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Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. I have been a member here for a while, and 99% of these threads end with the mother informing everyone that her son/daughter is going on accutane. I was just stating the probability, but of course I was generalizing. Also, I also meant that these type of threads end up being a pro and con debate about accutane. But it sounds like you have some common sense to try less extreme solutions right now, so at least you are trying.
I still think you should take your son to a professional who can get the existing acne under control... it looks much less inflammed in the recent photos, but if it is indeed folliculitis sometimes it doesn't go away on its own. I got folliculitis on my jawline in the summer, and even though tea tree helped, extractions made the infection completely disappear. If his acne is responding to antifungals like tea tree then it's folliculitis, not hormonal/cystic acne. And in that case, antibiotics won't do much - he will need antifungals.
Ok, I will be bluntly honest.. a paleo diet is not an option for him at this time. He is a 15yo who is more interested in gaining mass to follow a sporting dream & anything that stands in the way of that will be a "no go". I feel keeping it as simple as possible is our best option.
Although in saying that i am interested in having some of these tests done to see what results they produce.
I 100% believe that diet is a contributing factor here.
The removal of milk, combined with the continued used of the Stieva A topical, his antibiotic & the addition of a pro biotic & gentle cleansing & moisturising routine seems to be producing steady results right now.
this was taken this morning..
[oh good, quote system is working again]
I am not sure what you are implying here?
I am very grateful for ALL the advise & opinions that have been given here.
That doesn't however mean that i will take all advise on board .. we have started slow and are waiting to see results.
But please don't presume that I am going to give up and put him back on Accutane.. i am aware that it is a drug that needs much concideration. [if i have taken your remark the wrong way, please excuse my reaction but that is how i have read it]
If i only put snippets of advise into action here & see results .. then that would be fabulous.
I think keeping an open mind is an important factor here.
Thanks again for all input.
Hi I too was searching for my son and was so moved by your post and the kind replies.
Im not into all this health food stuff but my son loves milk and drinks a lot of it so I will encourage him not to drink it.
I understand the emotional problems he is going through and want to help.
I agree that many things prescribed by doctors can make things worse as its trial and error which is no help to them.
I applaud and thank you for posting on here as you have already helped me.
I wish you all the very best in your efforts.
Oh and tell your son keep up with his training cos hes gonna be a stunner with a good physique and there will be a queue of young girls waiting for him.
X
Thanks for clarifying wishclean.. i will definitely keep an eye on it and if improvement doesn't continue I will look further into folliculitus.
Twoo8569, i am so glad this post has helped others.. one of the hardest things to do as a mother is see your kids hurting emotionally & i feel so many parents overlook this.. breaks my heart to read posts on here about parents that just don't understand.
Anyhow, we have replaced milk with coconut milk.. that seems to be the one that he likes best, we tried almond & rice but he wasn't overly impressed!
Thanks for posting and good luck to your boy.
Feel free to PM me if you ever need to just chat about the whole thing.
moderate to severe acne, is due to 100% genetics, and has very little to nothing to do with what you eat, drink, what you do, etc
the reason why is genetic, is because due to genes, his sebaceous glans produce too much sebum, probably 10 times more than the average person, when too much sebum is produced, the pore gets blocked, and it bursts, this is why many people can do everything, and never get rid of acne, because the main reason of the problem, is way down to genes
if anything, by him popping his white heads, he is making more damage, the pore bursts, and the contents leak out, and infect other pores, a vicious cycle
it is the genes, that make his hormones produce too much sebum, as you get older, everyone produces less sebum, which is why, as you get older, acne reduces or goes away completely on its own
in other words, you can try every product and pill out there, but if your glands continue to produce the same amount of sebum, the acne will never go away
This is why millions fail at curing their acne, because they are dealing with a genetic problem
many people refuse to accept the fact that their acne is due to genetics, that have made them prone to excess sebum production, they refuse to accept it, because it makes them feel inferior, like life has dealt them a bad hand, such is life
if acne wasn't caused by your genetic makeup, then it wouldn't be a problem, and billions wouldn't be having this problem, and failing to cure it
Why is it that some people develop acne, while other do not, despite following similar diet, lifestyle, etc
simple, it all boils down to genetics
moderate to severe acne, is due to 100% genetics, and has very little to nothing to do with what you eat, drink, what you do, etc
Yes, genetics is the foundation for acne and, yes, there is no cure for acne. But there are ways to successfully treat acne -- whether it is via topicals, drugs or lifestyle changes. Just because you have a genetic predisposition for acne does not mean that you are doomed to suffer the effects of acne for the rest, or most, of your life. Not to mention the influence of epigenetics which can alter gene expression. Lifestyle and environmental changes will certainly not have any influence on the genome but it can affect the epigenome and/or it can affect the many pathways that lead to acne.
To the OP: I am a little concerned that his weight lifting regimen might be partly (I would venture to say mostly) responsible for triggering his acne. Weight lifting does alter hormones and in a time where he is already going through a lot of hormonal changes, it can just add more fuel to the fire. I am NOT suggesting that he should stop weight lifting; weight lifting has a plethora of positive effects. I am just saying the hormonal changes from weight lifting may be the likely culprit behind his acne. There are supplements that many weight lifters use to combat the negative effects of weight lifting / excess androgens, but considering his age, I would stay away from them for now. It's great that you stopped the dairy! I am not sure if the probiotics would be really effective right now. I would suggest natural probiotics instead, directly from food (kimchee, sauerkraut, other fermented foods). Hopefully, the Stieva A works! I really don't think his acne looks that bad.
have him quit the freaking weight lifting, he is not arnold or bodybuilder, quitting for a few weeks will not make him lose muscle mass, and like I said, the chances that he is a bodybuilder are almost zero, taking a break for 1 month, will not affect him, in fact, is recommended to take breaks
if anything, he should quit lifting weight, for 1 month, and see if there are improvements in his acne
that is the only way to determine if weight lifting is making his acne worse or not
the only way
have him quit the freaking weight lifting, he is not arnold or bodybuilder, quitting for a few weeks will not make him lose muscle mass, and like I said, the chances that he is a bodybuilder are almost zero, taking a break for 1 month, will not affect him, in fact, is recommended to take breaks
if anything, he should quit lifting weight, for 1 month, and see if there are improvements in his acne
that is the only way to determine if weight lifting is making his acne worse or not
the only way
Well considering your 1st post states that acne is 100% genetic and that nothing we do will change that i see your now somewhat contradicting your blunt statement with this post.
If you had of read the previous posts before rudely replying with this comment then you would know that he is NOT a bodybuilder nor have i ever referred to him as a weightlifter. Obviously by stopping his "exercise routine" [which yes contains weights] would help determine if that is in fact the cause of his acne but let me suggest to you that a little "people skills" would go along way with your suggestion.
moderate to severe acne, is due to 100% genetics, and has very little to nothing to do with what you eat, drink, what you do, etc
Yes, genetics is the foundation for acne and, yes, there is no cure for acne. But there are ways to successfully treat acne -- whether it is via topicals, drugs or lifestyle changes. Just because you have a genetic predisposition for acne does not mean that you are doomed to suffer the effects of acne for the rest, or most, of your life. Not to mention the influence of epigenetics which can alter gene expression. Lifestyle and environmental changes will certainly not have any influence on the genome but it can affect the epigenome and/or it can affect the many pathways that lead to acne.
To the OP: I am a little concerned that his weight lifting regimen might be partly (I would venture to say mostly) responsible for triggering his acne. Weight lifting does alter hormones and in a time where he is already going through a lot of hormonal changes, it can just add more fuel to the fire. I am NOT suggesting that he should stop weight lifting; weight lifting has a plethora of positive effects. I am just saying the hormonal changes from weight lifting may be the likely culprit behind his acne. There are supplements that many weight lifters use to combat the negative effects of weight lifting / excess androgens, but considering his age, I would stay away from them for now. It's great that you stopped the dairy! I am not sure if the probiotics would be really effective right now. I would suggest natural probiotics instead, directly from food (kimchee, sauerkraut, other fermented foods). Hopefully, the Stieva A works! I really don't think his acne looks that bad.
Thanks for your input here oceanic, i do agree with you that the excessive workouts in general would be playing havoc with his hormones and that is probably a factor here but as he is not willing to alter that routine then i am looking for solutions that may help counteract the adverse affects and so far i think he is improving.
I will look into some other non dairy probiotic options for him.. good idea.
And i am glad that you don't think his acne is too bad.. that is always encouraging. I know there are always others is worse situations and no matter how bad we feel something is, it could always be worse.
"I 100% believe that diet is a contributing factor here.
The removal of milk, combined with the continued used of the Stieva A topical, his antibiotic & the addition of a pro biotic & gentle cleansing & moisturising routine seems to be producing steady results right now.
this was taken this morning.."
Um, YEAH- I can see the results so far. Wow!!! What a difference! He already looks way better. Keep doing what you're doing, and I agree that he should take a probiotic as well. Dairy free, of course. He is clearly sensitive to dairy, and you might also consider having him tested for a wheat intolerance. I know, he's a teenager, & it's nearly impossible to ask them to change their diets. I have a teenage son too, who had severe cystic acne.
I wish him & you the best. And I hope his skin keeps improving!!
Oops- I meant to quote OneProudMumma above, but instead I copied & pasted sorry
so, basically he is trading some muscles for acne?
He is aware that is very likely that weight lifting is making his acne worse, yet despite knowing this, and despite knowing that stopping, will more than likely improve his acne, he still refuses to stop lifting? makes sense
is not like stopping for 1 month, is gonna turn him into some vegetable, in fact, it is recommended to take breaks from working out, to let the body recover from all the buildup
I'm sure most men would rather have a clear face with a skinny body, than having some muscle, with facial acne
so, basically he is trading some muscles for acne?
He is aware that is very likely that weight lifting is making his acne worse, yet despite knowing this, and despite knowing that stopping, will more than likely improve his acne, he still refuses to stop lifting? makes sense
is not like stopping for 1 month, is gonna turn him into some vegetable, in fact, it is recommended to take breaks from working out, to let the body recover from all the buildup
I'm sure most men would rather have a clear face with a skinny body, than having some muscle, with facial acne
sounds like your just the type of guy he would want to take advise from!
Thanks for your input.
A lot of arm chair experts .... At the end of the day he should be under the care of a dermatologist. This is WAY beyond the scope of an esthetician.
Yes i agree.
And just to clarify, he is under the care of a dermatologist and has been for over 12 months .. we have 2 upcoming dermo appointments in the next month.
I do like the fact that I posted here in this community and received some great adviseand some not so great! but i have sifted through the info and applied some of it.. all of which i will discuss with our Dermatologist at our next appointment.
Weight lifting causing acne is a myth, what percentage of people with severe acne lift weights? I doubt you will find many. His mother stated he is an athlete, a weight training regimen is a key aspect of sport. He shouldn't have to give up on everything because of acne. I suffered from severe acne throughout my teens, I tried many different treatments, the one thing that worked was accutane. The mental damage acne caused was far worse than any side effect I got from taking accutane. This is just my two cents.
Hey OneProudMumma,
Just wanted to say hey after reading through your thread for the past hour. This is a really touching thread for me because your son and I are really quite similar except for the fact that I'm a girl haha. I'm 16, and as opposed to football, I run track. Our acne situations are very similar as well, my cheeks are even worse than his if that makes you feel any better. I know it can be so tough to go through this, my acne has raged out in the past month and I cannot express how brave your son is. I've only been suffering with severe acne for a month and i've already felt like im loosing my life. Anyhow, I just wanted to say hey! I hope your son or you will be able to see this, I know how much it can help to know that someone else is going through the same thing. My best wishes to the both of you !
Hi Jennjm,
Thanks for your message, it is always comforting to hear that others are experiencing the same thing and that your not alone. I hope in return that you know that you will get through this..persistence and a healthy mind can do wonders. My son is improving every week and is feeling much better emotionally.
Stay strong and continue to do what you love you will come out the other side a stronger person.
Orlando158:
Whey concentrate and whey isolate protein (used in protein shakes consumed by many weight lifters) contain IGF-1, short for Insulin-like growth factor. It is a hormone found in milk. IGF-1 will cause increased sebum production on the skin (your reasoning behind the cause of acne) as well as keratinocytes (skin cells) to multiply more rapidly than normal. Whey protein contains the IGF-1 hormone, because it is derived from commercially processed milk. Weight lifting itself has never been proven to have any kind of adverse effect on human skin at the cellular level. (However, I will say it does have an effect on male testosterone production).
Concerning the milk - Commercially produced milk will utilize antibiotics or hormone supplements, one of which is IGF-1.
Concerning the diet - Digestion of the complex carbs in the nuts, grains, beans spike insulin levels in the blood (as well as IGF-1 levels). If you decide to do any basic googling on this subject you will find out that vegetables also contain complex carbs, however they are digested differently than the carbs in the aforementioned. Digestion of vegetables has minimal impact on insulin levels, because their complex carbs are broken down into simple sugars much more slowly.
Genetics certainly does have a lot to do with how prone a given individual is to suffering from acne, however there are many outside existential factors that will impact sebum and keratinocyte production that can exacerbate acne on skin that is already genetically prone to it. The intricacies of gene and protein expression have a much larger scope than you or anyone else that has never studied it could grasp (no shame in that). That being said, I don't condone posting uneducated information on a site meant to provide assistance.
Should you choose to respond, you should also note that I am a geneticist, albeit a fairly young one, that is also well educated in the field of molecular and cellular biology.
Hello oneproudmumma im a very experienced acne sufferer for over 20 years myself. I have found the best treatment overall even better than accutane is: taking a cephalosporin antibiotic like duricef 2 500 mg a day but most importantly have your son take 400 mg of ibuprofen directly with each dosage of antibiotic.this will eliminate your sons acne until down the road he might develop resistance to antibiotic.then have dr. Switch him immediately to one of these antibiotics ceftin cephalexin vantin ceclor omnicef spectracef cedax velosef all great for severe acne and have him always take 2 ibuprofen directly with each dose and he will be fine.
Hello oneproudmumma im a very experienced acne sufferer for over 20 years myself. I have found the best treatment overall even better than accutane is: taking a cephalosporin antibiotic like duricef 2 500 mg a day but most importantly have your son take 400 mg of ibuprofen directly with each dosage of antibiotic.this will eliminate your sons acne until down the road he might develop resistance to antibiotic.then have dr. Switch him immediately to one of these antibiotics ceftin cephalexin vantin ceclor omnicef spectracef cedax velosef all great for severe acne and have him always take 2 ibuprofen directly with each dose and he will be fine.
Hi, thanks for your input.
Can you please explain what the addition of ibuprofen with the antibiotic actually does?
Sounds interesting.
Yes I will it vastly increases absorption of antibiotic and works in tandem with it totally quelling inflammation only when taken together for awesome results.it will work great with any antibiotics that cover skin infections but for severe or moderate to severe cephalosporin antibiotics are superior acne fighters because they are broad spectrum.cefzil is one of the only ones that wont work.good luck if he tries this combination he wont be disappointed:
Hey Oneproudmumma, gotta ditch the milk and whey protein. Please do your son a favor and look up Paula's Choice acne products. I've suffered from severe acne for a year an a half and honest to god, Paula's choice was the only thing that has ever cleared my acne 100%.
Ibuprofen
Yes I will it vastly increases absorption of antibiotic and works in tandem with it totally quelling inflammation only when taken together for awesome results.it will work great with any antibiotics that cover skin infections but for severe or moderate to severe cephalosporin antibiotics are superior acne fighters because they are broad spectrum.cefzil is one of the only ones that wont work.good luck if he tries this combination he wont be disappointed
One of the ingredients in ibuprofen is salicyclic acid, commonly used to treat acne and there are studies that suggest oral ingestion of ibuprofen can help with acne. However, there is absolutely no correlation between ibuprofen improving the efficacy of antibiotic "absorption." Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory that may help with the swelling on the face, but like many other drugs, if it is taken in such high dosages (400mg twice a day) on a daily basis then your body will build a tolerance, causing a need for even higher dosages to experience the same effects.
This has helped me have you ever tried of purified water in your home there are many systems that you could purchase. I recently had a bad break out and purchased a shower purifier at home depot and skin is softer and my acne went away. There are many reasons people get acne it can be his hormones, kidneys, glandular system. Try juicing beets, kale, ginger and green apples, cucumbers for a couple of weeks you will see the difference. Honey is a great anti-septic and helps acne go away. My regimen includes no chemical products. I use a gentle scrub like eminence rhubarb scrub and apple cider vinegar as a tonic. The last thing is moisturizer i used eminence skin probiotic. My skin is supple and barely any break outs. Supplements are important I take vitamin a and d, vitamin e, zinc, and b-complex. Hope this helps him