My doctor told me I would grow out of my acne but I am now 15. If it is true that I will grow out of it, please can you tell me when?
Your acne will get better with time but no one can tell you when that will be and it is certainly not a reason to stop you finding the best acne treatment. Acne starts when hormone changes occur around and after puberty. These new levels of hormones stay the same for many years – until the menopause in women and longer for men.
It is surprising that people do grow out of it but many more people seem to carry on having problems well into adult life. You need to find some acne remedies to deal with your acne as a ‘now’ thing so that when it does stop happening you won’t be left with scars to remember it by.
Help! Every month, just before my period, I get spots around my chin. They don’t even come to a head; they just sit there and hurt. Do I have acne?
Yes, you probably have. Acne is triggered by the skin’s abnormal reaction to hormones, so the changing levels of hormones at the time of your period cause acne even though your skin doesn’t react to different levels at other times of your cycle. This is a good example of needing to see your doctor when the spots appear, as there will be nothing to show if you have to wait a week for an appointment. It also illustrates how important it is for people with acne to be able to tell their own story about the pattern of spots and when they get them, rather than just being looked at quickly. Your history of getting spots at the times of your periods will suggest a different approach to treatment, and consequently a more tailored acne remedy, than if you had spots all the time. You could also think about taking a photo of yourself with spots to show the doctor how bad it can be.
I have heard that there might be a problem with my ovaries which is why I get acne. If that is the case, what is it, why do boys get acne, and are there acne remedies for it?
You might have a condition called polycystic ovaries. This means that your ovaries have lots of fluid-filled lumps (cysts) on them. If this is the case, your ovaries won’t be producing the right balance of hormones and, in particular, too much of the male hormone testosterone.
If this is the case, you are then quite a bit more likely to have very bad acne, grow extra hair on your body and perhaps also have light or even no periods at all. In later life you could find it harder than normal if you want to get pregnant. It is very important to have tests for this condition as soon as you can; they include blood tests for the hormone levels and ultrasound scans of your ovaries.
This is one of the few times when detailed medical tests are needed for your specific case of acne. Your acne will need different and stronger acne treatment, and you might also be offered treatment for your ovaries. They are a lot bigger with all the cysts, so an operation to remove some of the cysts can lead to more normal levels of hormones.
Although girls also have some testosterone, boys’ testes – the male equivalent of ovaries – normally produce high levels of this hormone, which is why they are often more affected.
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