Acne – The Bane of Teenager Existence
Very few teenagers are exempt from the burden of acne. In fact, acne affects up to 85% of teenagers to some degree. It can be a simple nuisance, or it can be more significant and lead to permanent scarring and issues with self-image. It occurs on the face, back, and chest.
What is acne?
Acne is a skin condition that is caused by pores and hair follicles becoming blocked due to accumulated oil and dead skin cells. These blockages can be “whiteheads” or “blackheads” depending on if they are closed or open, respectively. They tend to be persistent – because they heal slowly, there are usually new ones developing by the time the old ones are healing.
Acne is caused and/or worsened by a multitude of factors, including excess oil production, bacteria on the skin, and inflammation of the skin. Acne is worse during puberty due to hormonal changes that cause an increase in the oil production of the skin. Teen girls will often see flare ups of acne the week prior to menstruation.
Myths about acne
There is a lot of misinformation out there about what causes or worsens acne. Some of the biggest myths:
- Eating chocolate or greasy foods – this has no affect on acne development.
- Hygiene – acne is not caused by dirty skin. While it is important to cleanse the skin daily, using harsh soaps or chemicals or scrubbing the skin with abrasives can actually make acne worse.
- Makeup – simply wearing makeup does not make acne worse, if you take care to remove it daily. This is especially true if you use oil-free makeup.
- Only teens get acne – actually, acne can occur at any age. It is simply more common in teenagers due to hormonal surges.
- Stress – while stress does not cause acne, it may make it worse.
How is acne treated?
Medical treatment of acne depends largely on the severity of the disease. Dermatologists recommend a step-wise approach. Talk to your child’s Pediatrician about the category that best fits your teen.
Mild acne: topical cleansers that contain Benzoyl Peroxide (BPO). Topical retinoid.
Moderate acne: topical combination therapy – BPO plus retinoid. Topical antibiotics
Severe acne: topical combination therapy plus oral antibiotic. Oral retinoid (Accutane therapy).
It is important for your teen to know that redness and dryness may occur during treatment. Sometimes these become particularly worse, or acne lesions may even flare up briefly at the start of treatment.
10 Tips
The American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) has given 10 tips for skin care that can help manage acne breakouts.
- Wash your face as soon as possible after sweating.
- Use your fingertips instead of cloths or sponges to apply facial cleansers
- Use gentle products on your skin
- Avoid scrubbing your skin forcefully
- Use lukewarm water on your face, not hot
- Shampoo daily if you have oily hair
- Avoid picking or squeezing acne lesions on your skin
- Avoid touching your face throughout the day
- Avoid suntanning
- Consult a dermatologist if you continue to have acne breakouts despite your best efforts.
Final thoughts
The teen years are tough enough. Social pressures, hormonal changes, increasingly difficult academic loads, rapid body changes. While acne is certainly a common issue among teens, it does not have to be a source of major stress. There ARE options for treating it effectively, but it may take time to figure out exactly what works for your individual teenager. Talk with your teen and your Pediatrician to find the best solution.
Resources
AAD Skin care tips: https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne/skin-care/tips
AAD Acne Resource Center: https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne
AAD clinical care guidelines: https://www.aad.org/member/clinical-quality/guidelines/acne
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