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Dermatology (Expert Forum)
12 year old son with acne
Answered by
Alan Rockoff, MD - dermatology, Child Skin Problems
The Rockoff Dermatology Center
Brookline - MA
This forum is for questions regarding Dermatology issues, such as: skin rashes, acne, birthmarks, skin infections, rosacea, and general skin care.
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12 year old son with acne
by 2worriedmom, May 13, 2006 12:00AM
I am hoping that you can provide some factual information based on your past patients. My son is 12 1/2 and we have been battling mild to moderate acne for over a year to no avail. He has used Benzoyl peroxide, differin, proactive, eurithromycin, doxyciclin, b5, apple vinegar...all to no avail. His acne has gotten progressively worse but not horrible. He has no cysts but persistent small bumps on his nose, sides of nose and mouth. His dermatologist says his next option is accutane.
Just some background that may be pertinent, he has seen an endocrinologist because he started puberty early just to be sure that all was ok. He was given a clean bill of health and we were told that he started puberty on the early side of normal but there was nothing to worry about. He had a battery of tests performed including a bone age. At age 11.5, his bone age was that of a 13 year old. Again, nothing alarming and all of this went along with the fact that he was going through puberty.
Anyway, regarding the accutane, I want to help him. He wants the acne gone. It is really tough on him because not many of the kids his age have even started getting zits yet! I know he is really self conscience about it. I have read a couple of odd articles regarding closure of growth plates and accutane. Can this happen and should I be concerned? If there is any chance that his growth could be stunted, I would not even consider giving this to him.
I took accutane in 1984 at the age of 19 after suffering with mild/moderate acne for 6 years. I missed many events because of acne. There were some really sad times. I did not have horrible cystic acne, just persistent, small pustules that looked rash like. Accutane totally changed my life for the better and I have never battled acne again. I don't remember any side effects besides dry lips which I still have as do many people I know who never took accutane!! I just wished that I could have taken it earlier to avoid all of the heartache I suffered when I looked in the mirror.
All of these internet comments are making me wonder if I could be giving my son something to harm him. I just hate to see him suffer all through junior and senior high school with this. It seems like with modern medicine, he should not need to .
Please advise if you think the growth stoppage could be an issue . Also, he is an excellent athlete, football, baseball, basketball. His accutane therapy would run through the football season. Should I worry about that. It sounds like even if we do give accutane a try, he may have a recurrence because he is young and also only has mild/moderate acne.
ANY words of wisdom would be appreciative...I would really like to hear advice from a professional who treats this condition for a living than from the internet.
Thank you!
Just some background that may be pertinent, he has seen an endocrinologist because he started puberty early just to be sure that all was ok. He was given a clean bill of health and we were told that he started puberty on the early side of normal but there was nothing to worry about. He had a battery of tests performed including a bone age. At age 11.5, his bone age was that of a 13 year old. Again, nothing alarming and all of this went along with the fact that he was going through puberty.
Anyway, regarding the accutane, I want to help him. He wants the acne gone. It is really tough on him because not many of the kids his age have even started getting zits yet! I know he is really self conscience about it. I have read a couple of odd articles regarding closure of growth plates and accutane. Can this happen and should I be concerned? If there is any chance that his growth could be stunted, I would not even consider giving this to him.
I took accutane in 1984 at the age of 19 after suffering with mild/moderate acne for 6 years. I missed many events because of acne. There were some really sad times. I did not have horrible cystic acne, just persistent, small pustules that looked rash like. Accutane totally changed my life for the better and I have never battled acne again. I don't remember any side effects besides dry lips which I still have as do many people I know who never took accutane!! I just wished that I could have taken it earlier to avoid all of the heartache I suffered when I looked in the mirror.
All of these internet comments are making me wonder if I could be giving my son something to harm him. I just hate to see him suffer all through junior and senior high school with this. It seems like with modern medicine, he should not need to .
Please advise if you think the growth stoppage could be an issue . Also, he is an excellent athlete, football, baseball, basketball. His accutane therapy would run through the football season. Should I worry about that. It sounds like even if we do give accutane a try, he may have a recurrence because he is young and also only has mild/moderate acne.
ANY words of wisdom would be appreciative...I would really like to hear advice from a professional who treats this condition for a living than from the internet.
Thank you!
Doctor's Answer
by Alan Rockoff, MD, May 14, 2006 12:00AM
, May 14, 2006 12:00AM
I have not encountered the problem of growth arrest. Although I assume the risk is low,I don't know its actual magnitude. My concern, like yours, would be one concerning effectiveness rather than safety--when used for non-cystic acne, it's not unusual for the acne to recur in a year or two, which then raises the possibility of having to take it again, and so on.
Your doctor may also want to at least contemplate other antibiotics (minocycline, cefadroxil, sulfa) as well as photodynamic therapy using a laser or other light source.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
Your doctor may also want to at least contemplate other antibiotics (minocycline, cefadroxil, sulfa) as well as photodynamic therapy using a laser or other light source.
Best.
Dr. Rockoff
www.acne.org
They all had terrible acne and had also had antibiotics for infected pimples. They all have clear skin now, it has a lot to do with 2% benzoyl peroxide instead of 10%
ameliabadelia...I took accutane at 19...phenominal for me with no side effects and I am now 40+ and all still well. If you do go the accutane route, I hope all goes smoothly for you too. :)