Acne/Spot Treatment - What do you recommend?

If his spots acne are getting bad and effecting the quality of his life I would take him to his GP who will be able to prescribed creams or medication, if they don't help you can ask his GP to refer him to a specialist for Roaccutane.

I had severe acne as a teen and ended up on a course of roaccutane which totally cured it. It's quite a harsh medication with a few side effects so I would only advise going on that after trying a few other treatments first.

Hiya Linda,

Firstly I'm sorry to hear about your nephew. Having got severe acne myself I know how horrible he must be feeling

I had persistent severe acne for 7 years, from the age of 12/13 until now. Mine got to the point where they were so sore on my back I couldn't sleep on it, and wearing a bra was painful too! My face was covered in cysts and lumps and I just felt like some sort of mutant I am now on my 3rd month of roaccutane. It comes with LOADS of side effects but so far so good for me. Your nephew will have had to have tried anything the doctors prescribe before they will give him roaccutane. I would recommend a trip to the doctor and they may put him on some antibiotics and maybe ask for lotion called 'zineryt'. This combination worked for my 18 year old sister but didn't for me.

It's all about trial and error. At his age he probably wouldn't be offered roaccutane, my dermatologist said they only take on people over the age of 18 unless it's REALLY REALLY bad. They don't really like giving it out because of all the side effects.

Either way I hope he finds something which works for him!

ps Funky, I can't thank you enough for the hemp lip balm recommendation!!! Lifesaver!

Can I suggest a wash?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/SCHULKE-OCTENISAN-ANTIMICROBIAL-WASH-LOTION/dp/B0036IKUTE

Mr SevenYears takes steroids for his medical condition and suffers with very bad acne. My mum has recently gone through major operations and has to wash with this strong antibacterical wash for a week prior to the appointment. Mum gave Mr SevenYears some of her leftover wash to try and it has cleared it up brilliantly.

? glad it works for you too.

oooh what does this do?

One of the side effect to Roaccutane is very dry cracked lips and when I was on it many years ago I was recommended Body Shop hemp lip balm as the best so i used in throughout my treatment and didn't suffer with dry lips at all so I passed the recommendation on to Hoddy.

And just as Funky predicted neither have I! Hooray!

Sometimes a simple Acne Fighting Patch can really help calm spots quickly and make them less noticeable, which might give him a bit more confidence.

Spot treatments vary depending on inflammation level, skin sensitivity, and how quickly breakouts tend to heal. Targeted approaches like benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, or light-based therapies are often discussed as part of a broader routine for managing flare-ups. Some users exploring light therapy options also mention the UVB vitiligo lamp as a tool they’ve looked into for supporting skin-related concerns alongside conventional acne care.