Adolescence, a time of physical and emotional changes and fragile self esteem, can be made even more troubling by those dreaded lumps and bumps . . . acne.
Usually between the ages of 10 and 13, the first pimples, white heads and black heads appear in about 85 % of teens. As a result of the hormonal changes which occur in adolescence, particularly due to androgen, the male hormone, oil glands in the skin begin working overtime producing the various lesions seen in acne. There also appears to be a skin bacteria which contributes to the production of pimples.
Furthermore, there is an inherited aspect to acne, and thus if you suffered from acne as a teen, your children also will likely suffer. So, what can you do to make your child's experience with acne more pleasant than your own was?
It should be made clear to your teenagers that acne is not caused by poor hygiene. In fact, washing the face too often, scrubbing too vigorously, or using harsh cleansers can make acne worse. Discourage picking or squeezing pimples and black heads as this can inflame them further and cause scarring. Acne is not caused by eating foods like chocolate or greasy foods.
Perhaps, however, if a teen eats a lot of greasy foods and touches the face, oils can be deposited there from the hands and further block pores. Therefore, discourage your teen from touching their face and ensure makeup, moisturizers and sunscreen are oil-free. The treatment of acne involves a step-wise approach depending on the severity and response of the acne. For very mild cases, over the counter products containing benzoyl peroxide are often effective in addition to a cleansing routine of washing the face twice per day with a non-perfumed, gentle cleanser, or soap. If there is no response to these products, see your doctor regarding the prescription alternatives. These choices may include topical creams such as antibiotic creams or vitamin A (or retinoid) creams.
For more severe or cystic acne, your doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics, in pill form, in addition to creams. In teenage girls, the birth control pill is sometimes used to control acne. For the most severe cases involving cysts and scarring, your doctor may prescribe Accutane, which is a pill related to vitamin A. It has many severe side effects including nose bleeds, liver toxicity, elevated cholesterol and depression among others. Blood tests must be done to monitor the liver and cholesterol levels on Accutane. The usual course of therapy is four to six months.
With the variety of products currently available to treat acne, it need not be the devastating condition it was in our youth. See your doctor before those blemishes affect your teen's self confidence.
Kathy is a family physician and the mother of two beautiful girls.
Calgary’s Child Magazine © 2024 Calgary’s Child
