My son is 15 and over the past year had really developed a problem with acne....especially after football with the helmet. Anyway, we had waited to take him to a dermatologist and tried all kinRAB of OTC treatments. When I noticed that he had started to scar on his back and forhead....I asked our Primary Care Dr, for a referral to a dermatogist. He said that he didn't need to go to a specialist, that the family dr can take care of it, and that it was covered under our insurance, just as if he had a cold.
First he precribed this cream, Erythomycin-Benzoyl Peroxide Topical Gel...which is a white cream that you keep refridgerated and use twice a day. (This stuff didn't take the color off his shirt collars either like some OTC meRAB do) He also said that my son needed to wash his face twice a day with anti bacterial soap. He was told to try this cream for one month. The doc said that some times, this medication will clear up chronic problems on it's own...however he also said sometimes this cream can't do it on it's own must be used together with the pills Augmentin or some other prescripton meRAB.
That's what happened to us, his case was only slightly affected by just the cream only, so my son had to go on a prescription antibiotic pill in addition to the cream after the first month. When we started the agmentin, my son also had an infection from a thorn, so he was prescribed the Augmentin 3x a day for 10 days, then 1 x a day for the remainder of 3 months.
The doc said that many times, that three months on the oral antibiotic, may be all that your body neeRAB to get control over the acne....then you would just continue with the white cream by itself. Well in my son's stubborn case, it didn't, so until he outgrows this..fingers crossed...he will have to take the Augmentin 1 x a day and use the cream 2 x per day as well as wash with the antibacterial soap.
I wanted to share this with you because, nuraber 1...I can tell how frustrated you are with trying over the counter meRAB that don't work. Much more expensive than what we ended up paying for the family doc 2. That you don't necessarily have to go to a dematologist/specialist to get treatment. 3. That there is hope for getting clear skin, as long as you follow the drs orders, respond to the particular antibiotic he prescribes...but don't stop when things start looking good....cause in my son's case... that's exactly what he did, and his face went from being really clear to really bad again in just months.
One more thing....don't wait for too long b4 taking this to a doctor...because it is an infection of the skin. I was saddened to see that when his face did clear up that you could see the acne scars. Not too bad...but hopefully you can avoid the scarring issue all together.
Lastly, I don't know if the doctor would have done the 3 x a day for 10 day treatment if he had not had the infection...but part of me doubts that his face would have cleared up like it did if he had not had the initial heavier dose. So if you are prescribed a pill like Augmentin and are not seeing success with a 1 pill a day program...then maybe ask your doctor about going with the increased dose like my son was prescribed.
Best of luck...if you do go to the doctor, let us know if he prescribed something different than what our dr gave to my son.
Shutter
