products for teenage acne

Ted_Hutchinson

candyflossing wrote: »

Don't waste any money! Go and see a GP, they will send you to a dermatologist (there is usually a few month wait so don't wait around) who will prescribe you free meds (because he's under 18 & in full time education).

I agree it is a waste of money simply treating the symptoms and not the cause of the problem. Eliminating the cause of the problem is the simplest/cheapest moneysaving solution in the long run.

Understanding that acne is a problem of excess androgen and dietary glycemic load augments the biological activity of sex hormones, it is a simple, cheap and easy to remove high glycemic load items from the diet and thus reduce the excess hormonal activity.
According to Dr Davis low glycemic load diet is best for heart and Dr McCleary says it is best for brain function. This is the diet our bodies evolved over 2million years to thrive on so the sooner you junk processed highly refined foods and adopt a diet more like that our bodies evolved with the sooner the problems will resolve.

When you reduce the glycemic load you reduce the excess amount of androgen and thus resolve the problem.

Furey

well i have to admit my skin improved when on the atkins diet (not to mention reduced carb cravings, blindingly clear head, better sleep pattern and significant weight loss). i've always been spotty but applying midly watered down TCP via cotton wool to your whole face works really really well at preventing and curing spots. do it before bed though as it smells quite strong!

Paparika

I started DS on soaps that had no nasties in products from lush
which helped for a bit, but he was never one for washing...
so now he uses clearisil facial wash with gritty bits in which does help and he stops when it clears up, to give his face a chance to not rely on products.

Works really well, he started getting spotty 2 years ago when he was 11 now he is 13 it seems to be under control.

Now if we can only get the cradle cap under control yes cradle cap at 13

beautyscientist

Ted_Hutchinson wrote: »

In the same way we despise those mindless vandals who attempt to derail trains and cause harm to others by blocking the track, so those mindless vandals who intend to cause harm to others by trying to derail threads/posts providing the latest scientific findings should also be dealt with firmly.

I read this and a couple of other related things you have posted with interest. I am a scientist with a particular interest in this area, and furthermore I have recently been modifying my diet in a way similar to what you are suggesting and my personal experience fits in with what you are saying.

But this is just an internet forum! Anyone reading this, remember -

You need to do you own research. Anyone can post anything on here and could be talkign complete rubbish or just trying to sell you something.

Ted_Hutchinson

beautyscientist wrote: »

You need to do you own research. Anyone can post anything on here and could be talkign complete rubbish or just trying to sell you something.

That is why I always include links to the scientific medical research that I rely on, or links to Dr's blogs that are evidence based and not linked to commercial sales of particular supplements/diet regimes/or other sales related media.
Correcting Vit D3 omega 3 and magnesium status should only cost a few pence and there is absolutely no need to buy special foods or bars for a low carb diet.
The plan I used saved me money because I am eating/drinking so much less now I have lost the carb induced craving.

If I had acne I think I would also cut out Dairy products. Milk, yoghurt, cheese, Feta cheese, cottage cheese, Creme Fraiche, cream cheese, butter, mayonnaise etc.

You can listen to Cordain talking about his research on acne here.

cjmumto2

I find the neutrogena range the best and great value for money and they are on special in tescos until the 9th Sep. I have stuggled all my life and have been on roacutane and antibiotics but now just use Neutrogena which keeps it under control and as well as a healthy diet. Lots of fresh fruit and veg and water.

beautyscientist

moneysaving_pharmacist wrote: »

The other products available from pharmacies have benzoyl peroxide in them (quinoderm, panoxyl). They are often effective in mild to moderate acne, and low strengths seem to be as effective as higher strengths. They can irritate the skin - this can be reduced by gradually building up the time the skin is exposed to the product, and it does get better with time.

I have worked on some of the products moneysaving pharamacist mentions and this is excellent advice. Benzoyl peroxide is definitely effective but there is hardly any advantage to using the higher levels. Unless your acne is really really severe stick with the lower strengths.

caketaker

Hi there
although not a teenager anymore (35yrs) i thought i would inpute anyway.I have suffered from spots since my teens.I wouldn't say acne,but enough spots to make you want to stay indoors & hide some days.
Anyway about 6 months ago i saw online somewhere about Omega 3 pure fish oils and spots.As i took a vitamin tablet every day, i also started swallowing 2 x tesco Omega 3 pure fish oils tablets as well.Not expense really to buy.It has worked for me.My face/skin is 95% better and i shall continue with these now.
It is not an over night cure and you have to keep taking them daily but its worth a go.They are also good for consentration and the heart i believe.
Try researching online or talking to the doctor,but for me they have really really helped.

Ted_Hutchinson

caketaker wrote: »

Anyway about 6 months ago i saw online somewhere about Omega 3 pure fish oils and spots.

Acne: Fats, Oils... Saturated, Unsaturated... Omega-3, Omega-6, Omega-9... What does this have to do with Acne anyway? This article has some reasonably good information on omega 3 acne connection. It fits in with the information Cordain provides as our current levels of omega 6 only occur in Western diets and our bodies did not evolve with high levels of omega 6 available.

The only comment I would make is to suggest you read Dr Davis as you probably (even with 2 capsules daily) do not take sufficient omega 3 The benefits really start becoming measurable when you take more than1.5g of EPA+ DHA that means about 6 normal fish oil capsules or 3 of these super strength

You will see some research linked to in post #33 that explains why omega 3 may help those with acne.

harryharp

caketaker wrote: »

Hi there
Anyway about 6 months ago i saw online somewhere about Omega 3 pure fish oils and spots.As i took a vitamin tablet every day, i also started swallowing 2 x tesco Omega 3 pure fish oils tablets as well.Not expense really to buy.It has worked for me.My face/skin is 95% better and i shall continue with these now.

Unfortunately vegetarians (like our family) can't take these. Flaxseed oil is usually cited as the vegetarian equivalent to fish oils, but whether they'd have as good an effect on the skin I don't know.