Question: My teenage daughter has a terrible case of acne. I’ve told her that she will grow out of this, but the other kids make fun of her and she gets very sad. Is there anything that can be done for her?

Dr. Hibberd's answer:
Have you seen a dermatologist for this issue? Prescription medication that your daughter can apply to her skin (topical medication) or by mouth (oral medication) can help. Tretinoin (Avita, Retin-A, others), adapalene (Differin), and tazarotene (Tazorac, Avage) have been known to be effective. Moderate to severe acne may need a short course of prescription oral antibiotics to reduce bacteria and fight inflammation. Another powerful medication Isotretinoin (Amnesteem, Claravis, Sotret) is available for scarring cystic acne or acne that doesn't respond to other treatments. This medicine is reserved for the most severe forms of acne. It's very effective, but people who take it need close monitoring by a dermatologist because of the possibility of severe side effects. Other treatments such as oral contraceptives, laser light therapy, and cosmetic procedures are also helpful.
Over-the-counter (OTC) lotions are generally mild and only helpful for very mild acne.