne is really an infection and seems to spread And she can't grow a beard to hide it like Hank Willias Jr has done to hide his smashed in face

At that age I had acne really bad too. A lot of it has to do with what we eat. I don't drink dark colored soda anymore and I watch the amount of grease too. Chocolate and candy also play a factor in acne. I also found that I was allergic to alot of those cleaners so I would just wash with warm water. I also watch the make-up, I'm allergic to alot of that stuff too. I'm nearly 28 yrs old now and my acne is very much better.
It's nasty bad but if she can watch what she eats she might find that certain foods break her out more than others.
I hope this helps the both of you.

K.,
My heart ached for my beautiful daughter when she had severe acne. She had it starting at about 11 years old. She also had thick glasses and then came the braces. She felt so awkward and became very shy. We tried proactive but I think my daughter was too immature to follow such a regimen. It really didn't help her. So I took her to a dermatologist-Dr. Kathy Milam-who prescribed antibiotics and topical creams and also facewash. This helped a little but she'd still have major flareups around her period.

Finally, at 15(maybe even 14) the dermatologist suggested Ortho Tricyclene (birth control pills). It was a miracle! Her skin cleared up so fast! She no longer suffers the anguish of feeling so ugly. I am happy to say she has contacts now and her braces are finally off. She rarely wears makeup (she'll be 17 soon)which shows me she's confident enough about her skin.

Looking back now, I think her experience of years of cystic acne taught her humility and empathy for others.

SO ASAP take her to the dermatologist(usually covered by insurance). Best of luck.

-K.

Change the diet. No more sugar or soda. Cut way back on dairy and grains and bread, especially wheat. As a matter of fact, many people are allergic to dairy and wheat. Try removing these from the diet altogether for a couple of weeks, then slowly introduce them one at a time. Lots of vegetables, especially green, leafy ones. Try a green supplement. Go to www.mercola.com and check out the chlorella. Try it for a couple of months to see how your daughter responds. Best of luck to you.

G.

K. M I feel that u r doin the right thing by telling her not to touch her face so much. a product that i use can be bought @ the dollar general or wal mart and it is called st. ives apricot scrub. Also in the morning have her get a warm washrag and put it over her face, clean her face with an antiseptic wash and then splash cool water on her face. have her do it in the a.m. and in the p.m. when she washes her face, make sure she uses an upward circular motion and don't over scrub. the hot water is going to open up the pores on her face so the dirt and oil can be scrubbed and the cool water will close the pores back up to help eliminate all the debris that will cause pimples. if she has excessive acne u might want to have her checked out by the dermatologist.

I have the same problem with my 13 year old. I've told her that I picked at my face and now I have scars from it. I've shown her my scars and that stopped the picking. As for the refusing to wash, I made a 'beauty time' with her each night, where she and I take 20 minutes away from everyone else and go into the master bath to do face washing, or mint julep masks, or the proactive system together. She gets time alone with me to talk or vent, and I make sure she washes her face nightly, and hopefully I'm starting a good habit with her.

I remind her in the morning, when she's always in a rush, to use the face wash on cotton balls. I remember being 13 and completely oblivious to what my skin looked like, till a doctor mentioned it and humiliated me.

I don't want that to happen to her.

Try Proactiv. Just remember that she may go through a dry skin period but with time Proactiv will really help.
If proactive does not work then send her to a dermatolgist.
Maybe they can perscribe a stronger cream.

I too had a severe acne problem around that age. Doctors tried almost every pill and face cream possible. They finally decided to put me on Acutain. Within days of being on the pill my face cleared up and never again returned. It was the greatest thing ever. The only thing is that I had to take blood tests every month while I was on it because it causes birth defects if pregnant. Not that I was having sex, but they thought better safe than sorry.

I hope this helps. I have a one year old now and I know if he inherits my bad blemishes I would ask a doctor to look into it immediately.

Hello K.,

I been battleting Acne for a long time. Being an adult now is very embarrasing for me because acne is not common on much 36 yearl old ladies, I teach aerobics so I really have to hide it! I purchased MURAD recently and my acne no is a thing of the past, they seel the product at JC Penney or the webise www.murad.com I hope this infor helps!
PS. Proactive is proven to be a scam, the formula on proactive is exactly the same as any other cheap over the counter formula you can buy at Walmart or CVS. Find the article about Proactive on www.Fineliving.com I've done my homework...I started with proactive it worked for about 2 weeks and the acne came back worse!

I would have your daughter try the ProActiv solution. It really does help.

Have you tried Pro-activ? I bought this for myself as I was breaking out a whole lot, it didn't work. Then, my 13 year old daughter took it over and it really worked for her. I have several adult friends whose teens use it and swear by it too. They have a money back policy.

Have you tried "Acne Free"? It is a 3-step cleaning system with Benzoine Peroxide, you can buy it at WalMart, Walgreens, Target etc. I am in my 30s and have used it now for almost 2 years and it is about the only product that has helped me.
C.

as a teen I also had problems with acne that was carried into my adulthood. The only thing I have found that works is ProActiv Solution. Here in Florida you can get it at almost any mall in the kiosks. The product is not cheap but it is worth it. You need to buy the whole kit because it only works if you have it all. I also recommend the refining mask, it is great for really bad breakouts like during your period. I have checked and it is no less expensive to purchase it online as at the kiosks once you pay shipping and it helps to talk to the people selling it, they will walk you through what kind of breakouts you have and what is the best stuff for your daughter. Good luck

T.

Hi K.,

We are working on a third generation of serious acne prone skin. My mom has horrible scarring, I've been on Accutane and, now, my 13 year old has been going to the dermatologist for a year. What your daughter is going through is mainly hormonal. She will, hopefully, grow out of this, but this doesn't always happen. If you can, take her to the dermatologist. The medicines they prescibe work really well, but it is very expensive. Our insurance doesn't cover the cost of the meds, but dr. visits are covered. If not, I would try the Proactiv ideas. It is also expensive, but not as much as the prescription medicines. The key is to have your daughter on board with doing whatever it takes to keep her face clear. It took a while for my daughter and I can tell when she hasn't been using her medicine. Teens are brutal, but if she doesn't care, there isn't much you can do until she wants to clear it up. Good luck.

Proactiv is great if you follow the directions faithfully. They also guaranty or money back I believe.

Hi K.. While I have a daughter who is only 2, I can give you advice on this. I have my own business with Mary Kay and have been using the products for more than 20 years. (I am 33.) We do have a line of skin care for teens, but if her acne is really severe, you may want to try ProActive. People with severe acne seem to have good results with that. I will tell you this though. She definitely needs to cleanse her face and MOISTURIZE it morning AND night. And please, DO NOT let her use soap. She needs to use a good cleanser. Some people think that if they have acne they shouldn't moisturize their face because they feel like they should dry it out so the acne will go away. That is completely wrong. It is so important to keep your face moisturized, especially if you have acne because your brain does not know the difference between water and oil. So, when your face is dry, your brain knows that it needs moisture, but instead of producing water, it will produce oil. Therefore, allowing the acne to continue. If you use a moisturizer on your face, then your brain won't tell your body to produce oil because it will already be hydrated from the moisturizer. I hope all this makes sense and has helped. Please feel free to ask me any questions. Take care. -A. =)

Please take her to a board-certified dermotologist right away.

K.,
I am 29 and I have acne rosacea. Typical over the counter treatments don't work. I use a product that is all herbal, it's two chewable tablets (one in morning and one before bed, along with a topical cream) you can buy it from Rite Aid for about $12 and IT WORKED!! It's made by Nature's Cure. It is strictly designed for women(and at 15 your daughter could take it). Also she may want to cut down on greasy and sugary foods. I noticed that when I cut back on my potato chips, bacon and french fries my skin cleared up with the medication alot faster. If this doesn't work for her you may want to consult a dermatologist for a perscription strength medication. I wish you and your daughter luck, I personally know how emotionally trying it can be to have bad skin.
Another skin care line I use(when I can afford it) is called OBAGI, that too works but requires a little more time in the morning and at night, and it's expensive $500 just for the start up kit...I got it as a gift. AND whatever you do make sure she isn't using ordinary soap, that will make her breakouts worse...she needs to wash with facial soap, If you use a special face soap let her try using that to see if it helps. Keep me posted on how things go.

I have a friend who has really bad acne and he uses Proactive. That stuff really works. His face has cleared up and it doesn't even look like he ever hasd acne problems. You can get that at a kiosk in the mall. Also if you've seen it on tv call and ask for more info. From my experience it is awesome and works wonders. And it's not expensive at all !! That's the great part. It's only $19.95 and I believe that it's a 60 day supply (tv). Hope I could Help.

Hi there I had that same problem with my own skin I tried EVERYTHING including the proactive kit the ONLY thing that I found that worked for me was antibacterial dial bar soap the orange one I still use it daily and have been breakout free for years. Maybe it will work for your daughter it is certainally worth trying.

Hope this helps
Kandy

As mothers we need to show our daughters how to take care of them selfs. It is good that you are telling her to wash her face. She also needs to try this "Proactiv" this stuff really works. I know that you will have to spend some money on it so that she can use it so that her face will clear up. BUT, If it will help her than that is what she needs.
The way that the girls look is very important to how they get treated by others at school. So if she has a problem with pimples I hope that you two together can help her get this under control.

http://www.proactiv.com/index.php?acnt=GTP00000&gcid=...
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Here are berfore and after stories and pictures
http://www.proactiv.com/stories/stories.php

God Bless you and your family.

From one mother to another.
:)

I'm 33 and still suffer from acne. I've been to several dermatologists and on every drug/treatment available- accutane, antibiotics, proactiv- nothing works as well as accutane but I know have a heart condition due to taking it. It's horrible for your body and it's not a permanent cure. The pill works best for me. Is she on the pill? Certain pills work better than others and she'll need to be on it a few months to notice results. It's hormonal and genetics that encourage acne. Contrary to what people believe, it's not what you eat that causes or aggravates acne. I am an identical twin and my sister does not have it. I had blood work done and I have a very high testosterone level as well as polycystic ovaries. You may want to have her levels tested. It's very upsetting to wake up every day just to find more flaws with your appearance. Tell her to keep her chin up and good luck!

Hi K.!
Have you heard of Arbonne? It does not have a lot of chemicals in it and you can also get it at a discount. It is formulated in Switzerland and is patened pending in the U.S. and Switzerland.

I would love to tell you more if you are interested, just let me know!

I have a 4 year old and I use the baby line on him, it's really great stuff!

Check out www.jaxbeach.MyArbonne.com

Have you taken her to the dermatologist? She may need meds to calm down her acne. This worked for me as well as a friend of mine who had severe acne. Also, make sure that she keeps her hair out of her face as often as possible and washes her pillow cases every couple of days. If you can't afford the dermatologist try Proactive - it is affordable and does work well. I hope that your daughter's acne clears up - it is very tough to have acne when looks are so prized in our society - especially for a teenager.

In my humble opinion, I'd take her to see a dermatologist and have them give you their professional opinion. The solution could be simple but not widely known. I would stay away from beauty counters since their real intent is to sell their product not the health of your skin. Plus products available from dermatologist are stronger in ingredients than those sold over the counter. If you can get a handle on the acne now it would be an act of kindness that will be appreciated. Perhaps your health insurance may cover this or you could work out a reduced price or payment plan with the doctor's office.