Questions and answers about acne

Acne on the nose

Question 1 from Map: My son, 9 years old, has two serious acne attacks on his nose, has been to a dermatologist who thought we should use "Clerasil" from the pharmacy. At the pharmacy, they do not want to sell any acne medicine to him as he is so young. Have had this for 1 year now. Is like an encapsulated inflamed sebaceous gland, black, hard and large. GPs do not want to pinch / puncture it due to the risk of scarring. How long can you expect this to last? Is there anything besides cleaning you can do?

Mats Berg answers: Medicines are always first-hand treatment, I think. Start with Basiron, which is non-prescription at the pharmacy, otherwise he can get a prescription for, for example, Skinoren.

Oily skin, blackheads and pimples

Question 2: Hello! I am a woman of 43 years who has always suffered from oily skin, a lot of blackheads and small pimples. I spend a lot of money on good creams that should be good for my skin type. If I go for a facial, the blackheads are back after a few days again. Do not think it matters what I do! Have undergone 2 roaccotane treatments many years ago, received antibiotic regimens, prescribed strong creams, but nothing helps in the long run, becomes a relief just when I take the treatment only. Want some help./Malin

Mats Berg answers : Sad, oily skin, there is unfortunately no treatment that has a permanent effect on. Roaccutane only helps temporarily. The dermatologists probably have as much to add there as the doctors.

Pimples all over the face

Question 3 by Bellen: Hi Mats, I'm the mother of a 14 year old girl. She has many small pimples all over her face. It's more like tiny little bubbles and sometimes some can become pimples so to speak. But she covers them with a lot of powder and it really does not look good. I try to make her understand that makeup does not help. But what should we do? She feels really bad and always compares herself to friends who do not have a single thing on their face.

Mats Berg answers: Start with over-the-counter Basiron at pharmacies. If it does not help, there are many other effective drugs that can be prescribed by a doctor or district nurse.

Inflammation of the hair follicles on the thighs and buttocks

Question 4 by Baravaraunderbar: Hello! My son, almost 18 years old, has for more than 3 years had problems with hair follicle inflammation on the thighs and buttocks. We have been to three different doctors who have prescribed different pencillin preparations, Descutan, Fucidin and Chlorhexidine. None of this has helped him and his thighs and buttocks are full of rashes that sometimes flare up and get even worse. Sometimes some get a purple tone and some cracks and fluids. This has affected his self-esteem a lot. Is there really nothing else to do about this type of problem?

Mats Berg answers: These problems are limited to acne and you can always start with the prescription drugs Dalacinliniment, Duacgel or tetralysal capsules.

Vitamin b5 for acne

Question 5 from Fsklärare: I am a woman who has been battling acne since I was a teenager. Have eaten the contraceptive pill cilest for many years, it has helped well. Now I have stopped using them (soon to be 45 years old) have been advised to eat high dose vitamin b5 for my ailments. Have read a lot about it, and also have an acquaintance who got good results from it. Is it dangerous in any way to "overdose" vitamin b5 like this?

Mats Berg answers: Oh, not fully loaded on B5, do not think so, but there is no scientific evidence of effect. There are effective remedies for acne even at your age. You would probably meet an interested dermatologist.

Son suffering from acne

Question 6 from Maria: Our family doctor downplays me, mother, when I was there with my 16-year-old son who is really suffering from his acne. He has tried most things from the pharmacy. The doctor thinks it will be fine! But hey - without his help I can not turn to the skin clinic in Malmö, where I want to go. What can I do now? Is it through referral that I can get help, but what about when the family doctor ignores my son and me? Feel free to tip.

Mats Berg answers: Sigh, how sorry I am to hear that. If it does not help to complain to the family doctor's manager - try calling Malmö Clinic directly or try one of the private doctors in the area. Do not give up! There is good help!

Problems with adult acne

Question 7: Hello! My adult daughter has had problems with adult acne. Big boils that "go inward" what is the best thing she can do about it? Of course, it's hard in many ways!

How long do you usually have so-called adult acne (I had it myself until I was about 30 years old). With kind regards / Mother of an adult daughter

Mats Berg answers: Acne in adulthood can occur until the age of 30, but there are effective medicines - seek an experienced general practitioner, or dermatologist.

Cold sores in the spring

Question 8 by Killi: Why do I always get cold sores in the spring? Even after a short while in the sun, a quarter or so? It clearly has to do with the sun.

Mats Berg answers: You probably have herpes blisters, which can often be triggered by sun.

Pills in the face and upper arms

Question 9: Hello! My 12-year-old son has had small patches on his face and upper arms for a few years now. What can it be and can you treat them? Worried mom

Mats Berg answers: Probably not. Usually a normal variant (all my 3 children have had it) that passes after a few years. The face itself could be a mild acne (try over-the-counter remedies), but if it looks the same as on the arms, it's the same thing.

Acne is good during pregnancy and in the summer

Question 10: I am 34 years old and have had skin problems for the last eight years. Tried all sorts of different products but think nothing helps. When I was pregnant, the problems disappeared almost completely and in summer it also gets better than in winter? Can I not get this fixed without medication? Do you have to take medication forever with this?

Mats Berg answers: Of course it depends on what kind of problem you have. Much can be improved during pregnancy and in the summer, such as acne and eczema. You will probably need to seek a knowledgeable GP or dermatologist.

Have a lot of acne, but do not want to take medicine

Question 11 from Maria: The son had a lot of acne, the pharmacy's products did not help. Did not want to medicate. Found online Ecnaclyn, all-natural tablets made from a milk protein. The acne disappeared after a few weeks and did not return when he stopped taking the tablets. An acquaintance had extreme acne 40 years old, started with large amounts of vitamin B5. The acne disappeared. Why do doctors insist on taking medication when you can help the body deal with the imbalance itself?

Mats Berg answers: Show me a scientific study on B5 and I can start to believe it. Besides, I do not know what drugs he tried. Acne is not always easy to treat, sometimes it requires a lot of knowledge. Due to coincidences, most things can heal - which is why doctors do not believe in medicines that lack scientific studies. May seem snobby, but believe me - the method of working lasts a long time. Doctors refuse to deceive their patients.

Want to get rid of pimples - but nothing helps

Question 12 by Nathalie: Hello! I have had pimples since I was 14 years old and now I am 19 years old. I have always suffered and my self-confidence is at the bottom because of this. It has decreased a lot in the last year but it is not completely gone. I have never had nice, smooth skin without any pimples and that is all I want! I use products / makeup adapted for my skin and am very happy with cleansing but it does not seem to help. Have had a lot of ointments prescribed but it absolutely does not help. What should I do?! Nobody listens.

Mats Berg answers: You should start by looking for a doctor who listens! Do not give up, change doctor, demand to see a specialist! There are tablets with a stronger / better effect! Acne is a troublesome disease, but can almost always be really relieved!

Acne and rosacea - nothing helps

Question 13 by Chriz: Hello! Has had problems with acne since puberty, is now 41 and has been diagnosed with rosacea. Take Tetralysal twice daily since 2010 - Finacea gel locally on the face and upper body, and Ketoconazole for the scalp. Have been doing this for two years now but I do not think I will get better, nor does it feel good to eat antibiotics for that long. Do you have any advice for me? What should I do? Suffers a lot from not being able to dress the way I want or look nice on the face, neck, shoulders and neck.

Mats Berg answers: Hello! An experienced dermatologist probably needs to look at you and assess your rosacea. As easy to treat as rosacea can be, as difficult to treat it can sometimes be. Rosazole cream may possibly provide a supplement, Oraceat tablets, Tetracycline tablets or Toaccutane capsules sometimes have a better effect and for some only special vascular lasers help. You have to see yourself to understand which!

45 years old and still has acne

Question 14 by Sassa123: Hello! Is a woman of 45 is still suffering from acne to and fro. I imagine that it follows the menstrual cycle, because it worsens during menstruation, when the face feels more "inflamed". I think this is embarrassing as an adult, feels like a teenage problem. Therefore, I always make sure that there are no whiteheads, above all, but also blackheads. Then squeezing them away, which I understand is not a good method. But what should I do? Is it just giving up at my age? However, acne has never been really severe.

Mats Berg answers: The only thing you must not do is give up! There are many medications that help. You do not have a worse effect because you are your age, but you need to see a knowledgeable and interested doctor.

Acne returned after treatment with Tetracycline 

Question 15 by Lisa L: Hi, Our 15-year-old daughter has been taking the medicine Tetracycline Meda for two winters with very good results. She has just completed a course that has been going on for 6 months. After only a 2 week break, the acne returns. It is very difficult for her as the acne is both on the face and on the back. Her father had major problems with acne in his teens. Is there anything else we can do now during the summer months?

Mats Berg answers: You should always combine tablets with topical agents (for example Basion, Differin or Epiduo), in addition, you should not give cures longer than 3 months. Ask your doctor to read the latest medical journal - there is an article on how to treat acne (in which I myself participated). The answer is that there is a lot to do in terms of treatment!

Acne, oily and impure skin

Question 16 by Makober: Hello! My 16-year-old son has major problems with acne, oily and impure skin. He has previously received 3 monthly doses of Tetralysal 300 mg and has become noticeably better. Now the capsules are gone and the acne has returned. Can he continue to eat Tetralysal - and if so, for how long? He suffers terribly from "being ugly" as he puts it. (His older brother got Roaccutane for his severe acne. He is 21 years old and still has acne, although milder nowadays.)

Mats Berg: You should always combine tetralysal with topical agents and in that case you can repeat the course at this age. If it comes back quickly several times and he has a severe acne, Roaccutane can be considered.

Acne on the face and back

Question 17 by Ninnan: Hello! Both me and my husband had a lot of problems with acne (on the face and back) and suffered a lot from it up to about 17 years of age when it thankfully disappeared. We both got medicine for our acne but do not remember what. We have three children and I worry that they will get double up when both my husband and I had it, because surely it is hereditary? What can be done to prevent it? Our oldest child is only 9 years old but my started at the age of 12 so I would like to be prepared.

Mats Berg answers: You can not prevent (you do not know of a good acne diet that helps everyone), but you can treat when pimples occur. They do not have to get as bad acne as you do, so heredity is not typical and there are always new better acne remedies.

Bumpy skin - what can you do?

Question 18 by Anneliesson: Hello! Bumpy skin, can you do something to make them smaller or less visible on the face, or do I just "like the situation" that I look like I do? I ate Roaccutane when I was 23, am 38 today.

Mats Berg answers: A cosmetic skin surgeon (can be a dermatologist, plastic surgeon or ear doctor) could probably grind the skin or otherwise make it less bumpy. In many county councils, you unfortunately have to pay yourself - ask before about cost.

Acne-like problems since adolescence

Question 19 by woman34: Hello! I have had acne-like problems since I was a teenager. pimples and a smaller type of pimples, on the cheeks most but also in the rest of the face and neck. It feels hopeless! Has been treated with most things but the problems always recur. Roaccutane in adolescence, tetracyclines. It helped but the problems came back after I stopped taking the medicine. Dermatologists say I have a mild form of rosacea, do not know how to think. The tough products can help but also irritate !?

Mats Berg answers: Rosacea has partly a different treatment and sometimes it can be difficult to separate the diseases years, so you probably need to see an experienced dermatologist. Sometimes you may need to give Roaccutane several times, in addition, there have been new acne remedies.

Pimples on the chin and around the mouth

Question 20 by Angelica: I'm not a teenager anymore, I'm 30 years old. Therefore, it is extra annoying to get large purulent pimples on the chin and around the mouth. Before I had my first child almost six years ago, I had moderate acne and never thought it was a problem. Now after two pregnancies, it is starting to feel like a problem. Does it have to do with hormones? Can I do something about it?

Mats Berg answers: With two pregnancies behind you, I would not think it has anything to do with the hormones - you can have a troublesome acne at your age anyway. Admittedly, some birth control pills can get better, but there are many effective acne medications as well.

How to remove demodex?

Question 21: Hi, how to remove demodex, what type of treatments are appropriate?

Mats Berg answers: Demodex is a parasite, the significance of which in rosacea is much debated. In Sweden, there is no obvious readily available parasite (there is, among other things, the veterinary drug Ivermectin).

Recommendation for the US version of Proactive?

Question 22 by Frida: Would you recommend the American version of Proactive, which apparently should contain completely different active substances than the one that may be sold in Sweden? Friends' children who have moved to the USA have got completely flawless skin after using it, but there must be a reason why it is not sold as it is in Sweden.

Mats Berg answers: Sorry, there is no good scientific evidence that this is an important effective medicine.

Can Acne Remedies Cause Depression?

Question 23: Have you heard that acne medicine can cause depression? It is possible? My son has a terrible acne and nothing helps.

Mats Berg answers: Acne causes depression above all. It is being researched whether the medicines can also do this (myself, for example), but there is no good evidence that this is the case (there is a lot of bullshit on the internet as well). Seek a good doctor and treat!

Is surgery the only alternative to atheroma?

Question 24 from Henrik-68: I have had acne before but got atheroma. I am 44 years old and I wonder if there is anything other than surgery to use in my case?

Mats Berg answers: No, against atheroma only a surgeon helps - they are encapsulated.

Is there any other solution than Roaccutane 

Question 25: My daughter who is 18 years old has had severe facial acne for about 2 years. She has taken liquid B vitamins and used various remedies for the skin but nothing helps. We have heard of other young people who have received Roacutan from a doctor and unfortunately have had side effects in the form of severe mood swings. Is there another solution?

Mats Berg answers: Acne gives mood swings and I have heard that young people can also get it just like us adults. Vitamin B has no proven effect, but there are many drugs including Roaccutane that have it. I have given many hundreds of Roaccutane treatments to severely affected patients and I would never have done it if I thought I had harmed them!

How do I address my son's acne problems with him?

Question 26 by karin123456: Hi! I have a son who is 20 years old and has had acne for about 3 years. He does not seem to suffer from it but it is quite a lot and I do not really know how to deal with it with him. Is it to a dermatologist you should go in the first place?

Mats Berg answers: If he does not suffer from it, you can wonder if it is important to him. You must not project your cosmetic ideals on him. If he has abscesses, however, it can be important to avoid scars by treating. But it is enough to go to a general practitioner in the first place.

Acne can heal itself at any age

Question 27 by Snakazoid: A hot tip! I am a 26 year old girl who has had problems with pimples / acne since my teens. Tried everything, creams and pills. Now I eat pantothen tablets and another pill called Pure skin both are herbal remedies and are available at the Health Food store. No side effects and now I will soon be fine.

Mats Berg answers: Sorry if I am a boring killer of joy, with acne can heal itself at any age. If this really helped, one could easily show it in a controlled scientific study, which is not done. Ugh how boring I sound, but there are many effective drugs that almost always help. The worst I know are patients who lose money on expensive products that are not properly researched !!!!

Blackheads on the nose and under the lower lip

Question 28 by Annemone: Hello! Admittedly, I am not a youth (60+) but have always had blackheads on the nose and under the lower lip. Have tried dehydrating agents but they are always there. What is there to do? Is normal / underweight.

Mats Berg answers: A dermatologist can burn / warm away the blackheads and you can always try prescription a-vitamin creams.

Hard to know what skin type I have

Question 29 by student89: Hello! I have a hard time knowing what skin type I have. I have acne and blackheads = which gives me oily skin, rosacea = which makes my skin very sensitive, plus I always get dry after I wash my face or shower and also show skin tests with a device at the pharmacy show I have very dry skin.

I'm completely confused. How do I know which products suit my skin best if I do not even know what skin type I have. Please help, I have to treat my problematic face with the right product and do not have all the value money or time to test a lot of products and also for all skin types: S.

Mats Berg answers: Sometimes it can be just as confusing as you describe and it can have several skin diseases. You will probably need to see a dermatologist. The remedies skinoren and finacea can help with both acne and rosacea and usually do not irritate the skin as much.

What skin type is affected by rosacea?

Question 30 by rosacea: Hi Mats! What skin type do we have that is affected by rosacea?

Mats Berg: Hello! It depends on what you mean by skin type? Most often - but not always - it is light-skinned people who easily burn themselves in the sun and it is believed that rosacea is most common in Sweden and Ireland. I myself am one of two people responsible for a large epidemiological study in seven countries, which will investigate how common rosacea is in other countries and who is affected.