Helping a Teenager with Acne

Acne can be an awful infliction for children; it can cause low self-esteem at a difficult time in a teenager's life and may also lead to your child being bullied.

Acne normally starts with the onset of puberty. Testosterone tells your sebaceous glands to produce sebum. Excess sebum causes an obstruction of the hair follicle and then bacteria build up causes inflammation. The sebaceous glands are mainly concentrated around the face, neck, back, chest and shoulders.

There are no instant cures for acne and it often clears up by the end of the teenage years.

Basic hygiene is a good place to start. The face should be washed twice a day with soap and water. Be careful what type of soap is used. The perfumes and chemicals in many soaps can make the situation worse. You can also try over the counter face washes specially designed to treat acne. Always use a clean towel to dry the face.

It is easy to spread the bacteria involved in acne around the face. Therefore it is important not to pick or squeeze the spots. Picking and squeezing can also lead to scarring. If you have a son suffering from acne then it is believed that using an electric razor can also help to reduce the spread of the bacteria.

Acne is normally treated with a cream or gel containing benzoyl peroxide. Tea Tree Oil is another remedy you can try. If this does not improve the acne then a trip to the doctor may result in the prescribing of antibiotics. Acne in teenagers is something a good doctor will take seriously and you should find your doctor supportive and willing to help. A course of antibiotics can last between three and six months and it is quite possible that your son or daughter will need to continue with this type of treatment for a longer period.

Often the psychological affects of acne are far worse than the spots and pimples themselves. Therefore your child may need a lot of support from you at this difficult time.

It is often thought that diet is a contributory factor. Although I would always stress the benefits of a generally healthy diet no single food or groups of foods have really been identified as a cause of acne. It can be a good idea to do your own detective work though and keep a diary noting any improvements or otherwise in the condition and seeing if they can be linked to any problem or indeed beneficial foods.

The sun may seem to be a good way to treat and hide your spots but remember to wear sun protection and remember some sun creams may make your spots worse!

If your child has concerns and is feeling low about their acne then try and support them by taking them to the doctor. If you can help your child to treat the acne then you will help them to improve their confidence.

NOTE:The health section of Parenting.co.uk is not to be used as a substitute for your GP; if your child is ill then seek the advice of a qualified doctor or other health professional without delay.

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