teenage spots

[liquidspace]

My 15 year old daughter thinks she needs to go to the doctors to get either hormones or antibiotics for her spots. To me they are normal and not that bad. Has anyone heard of a teenager taking hormone tablets or antibiotics for spots? I myself don't think it warrants making a doctors appointment, am I wrong?

[jenniprice]

My friend from school took some kind of hormone tablets-though don't know specifically what they are.

He struggled with spots for years, and can say they were pretty bad, and kept going back to doctor.
Eventually they put him on these hormone tablets, but gave him terrible mood swings and now he has allapeciatia (hair falling out) so don't know if that was a side effect.

If they're not too bad then doc will probably say just clean skin and use spot creams, but if I were your daughter and stay clear and let nature take its course.

By way I used to use a cleanser every night and wipe it off-used to keep spots away for me!

[ethandron]

i've not heard of teenagers taking hormore stuff specifically for spots, but definitely antibiotics. i suffered terribly with spots and acne when i was a teenager and was determined that any child of mine would not suffer the same. my eldest (now in his late 20's) takes antibiotics all the time, as i do, and has done since he was in his teens. best bet is to go and see the doctor and see what they advise. normal teenage spots are one thing, acne can have a devastating effect on a persons confidence though, so i really wouldn't just brush it off as 'teenage spots'.

[Scarlett]

Did she watch that programme on Ch4 last night perchance- Embarrassing Teenage Bodies? Everyone gets spots but only a few get proper nasty acne-
http://www.medicalwellnesscenter.com/AcneFaceG rade4.jpg
If it is really bad and out of control, the Doc will prescribe possibly the pill, or other tablets which will regulate the hormones that are causing the problem.

[barney1966]

this is over 25 years ago now but I took antibiotics and my skin cleared up really quickly. All the creams, medicated soaps and cleansers, etc. that were around at the time didn't help at all and were a waste of money.

[LoftyLottie]

Yes teenagers (and others) are very often put on low dose antibiotics for spots and rightly so. How often do you see people now with those awful acne scars that were prevelant years ago. Hormone tablets (the pill) are also given when they are necessary.

Please encourage her to go and talk to the doctor. Nothing is worse than being 15 and having spots. At 15 you need all the confidence boosting you can get. Even if you don't think they are too bad to her they look dreadful. The doctor might not think they need treatment but will advise her what's best.

[krollonskye]

My son had this problem aged 16 he was prescribed Zineyrt roll -on antibiotic - it worked wonders on his scarring acne. Any teenager will be very troubled by and self conscious of their spots and so definately you should let her see a Doc

[baileybird]

My daughter took roaccutane ( Google it!) for 6 months which is the strongest treatment for acne you can get. It is very invasive but very good. She had tried gels creams and antibiotics whic normally work but not for her. She was only 12 when she commenced the treatment, which as a previous poster said causes mood swings and other dreadful side effects but it was very successful.
All 3 of my kids have had antibiotics for acne and my GP says that more parents should take their kids as there is so much you can do to help these days.
Her consultant told my daughter that it is not diet related at all nor is it a cleanliness issue - it is purely a hormone (testosterone) imbalance that sometimes antibiotics can help. She could take dionette contraceptive pill which also is very good. Go along and support her to make the right decision. GOOD LUCK x

[liquidspace]

Thank you all for your replies, very helpful, I will take her to the doctors. Thanks again.