Teen years and acne are particularly synonymous. It’s very common for teens of both genders to experience breakouts. However, some teens may experience severe acne, where breakouts can happen all over the face, chest, back or other parts of the body. It is important to make them aware of the consequences if the problem is left alone. In most cases, daily cleaning routines can be the solution for teen acne treatment. The sooner it will be enforced the better results can be expected. If the acne is severe, it’s important to receive proper medical treatment. Severe acne can last beyond teen years well into early thirties, which can cause serious self-confidence and body image issues for your child.
Why Your Teen’s Acne Needs to be Treated
There’s a common myth that acne needs to be allowed to run its course. If your teen is experiencing a single breakout once a month or so, that may be okay. Otherwise, you must get your teen to a reputed dermatologist like GunterMD Dermatology GunterMD Dermatology & Skin Cancer Center. If acne is not treated on time, it could leave the affected areas with dark spots and acne scars. Also, getting acne treated will make your teen feel more confident and boost his or her self-esteem.
Diagnosing Acne
There are different types of acne that affect teens. Going to a dermatologist is strongly encouraged to get a proper diagnosis. Dermatologists examine the skin of the patient first and then grade the acne on a scale of 1 to 4. The mildest acne is graded 1 and most severe is graded 4.
The dermatologist will then tell you what type of acne is affecting your teen. There are close to a dozen different types of acne that are classified as whiteheads, blackheads, papules, pustules, and severe types like cysts and nodules. Severe acne like cysts has serious medical implications beyond appearance, so they have to be treated right away. The dermatologist in sun city west will determine the best course of treatment depending on your type and provide you medicine related to your problem.
There are definitely over-the-counter treatments for acne such as face washes containing salicylic acid that may help clear mild acne. However, these common anti-acne products may not work for all teens. Those affected by severe acne will definitely require medical treatment.
There are a number of acne treatments dermatologists now prescribe. Doctors typically prescribe topical treatments for acne. Topical anti-acne treatments help kill bacteria that causes acne or may reduce oil on skin that blocks the pores. A dermatologist may prescribe topical antibiotics, prescription-strength benzoyl peroxide cream, topical retinoids, or salicylic acid treatments.
Some dermatologists also recommend oral antibiotics to treat acne. Hormonal treatments are also available, however, these are only recommended for adults and not teens. If your teen suffers from particularly severe blackheads, he or she may be able to benefit from acne extraction surgery, where a small metal tool is used to unclog blocked pores.
While acne treatments can work, dermatologists also advise parents to encourage teens to take steps to prevent acne. Acne cannot be completely prevented among some patients, but severity can be reduced by taking steps such as washing the face more than once per day. Tell your teen not to touch the face with unclean hands, which can transfer bacteria from fingertips to the face causing acne. Other tips include not scrubbing the face harshly, using gentle face washes, shampooing oily hair daily, and not breaking acne by hand.
