Source: Connect with Kids
“As far as image, it was a big problem. I was always very self-conscious about it.”
– Brian, 17 years old
“Pimples, zits, whiteheads, blackheads,” 20-year-old Lamont runs down a list of terms associated with a familiar teenage problem: Acne.
“I got it real bad a few years ago,” says Brian, now 17.
Jennifer, also 17, says, “I don’t like it. I’m sure people are looking at it.”
Often how teens see themselves on the outside affects how they feel on the inside.
“We do know that depression is more common in teens with acne,” says Dr. Tiffani Hamilton, a dermatologist.
According to Brian, having acne made him feel “embarrassed to go out and be in malls or whatever just ’cause I was very self-conscious about it.”
“I think some people find it very hard, and you worry a lot because appearance is very important these days,” 17-year old Annabel says.
Along with the teasing come myths and stereotypes that teens with acne must face.
“I think it has to do a great deal with hygiene or taking care of yourself,” Lamont says.
Seventeen-year-old Connie thinks acne may be caused by ”stress or the fact that they’ve just been eating too many junk foods.”
The truth is acne is genetic. And while most teens know to try over-the-counter medications, an estimated 40% of adolescents have acne severe enough to require medical treatment. Many dermatologists say newer prescription medications, like Accutane, work far better than treatments in the past.
Experts say understanding the truth about acne and discovering the right medicine can go a long way in helping your child physically and emotionally.
“[Acne] doesn’t have to be a normal part of your teenage experience. We have lots of treatments. There’s just no reason to feel uncomfortable with your appearance,” Dr. Hamilton says.
Tips for Parents
– Brian, 17 years old
“Pimples, zits, whiteheads, blackheads,” 20-year-old Lamont runs down a list of terms associated with a familiar teenage problem: Acne.
“I got it real bad a few years ago,” says Brian, now 17.
Jennifer, also 17, says, “I don’t like it. I’m sure people are looking at it.”
Often how teens see themselves on the outside affects how they feel on the inside.
“We do know that depression is more common in teens with acne,” says Dr. Tiffani Hamilton, a dermatologist.
According to Brian, having acne made him feel “embarrassed to go out and be in malls or whatever just ’cause I was very self-conscious about it.”
“I think some people find it very hard, and you worry a lot because appearance is very important these days,” 17-year old Annabel says.
Along with the teasing come myths and stereotypes that teens with acne must face.
“I think it has to do a great deal with hygiene or taking care of yourself,” Lamont says.
Seventeen-year-old Connie thinks acne may be caused by ”stress or the fact that they’ve just been eating too many junk foods.”
The truth is acne is genetic. And while most teens know to try over-the-counter medications, an estimated 40% of adolescents have acne severe enough to require medical treatment. Many dermatologists say newer prescription medications, like Accutane, work far better than treatments in the past.
Experts say understanding the truth about acne and discovering the right medicine can go a long way in helping your child physically and emotionally.
“[Acne] doesn’t have to be a normal part of your teenage experience. We have lots of treatments. There’s just no reason to feel uncomfortable with your appearance,” Dr. Hamilton says.
Tips for Parents
According to the American Counseling Association, the two major causes of anxiety among high school students are college and acne, which is the most commonly diagnosed skin disorder in the United States. In fact, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says that by their mid-teens, about 40% of adolescents have acne severe enough to require medical treatment by a doctor.
Acne – which includes pimples, whiteheads, blackheads, cysts and pustules – often affects young people at a time when they are undergoing maximum social and physical changes and can produce significant psychological as well as physical scarring. Therefore, if your teen has acne, the AAD says it is important not to brush it off as just a natural stage of life. Consider the negative impacts acne can have on your teen:
Social withdrawal
Decreased self-esteem
Reduced self-confidence
Poor body image
Embarrassment
Feelings of depression
Anger
Preoccupation
Frustration
Higher rate of unemployment
The AAD says the effects listed above are often interrelated, with one effect leading to another and another, only to make the first effect worse. These negative psychosocial effects can have a crippling impact, discouraging your teen from pursuing life’s opportunities.
What exactly causes acne? Experts at UC Davis Health System say that acne occurs at tiny pores associated with hair follicles located on the face, chest and back. Tiny sebaceous glands around these follicles are stimulated by hormonal changes during puberty to produce an oily sebum. In acne, the opening of the follicle gets blocked, preventing the sebum from escaping normally. The resulting blocked pore is commonly called a whitehead. Blackheads occur when whiteheads are exposed to the air. Sometimes bacteria invade the plugged pores, causing tender, red pimples. If they also become filled with pus and fluid, painful cysts result.
While acne is not contagious, several factors contribute to a person’s risk of developing the skin disorder. Children’s Hospital of Iowa cites the following risk factors for getting acne:
Acne can affect people of any age, but it occurs most commonly in teens.
Almost eight in every 10 teens get acne.
If a parent had acne as a teen, his or her child has a greater chance of getting acne.
Some girls get acne a few days before they get their period. It is caused by hormone changes in the body.
If you discover that your teen has acne, the AAD suggests teaching your teen these guidelines for basic treatment:
Do NOT pop, squeeze or pick at acne. This behavior can make acne worse by spreading inflammation. Black heads should be removed only by an experienced health professional. With appropriate treatment, acne should go away without squeezing.
Gently wash the face twice a day with a mild soap and pat dry. Vigorous washing and scrubbing can irritate your teen’s skin and make acne worse. It will not clear up acne on its own – the acne needs to be treated with appropriate acne products.
Use “non-comedogenic” cosmetics and toiletries.
Give the acne products enough time to do their job. Ask a dermatologist or pharmacist for more information about how long a particular product needs before the acne begins to clear up.
Some acne products can increase the skin’s sensitivity to sunlight and ultraviolet light from tanning booths. Use protective clothing and sunscreens, and avoid tanning booths in any case.
It is also important to remind your teen that the following items can make acne worse:
Oil-based makeup, suntan oil, hair gels and sprays
Stress
Menstruation in girls
Too much exposure to the sun
Airborne grease
Irritating clothing or sporting equipment
Consult a dermatologist (a physician who specializes in skin care) if your teen’s acne is severe, with cyst development or scarring, or if an acne problem does not improve after two to three months of treatment with over-the-counter preparations. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, a dermatologist may recommend antibiotics, which can be very effective for treating acne. They can be taken by mouth, or used on the skin in a lotion, cream or gel. Medications that promote skin shedding, such as those based on vitamin A, including Retin-A, may also be prescribed. One such medication, Accutane, is effective but, like with most medications, can result in side effects as well as cause serious birth defects if a woman uses it during pregnancy.
The best way not to get acne is to prevent it. Children’s Hospital of Iowa gives the following tips to help your teen keep acne at bay:
Gently wash your face twice a day with a mild soap and warm water.
Take off all of your makeup before you go to bed.
If you wear makeup, sunscreen or use lotion, use kinds that say “oil-free,” “non-comedogenic” or “nonacnegenic.” These kinds won’t clog your pores.
If you wear hairspray, cover your face with your hand while you spray. Hair gels and hairspray can irritate your face if they are put near the hairline.
Washing your hair helps keep oil away from your face.
If you work at a place where lots of grease exists, like at a fast-food restaurant or a gas station, wash your face as soon as you get home.
Wash your face after exercising.
Mild cleansers, such as Cetaphil, Purpose and Neutrogena, can be used to wash the face. Antibacterial pads can also be used to clean the face.
Exfoliating cleaners and scrubs can be used. The scrubs are like grainy creams that you spread on the skin. They remove the outer layer of the skin and open pores. Ask a doctor first. They may be too harsh for some skin.
References
American Academy of Dermatology
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Counseling Association
Children’s Hospital of Iowa
UC Davis Health System
