Teenage acne

Does anyone have any ideas on what is good to get rid of teenage pimples, acne?


I dont want to waste a crap load of money if they are all just gimicks to get me to spend money, I want something that really does help the young skin!

I would recommend Alpha H - an australian owned company. Google them. They use glycolics.....i would recommend the Liquid Gold.

This testimonial from a acne sufferer:i used to suffer from really bad acne especially around my chin area. Although my acne has diminished over the years, i still get a fair bit of it as well as a large amount of scarring around the chin/mouth area. Using liquid gold along with other Alpha-H products which i swear by, has lessened the amount of breakouts and reduced the scarring. My skin feels so smooth, and is even glowing. A little goes along way!! I now have introduced my younger sister and brother who have just started getting pimples, and it has helped prevent further pimples from arising. Last thing i want is for them to go through the embarrassment and humiliation i went through as a teenager suffering from severe acne. Liquid gold has also riddened the large amount of blakcheads and pores around my nose. It truely is 'Liquid Gold'!! I highly recommend this product!

this particular product is about $55 for 100mls.....but i would look into their other products too. THey used to have a pack called Alpha Teen - specifically for teenagers with acne prone skin....

Good luck.

oh thank you so much!


any natural remedies that work?

Using a tiny bit of tea tree oil on a cotton tip on the pimples can help speed up the healing as it has natural antibacterial properties.

Also try to change the pillow covers once every couple of days and you should find that helps a lot as the germs and bacteria linger in linen and will keep spreading the germs on her skin.

Tea-tree Face Wash form The Body Shop. It is an absolute hit with all my teen customers, they can use it in the shower.

It's about $20 but it lasts for ages - I know one family that have to buy 3 at a time as everyone (dad included) keeps pinching it from each other.

Soul - I think we should just have a direct line to each other LOL!

oh wow lu thank you heaps for that I will have to invest in some I think. Chloe-Mae seems to be breaking out all the time.

Its great to get along ah!!!!

At least now you've done a few 'hard yards' with the teens lately, you can sit back and do some more of the cool fun stuff!

The face wash will encourage Chloe-Mae to wash her face each morning, and that helps with breakouts etc, also best for preventing blackheads and they suck.

for me, green tea power really works....
you can buy from asian groceries..

after cleansing put some powder onto palm and add some water and mix.....then massage softly....then wash face with coolwater.....

very easy and quick....

My three teenage boys have been using the L'Oreal Men's range for a while now and there has been a big difference in the eldest skin. Poor boy is pimple prone and needing to shave wasn't helping either.

I have had acne for as long as I remember and still get it even now. I find the Neutrogena range of products the only thing that works for me. They contain salicyclic (sp?) acid which I find helps. They even have a Anti-Wrinkle, Anti-Blemish cream for us oldies with spots and crows feet!!
You can get Neutrogena in supermarkets and chemists and they are not that expensive, think around $10 or $15 a product..

Just a caution on tea tree oil, Soul, dont use the oil straight on her skin undiluted as some people (myself included) get contact dermatitis from it.

Hope that helps Chloe-Mae.

Hello Soul, just checking in to see what you & Chloe Mae decided to try and if it worked? As another zit face, I'm keen to hear what works for others :D

Well I use pro-activ. It seriously works. I think it is a bit harsh on skin and you have to make sure you use moisturiser but at the moment I don't care it works like magic and I'm sticking to it!! I thought all the ads were so cheesy and it wouldn't work but it did! And you can return it even if the bottles are empty if it doesn't work and get your money back. lol, maybe I should be on the ad!

I use T.N ****inson's Witch Hazel. It is in a 240mL bottle for about $7 at the supermarket. I use it on a make-up pad after I have washed my face at night, it takes away all the oil so I am less prone to break outs.

OMG why did these replies never show up in my inbox!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I never got any replies after the last time I wrote!!! DAM DAM DAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU ALL!!!!


I am going to write down each and every single thing you all wrote in advice for Chloe- Mae and try them all!!!!


She is so excited!!!

Hey Soul...

I've only just seen this thread... so I'll offer my 'services' as much as possible.
Being a beauty therapist for 15+ years - I've seen my fair share of acne skin... as well as having problem skin when I was young too.

Pimples & acne can be caused by a variety of things. As teenagers - it is normally 'hormones'. Genetics can be a factor too. As well as diet & using the wrong products.

Just because someone has acne - doesn't mean they have 'oily' skin. That is the first mistake most people make. They rush out and buy all these products that strip the skin of it's natural oils, and only 'block up' the pores even moreso.

So the first thing is to determine what skin type Chloe-Mae has. Is it oily, normal or dry. And believe me... you can have acne and very dry skin!

If it's not oily - then I wouldn't use any benzol peroxide products (all the teenage 'zit' products that are available). I would also avoid using any 'acid' products - AHA's, BHA's... as they just strip off the top layers of skin cells. Fine if you're old with leather skin. Not good if you're young with sensitive skin.

As others have said... Tea tree is anti-bacterial... and can be good. But it is a very strong product and can actually burn the skin. So I would use pure tea tree oil on a cotton bud and only dab the inflamed spots... particularly if the spot has been picked at. Using a Tea Tree wash is fine if the skin is oily... but could dry out the skin if it's normal or dry.

some questions:
Does Chloe-mae moisturise her skin at all?
If so... once or twice a day?
if so... what moisturiser?

Does Chloe-mae exfoliate her skin?
If so... how often?

Does Chloe-mae apply a mask?

Does Chloe-mae drink lots of water?

What type of pimples does Chloe-mae have?... Blackheads, whiteheads and/or cystic papules? (those deep red ones)

On a scale of 1-10 (one being good skin, 10 being red, inflamed, pustular acne) - where would you rate Chloe-mae's skin?

There is no "product" that solves all skin problems. It's finding out what type of skin problem Chloe-mae has, and what she is currently using, and the reasons for her skin problem.

After getting some more information - I could give you some suggestions.

I hope I can be of help.

Jodie
xx

"Just a caution on tea tree oil, Soul, dont use the oil straight on her skin undiluted as some people (myself included) get contact dermatitis from it."

You could try a patch test first, and if Chloe-Mae has any problems with it perhaps try diluting a few drops in either witch hazel or a mild carrier oil, depending on her skin type. Witch hazel is astringent, so if her skin is not oily it may dry it out. Same goes for many exfoliants - all they do is inflame the skin more when what it needs is some TLC! Sweet almond oil is usually fine for sensitive skin, and wheatgerm (vitamin e) will help to heal scar tissue, but may be a bit heavy.

You could also try non synthetic and vegetable based cleaners/soaps - these are more gentle than normal soaps. Many of the 'moisturising' soaps on the market also contain additives and fragrances which are so harsh that they often counteract any benefit of the moisturiser! The less "additives" in a product, the less likelihood of reaction. Look for anything that is paraben and sodium laureth sulphate free as these can be quite reactive. Preferably fragrance free (natural fragrances/essential oils can be reactive too, although some will help conditions like acne). You could even try an organic baby wash - Coles stock a couple of brands that are inexpensive and very gentle.

Good luck!

i used to use a homeopathic remedy called tissue salts... they are little chewable pretty much tasteless tablets that you take a couple of times a day, depending on how serious your pimples are. they work a treat to clear up skin and heal existing blemishes. i think the instructions are six times a day for severe cases, but i know if i had a pimple and an event i wanted it gone for, i would take one every half hour to get rid of it. i found they really worked. it is 'Combination D' skin disorders tissue salts (they have them for every ailment u can think of) and you get them from health food stores for around $8 for a bottle of enough to last ages.

the brand is martin and pleasance and if u type that into google it will give you info.

they are worth a shot, honestly.

wow thank you ALL so very very much!!!!


Chloe-Mae is writing it all down and going to try everything, at differnet times of course. She goes through stages though with her pimples, but they seem to be there all the time just depends how bad.


Now to answer a few questions Jodie259-

some questions:

Does Chloe-mae moisturise her skin at all? She use to but the creams were making her pimples fare worse. So now she goes out the back and breaks of a leaf from our aloevera plant and gets the gel out from the inside and puts that all over her face, then washes it off a hour or so after.

If so... once or twice a day? She does the aloevera thing maybe every second day maybe less, forgets and is lazy lol.

if so... what moisturiser?

Does Chloe-mae exfoliate her skin? Had to look up what that meant, lol. No she has not ever done that, we didnt even know about it till now.

If so... how often?

Does Chloe-mae apply a mask? Nope we have no idea which would be best but are happy to if it would help.

Does Chloe-mae drink lots of water? NO and this annoys me no end!

What type of pimples does Chloe-mae have?... Blackheads, whiteheads and/or cystic papules? (those deep red ones) Shge has balckheads and deep red ones.

On a scale of 1-10 (one being good skin, 10 being red, inflamed, pustular acne) - where would you rate Chloe-mae's skin? I would say a 5 because its not so bad you cant see her skin but they are noticable up close. They always seem to be where the jaw line is and around sides of her face.



This is ruining her life to the point of not wanting to go out much anymore. She is truly a beautiful girl inside and out and wanted to do moddelling but can't because of this.

This is what she looks like, just click on this link.

soul Gallery - BellyBelly Member Photo Gallery

Chloe-Mae is the oldest girl out of my lot!

Oh she is beautiful soul!!
Tell her to remember although it seems bad now, it won't last forever. And looks like you have some really good answers here too so you can improve it!

Wow... she is pretty !!!!!!

I should have specifically asked... do YOU think she has oily, normal or dry skin - not taking the pimples into consideration?
the other thing: does she wear make-up: specifically foundation and/or powder?
And.. it would appear from the photo that her hair is off her face... is that the case (ie: no fringe?)
and.. is the entire face affected or just parts... ie: forehead, cheeks, chin/jawline?

I'm going to take it she has 'normal' base skin... not excessively oily, and not flaky dry.

My suggestions:
Use a non-comedogenic moisturiser once a day. This can be 'hard' to find. You don't want an 'acne' moisturiser as they can be too drying. And you don't want an 'off the shelf', "one for all" moisturiser, which may be too rich. You don't want sorbolene or lanolin based moisturisers which are just too rich.
A 'light' moisturiser would be useful. SPF based moisturisers can irritate skin, so best not to have one with SPF in it. If she wears SPF - always put moisturiser on first, as a protective layer - then put SPF over the top of the moisturiser. (PM me if you would like me to send you a sample of a non comedogenic moisturiser).

Exfoliating. I think this is one of the most important things anyone can do for their skin. Blackheads are like "blocked pores". So it's best to give the face an 'exfoliating scrub' 2-3 times a week. This helps to remove any 'dead skin cells' (without burning the skin like AHA's). It allows for the skins natural sebum to flow. If the pores have dead skin cells... the sebum is trying to get out... and becomes blocked... which leads to blackheads. Even if you don't have pimples/blackheads... I look at exfoliation like preparing a wall for painting. You remove the flaky dry paint before you coat it with new paint. If you didn't remove the old paint first - the new paint wouldn't penetrate into the wall... it would just sit on the surface, and eventually flake off too. (ie: consider paint as moisturiser). There are a variety of scrubs around - and I can send you a sample of one too - but it's not too important which one you use. Something with soft granules is best. You can get "natural" ones that have walnuts & variety of other granules - but some of them can be a bit harsh. If possible - try to test out an exfoliant before purchasing... to ensure it's not too scratchy... and not too 'soft'. If you can't get an actual sample to try at home, squeeze some onto the inside wrist and rub... it will give you an indication of it's texture.

A purifying mask can be handy. Mud based masks can draw out impurities and reduce redness. They would really help with the deep red inflamed papules. I would recommend a mask once a week.

As much as it's difficult to get a teenager to drink water - it will really help her skin if she can drink loads of water. It will help hydrate her skin and purify/detox.

Aaahh.. I've just read that the pimples are mainly jawline/side of face. A naturopath would probably say that is "dietry" related pimples. I never recommend cutting out any particular food or food group. But some foods that may affect skin are: dairy products, citrus products (eg: orange juice), tomatoes. If Chloe-mae has an attraction to one of those food groups... it may be interesting to cut down on it for a little while and see if it makes a difference. Not cut out... just cut down.

And if she wears make-up to 'cover it up' - it is only making it worse.
If she feels she has to wear make-up... then insist she remove the make-up whenever she is home. Let the skin breathe as much as possible. From personal experience... my skin cleared up totally as soon as I stopped wearing make-up. It's a vicious cycle as most girls wear make-up to cover up their bad skin - when what they are doing is making it worse.

Also - don't use SOAP on the skin. Use gel or milky cleansers. Use pH balanced (5.5) products. (cleanser & moisturiser). Soaps that aren't pH balanced can wreak havoc on peoples skin, making the skin work "overtime" to restore it's balance. There are some pH balanced soaps... specially made for skin. But if Chloe-mae is using any old body type soap - stop immediately.

The aloe-vera is not a bad thing (as it's quite healing)... but it might not be doing too much - particularly if she washes it off after an hour. It would be really useful to apply aloe-vera together with a mud mask. That would give awesome results.

PM me me your details if you would like me to send you some samples. You could try a few products out and see if it makes a difference. If it helps... then you know what track to go down. And with Christmas coming up... it could be useful to get some products that will help her skin (from relies etc). There's absolutely no obligation if I send you samples... it's just to see what types of product helps.

cheers,
Jodie

Jodie259, Chloe-Mae would like me to send you a massive ((((HUG)))) for all your time and effort put into helping her out!! She wants all of you to know you made her year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


She is writing down in her diary every single thing everyone wrote to help her out!!!


She has been cleaning her skin which she didnt do much and here is the result!!


bluetwo - BellyBelly Member Photo Gallery

I am so happy for Chloe-mae.... and it is my pleasure to help out whenever I can.
She is absolutely beautiful... and definately model material.

Sometimes it's a process of finding out what is causing the problem... and often it the products made for "pimples" that are the biggest culprit. Maybe it's a conspiracy... the pimple products actually keep the pimples coming, so people keep buying it!

And so many people with problem skin are scared to use moisturiser because they think it will make their skin worse... when their skin is screaming for some hydration. You just have to use the 'right' moisturiser.

If you ever have any skin/beauty questions... don't hesitate to email me. Always happy to help :)

hey there soul sweet i see you have heaps of answers ! and i hope you now have your daughters skin under controll i wanted to give you some natural home remedies that worked for me :)

at night dab a drop of straight lavender oil (essential) straight onto a pimple it helps to dry it up

a tablespoon of cider vinegar with a drop of lavender in a basin of cold water splashed on your face in the morning is great (alternatively you can infuse the vinegar with lavender by filling a jar with freshly picked lavender and pouring vinegaer over the top capping and leaving for 2 weeks shaking everyday when done strain through muslin)

natural honey is a fantastic face mask use every 1-2 weeks but very maybe try doing it while you are having a bath LOL

take evening primrose oil 3x day


drink calendula tea every day (marigold petals)

and every week or two use salt as an exfoliating scrub in the morning and rinse well with cold water

i use sorboline as a daily cleanser just rub in and wash off like a soapy cleanser it works really well and is really cheap if you buy in bulk :)

I suffer from acne still and I'm in my mid 30's I find just using baking soda dissolved in water works great and I have only been left with one or two once a month

I've always suffered from acne & the only thing that has really worked for me is a low GI diet and exercise (no bad side effects either). Good luck!

Unfortunately Teenage Acne is a bad stage our kids go through during adolescence.
My daughter uses COSMEDIX skincare and it's helped dramatically.
The skincare is made of all natural ingredients and it's chirally correct. I found out about it on an Acne Special I was watching on the Oprah Show.
My daughter had terrible acne at 13 years old and after getting her braces on her teeth last March her face broke out even worse. She's been using COSMEDIX Benefit Clean to wash her face before school and at night. She uses Phytoharmony moisturizer after cleansing every day, and the Clarifying serum in Summer when her face gets very oily.
She's finally starting to get her self confidence back now that her skin is looking much better and she's happy again.
The products are expensive but they last a long time because they are concentrated so you only need to use a little each time. I buy them from a good Beautician on EBAY Australia called HOLLYWOODBEAUTY4U
I buy 4 at a time from her and save a lot of money. I couldn't afford it if I had to pay full retail price. I can highly recommend this lady if you want to buy any.

Hi, I may be able to help.
I've written 2 major research papers on teenage acne in the past year and have treated so many patients with acne, be it teenage (hormonal), diet, allergy or excessive sebum.

Everyone has valid points in treating acne, but each person is different. I would strongly recommend that you visit someone who can assess the skin. Closed comedones (whiteheads) and open comedones (blackheads) are treated differently. Cystic acne is treated differently to 10-15 pimples on the face.

I could go on forever - but see someone who has experience with treating acne - ask how successful they've been in treating acne. You don't need a hundred products to clear it, nor do you need to spend much either. Feel free to ask me q's if you need.

Soul! try a new organic australian skin cre company called Sukin - very affordable and it WORKS (trust me!!)

Catrionalee - I use Sukin too. It's lovely and not too expensive.

Living Earth is also great, so is alpha h - but for affordability its definately sukin!