Severe acne in 14 year old

[Judith Rowland]

My son who is 14 has severe acne on his face, back and chest. He has been treated with Differin, Azelex, and several other topical treatments - so many, I can't remember all their names. Recently he was put on an oral antibiotic, which has helped a little, but just a little. I feel so bad for him and I'm wondering about Accutane. His dermatologist says that he must be 16 to be on Accutane. He is very big for his age - 5'9", 155 lbs. Is it age or size that matters? Must one be 16?
Thank you.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Judith:

There is no magic age for Accutane.  It is used in young children to treat other conditions.  If your son takes other treatments for months and they don't help, then Accutane deserves to be considered seriously.

Best.

Dr. R

[me]

i have heard of alternative therapy for acne such as problems with digestive enzymes or zinc deficiency .

[Annonumous]

I too suffer from acne. It makes me feel terriable to be around people. Im 16. I play sports like football at school and basketball at home. I am always wondering what people are thinking about me when they see me. I walk with my head down ashamed of who i am. Ive asked god to get rid of it. It hurts me so bad when i walk by a mirror and see an ugly boy. I sometimes cry in my room wondering why god has cursed me with this hidious face. I dont like when people think that they are better than people because they have better skin. It is hard for me to write my feelings because i have never told anyone how i feel not even my family. I feel like i will never go out with anybody and they all judge me for my skin. It is red with pits in the nose some in the forehead and some by the nose.  Came someone help take the pain away.

[Breanna]

I read these and I am 20 years old and I had acne when I was in high school.  It is something that you have to deal with.  I went on several medication for acne also.  One thing that I tried a year ago and I am still using is Proactiv.  It was on TV.  I noticed that one of my friend's face was clearing up and I said something to her and she told me she tried this proactiv.  I'm telling you my acne has never been better.  I rarely ever break out any more.  It almost controls my breakouts. I wash with the renewing cleanser, the put the revitalizing toner on and then the lotion.  I use it in the moring and at night before I go to bed.  I think it is worth a shot if you having no results with anything else.

[Breanna]

I read these and I am 20 years old and I had acne when I was in high school.  It is something that you have to deal with.  I went on several medication for acne also.  One thing that I tried a year ago and I am still using is Proactiv.  It was on TV.  I noticed that one of my friend's face was clearing up and I said something to her and she told me she tried this proactiv.  I'm telling you my acne has never been better.  I rarely ever break out any more.  It almost controls my breakouts. I wash with the renewing cleanser, the put the revitalizing toner on and then the lotion.  I use it in the moring and at night before I go to bed.  I think it is worth a shot if you having no results with anything else.

[kc ***** ALL READ THIS RE: ACCUTANE***]

While having the convenience of working for a derm., in 1994 at the age of 24 / female, having mild to major acne (major run on sentence), anyway....I begged my doc. to be put on Accutane.

While on Accutane, I had similar symptoms as mentioned above; severely chapped lips, a bloody nose or two, dry chapped skin on face, bruised and chaffed easily and joint / back / muscle pain, easily sunburned (no doubt). I took blood tests as prescribed and had no significant problems. When I first completed the med's, I had pure milky skin with slight rosey cheeks, got a few compliments on the nice skin. As I am beginning into my 30's, I feel the oily skin coming back. Actually, just last year. I do not have the acne that I once had...:^)...yipee. Hopefully, it will remain this way.

Working in a derm. Office gave me a great learning experience. As a medical assistant with no self confidence, I would room the patient, obtain the patients current medical situation, regarding current medications, side effects, blood test results, etc.

When the patients on Accutane came in, we would get very excited to see the results. Their files were 3" wide (including mine, due to all of the blood tests), there were blood tests that had to be obtained prior to the Doc. seeing the patient. The most exciting thing is this...no other way to explain except by example .....

Say Bobbie comes in with his / her mother....Mom says to the doc. Bobby and I are interested in getting him started on Accutane. The doc. looks the chart over and sees that we have tried all other meds on Bobby, to no avail. (And only if we have tried all other med.’s does he consider Accutane, due to all of the side effects..Some as listed above).

Doc says, alright, let's do the med. counseling and get the first blood test, here's a starter RX, we'll see you back in 2 weeks to see how you're coming along and we'll look over your blood test results at that time.

2 Weeks, test results fine, patient seeing no results, the rx is upped a dose, we'll see you back in 2 more weeks w/ blood test results again.

A couple of weeks later, Bobby and Mom are back, the acne is worse than before, skin is irritated, mouth and lips are dry, and skin is bruising and bleeding with what would have normally have been just a scratch. (Aquaphore & Neutrogena samples provided for lips, oil of Olay and other noncomedogenic moisturizers for face provided / recommended).

A few months or so later, Bobby is coming in for his follow up visits without Mom, a little improvement in the acne, still chapped lips and irritated skin, seems a little more self confident though. Still cuts bruises, irritations, headaches...joint pain..etc.

OK...to make a long 5 months short (or 6, it's been a long time for me..I forget if it's 5 or 6).

After about 3-4 months of Bobby coming back for follow up visits with dry, red chapped skin on his face & lips, cuts and bruises, due to sensitive skin from the meds & limping or back pain, only a little...guys are wimps...he, he, he.......I notice....Bobby is looking me in the eye now when I ask him questions regarding his meds, instead of looking at Mom (Whom, as I said prior, doesn't even come in with him anylonger). (Not that she doesn't want to ...she's prob. begging to go to the doc. w/ Bobby...to find out the truth about the blood tests and the side effects...but, Bobby is too cool now....). The confidence is there, there are no problems w/ the blood tests or Mom would know from the doc..

I think, from my experience on Accutane, knowing that I myself, feel more confident, and from my experience in seeing female and male patients on Accutane, this drug is a great thing. It helps start and/or restore self confidence in teens and adults, and in most cases minimizes the result of acne and future scarring. As long as blood tests are continually performed throughout the cycle of the treatment, I believe Accutane is AWESOME in all aspects.

It kills me to see the Accutane ads in magazines that show only male teenage photos with acne problems that say "See your doctor for more information on this med". It makes it sound like female's can not take the medication, which is not at all true. Responsible female's or responsible families with females that are on birth control / or other...will be fine, as long as they are responsible & receive the appropriate advice and counseling from their derm.

Regarding all of the "crazy" side effects, if you do some research in a handful of people doing anything from A-Z, you will see "crazy" side effects in some but not all. (This includes everything,*****including Accutane****!!!!  KEEP THAT IN MIND!!!!!!!!!!  (OF COURSE WE HAVE JOINT PAIN.....BUT IF YOU TAKE A HANDFULL OF BREAST AUG. PT.S...THEY WILL HAVE JOINT PAIN ALSO FROM THE SILICONE....RIGHT...WOW...THERE'S A SMALL GROUP OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC TO DO AN EVAL ON.....) EH?!  WHO DOESN'T HAVE JOINT PAIN ONCE THEY NEAR THEIR 30'S ANYWAY?????  PLEASEE TELL ME I'M INCORRECT.