My son is 12 years old and has really, really bad acne.  I have tried all sorts of over-the-counter acne cleansers and scrubs.  They seem to work for a few days, and then the acne comes back with a vengence.  Even during summer, when he was in the cholrinated pool most every day his skin was bad.  We've tried eleminating things out of his diet (chocolate, sugar, salt, red meat, dairy) and nothing seems to work.  Does anyone have any ideas?  Any facial cleansers or vitamins/supplements that may help?  Home-made facial mask?  I am really at a loss.  I never had acne, and I don't know what to do for him.  

This is acne (pimples) not blackheads.

I would really appericate any help, ideas, suggestions  

Thanks
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Hi Thiodora,

I have acne, and there are a few things you can use to keep it under control.

Internally, I drink 2 glasses of water with a splash organic unpasturized apple cider vinegar everyday. This really helps clear up your skin and make it brighter. Be sure to use a straw when drinking it.

During the day, I topically apply a time released 10 % benzoyl peroxide cream all over my face. The trick is that you use a lot of the stuff, not a tiny dab. You have to use sunblock with this, as it makes your face photosensitive.

In the morning, I wash my face with a simple baking soda water mix. At night, I wipe my face down with rubbing alcohol or a good hand sanitizer. A lot of people would find that to harsh for their skin, but it works, and it's cheap.

At night, I apply a thin coating of hydrated bentonite clay all over my acne prone areas. I just buy a pound of sodium bentonite from Mountain Rose Herbs because it's cheap. I have a small jar in which I mixed the clay with water and just keep it on my bathroom sink for use.

Some people use calcium bentonite internally for acne, but calcium bentonite is more expensive.

If my skin gets too dry from this, especially during the winter, I apply castor oil to my face at night as a moisturizer. I know that sounds really weird, but castor oil kills bacteria, so I never breakout from using it.

Check out this website for some additional ideas: http://earthclinic.com/CURES/acne.html

If all else fails, take him to a dermatologist.   The prescription treatments for acne are safe and work very well.  The psychological  damage that acne does to a young person is worse than the physical damage, and when my son had it, it caused a lot of harm.

Thank you Stacey for the ideas! �I don't know if I be able to get him to drink the water with apple cider vinegar, but I'll give it a go!  By the way, that is a fantastic website.  I highly suggest it to everyone!  It isn't just for acne, but all sorts of ailments and home remedies!  

Yes, I agree that the acne can effect my kid emotionally, so I'm trying to nip it in the bud before girls become important to him.  He doesn't seem to care about it right now, and when I asked, he said he isn't being teased.  My son is the one that befriends the friendless, and when his "popular friends" don't like it, he tells them to shove it....... needless to say, my house is always filled with tweenagers and geez do they eat a lot!

Right now I do not have medical coverage, I am in school and working only part time, and my husband has been out of work for way too long so there is no money for a dermotologist or medications ..... its a struggle to keep the utilities on and food on the table, so unfortunatly the dermotologist will have to wait but is first on the list once things turn around or if some of these home remedies do not work.

If anyone else has any suggestions, please don't hesitate to post!
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Ben uses Stridex pads on his face.  Those are a little pricey but it's the only thing that works for him.  For the acne on his back I scrub his back with rubbing alcohol and that seems to keep it under control, but it is much to harsh for most people to use on their faces.

Well, the dermatologist would prescribe a mild oral antibiotic, to be taken every day, so anything antiseptic applied topically would be helpful.  Stacey's suggestions sound pretty good,  so I would try them.   Plain old Dial soap for bathing is good too , because it is an antibacterial soap.  You might try to find some herbs that have antibacterial properties, (Rosemary maybe?), and add those to his diet.   Can't hurt, might help.

speaking of acne I have on of those huge painful under the skin zits.  It won't come to the surface so I can get rid of it and it HURTS.  How in the bleedin' hell to you get them to come to the surface where they can be dealt with?

I loath those.

Usually, I try to dry them out. Here are some cheap methods:

1. Make a paste out of baking soda and water and apply it to the spot continuously until it improves
2. soak a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar and hold it or tape there for at least ten minutes. Do every few hours
3. use rubbing alcohol instead of vinegar for the above method
4. apply clear nail polish to it overnight if you are really desperate.

Hot compress brings the blood to the area and makes the zits  come to the surface.  Wet a facecloth with water hot as you can stand, and hold it on the spot until it cools.  Keep doing it for 15 minutes or so.  It should help the nasty thing to rise.

I actually just bought him some Stridex pads last night for him to keep in his gym locker (so he can clean his face after getting all host, sweaty, and dirty after class).

I had no idea that antibiotics are what is used for acne!  which make me think that perhaps something like Neosporin might help??

I am also going to buy some fresh baking soda and some organic apple cider vinegar as suggested by Stacey and that wonderful website she directed me to, for Ian to use in the morning and and night.

Much thanks to all
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Neosporin *might* help. �The pustules and lumps are actually infections which is why antibiotics are helpful. � �The thing about acne is this: �outside of prescription antibiotics and Retin A, what works for one person might not work for another. �And all the treatments, including the prescription ones, take time to work, because pimples form under the surface of the skin, and when they erupt, what you are actually seeing is the end of them. �So all the ones that haven't come out yet have to be dealt with before you actually see any improvement. �I know a few people who have had wonderful results with the Proactiv treatment, and another person it didn't work for at all. �Neutrogena has a new acne treatment, you can try that one also. � And your son shouldn't wash his face more than two or three times a day, and always do it gently, harsh scrubbing makes the condition worse. �Acne is hormonal, so limiting chocolate and greasy foods usually doesn't help much.


I'm sad that I know so much about pimples  

I am really new but this topic caught my eye....

Please take your son to a dermatologist....my son is 15 1/2 and he has severe cystic acne....its all over his back and chest..its terrible....nothing over the counter we did helped him...

He is now being seen by a dermatologist and they have him on Accutane...its a really potent drug and I debated whether or not he should even take it...he is slowly getting better...I wonder if I had taken him to the dermatologist sooner if he wouldn't be as bad as he is now, and he wouldn't have so much scarring...unfortunately he will have huge scars all over his back..I'm hoping that later he'll be able to have some laser treatments to reduce the scarring...

Please...

A little update:  I have had my son washing his face using a baking soda paste in the morning and evening and acne pads after gym class and his skin is looking not so angry.  I haven't been able to get to the health food store to get organic, unprocessed apple cider vinegar, but should have some time this week to do that.
Thanks for the suggestions and help everyone!
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Maybe dipping with tea trea oil would help.  

That is good that your son's condition is improving.  Keep it up, remember like most treatments it takes time to see the full effect.