My 12 year old daughter

[baileybird]

My 12 year old daughter has today started on a 4 month agressive form of treatment for chronic acne.

the poor love has been on antibiotics for 2 years but no improvement and has to start a drug called roaccutane to clear it. It has horrid side effects such as depression, chronic joint ache, nosebleedss, bruising and dry cracked skin.

I feel horrid agreeing to this, but we are really left with no alternative as the spots are scaring her terribly and are so sore they make her cry.

She is a lovley sweet kid and i hope you will all keep her in your thoughts.

What else can we do? I have had to trust the consultant who says it is worth it in the end. It is unfair she has to do this.

[redcrx]

i cant give any info on the drugs but have you tried eliminating things from her diet to see if that effects it at all?

[cheries]

I am SO sorry your daughter is going through this Baileybird. I suffered dreadfully with acne in my teens and was bullied mercilessly for it. I am 31 now and I am still having to take antibiotics now to control it. They keep my skin completely clear and comfortable now.
Clearly, this isn't the case with your daughter and she now appears to need a more aggressive form of treatment. Have you explained to the doctor about the side effects she is experiencing?
There is a laser treatment available (or a light treatment, I forget what it is) for her skin, have you ever heard of it at all? That might be an alternative option for her.
I'm sure there will be other more helpful users on here who can give you better advice, but i just wanted to say I hope she gets some help and that she blossoms into a beautiful young woman.
Cherie xxx

[cheries]

Try;
http://www.harleystreetskin.co.uk/conditions_a cne.htm

I hope the link works for you xx

[loulou06]

both my brother and i have been on roaccutane, and truly it was the best thing either of us could have done.

my brother was a practical recluse because he was ashamed of his skin, so for him it changed his life really. and id been on all sorts of antibiotics, they even put me on the pill to try and stop it but that didnt work.

neither of us experienced ANY of the side effects that are so worringly printed on the instruction leaflet. there are terrible horror stories but i think they get blown out of proportion.

the only thing we experienced was dry skin and lips, easily remidied by moisturiser and vaseline. a small price to pay for clear skin.

my brothers acne has never come back and i only now get the odd one when my periods due.

you have made the right decision, in my opinion, i know how much acne gets you down. your daughter will, i am sure be completley fine.

[baileybird]

thanks for your thoughts.

Diet has nothing to do with acne so no hope there sadly. Laser treatment is for 18+ so she is still a bit young for that.

She only started the treatment yesterday so we dont know which of the side effects she will have but i really hope you will all keep your fingers crossed for her.

i will keep a close eye on her and again really do thank you both for your answers

Heidi xx

[redcrx]

OK i always though there was some link to diet. I knew a girl years ago who had suffered for years and years with ecsema and acne on her face and had all sorts of drugs for it. Then one day someone told her to cut dairy and or wheat from her diet.
Wheat was the thing that did it. Her skin cleared within weeks. Dairy was fine and she introduced it back into her diet.

I just wondered if youd considered or tried it thats all.

[eyeshade]

Awe! Loulou has some solid evidence there, so hope it works out for the best for her. She has a loving mum and lots of support by the looks, so take care BB
x

[mancmo]

I totally agree with loulou. I had terrible acne all through my teens/twenties, tried every cream, tablet etc. Im 35 now and I started taking roaccutane about 6 years ago and have never looked back, I only wish I started them when I was in my teens. Again, like loulou, I get the odd spot when my periods due, but nothing compared to what I was like in my teens.

I was on a 12 month course and the only thing I could say that affected me was the very dry lips and hair and maybe a bit weepy now and again but these side effects only kicked in about 2-3 months after starting the tablets. Your daughter is only going to be on for 4 months so hopefully she shouldnt have too many side effects.

She will thank you in years to come, but both of you will not regret it, just keep an eye on her, but I am sure she will be fine and have the most beautiful skin next year!

If her face does start to get dry, try using Aqueous cream for face and body and Burts Bees lip balm. both very good.

Good luck to both of you x

[Reverandfunk]

silly as it sounds what about a sunbed? My skin is always better when ive been in the sun

[cheries]

She's 12 Rev.

[velvet lady]

IPL is a fab laser treatment, and saks do it. its expensive but could help her

i agree about the diet thing, something could trigger it?

give her a big hug x

[hugnie21]

I suffered from mild acne for years. I had a food allergy test done to find a reason for my IBS, and it came back showing a dairy allergy. I cut out all dairy and noticed a massive improvement in my skin. I would really recommend doing a test, it can't do any harm..

[baileybird]

perhaps i should have an allergy test done if this does not work. the consultant told me it had nothing to do with foods but they have been known to be wrong.

She is just looking forward to not having these huge spots all over her face, chest and back.

Laser treatment is only appropriate for people of 18 and over Velvet Lady,I wish it was available earlier but its not, but thanks for your kind thoughts.

Dont you wish you could keep your kids from all the trash life brings?