“What is the best way to treat teenage acne?”
By: Dr. Mercedes Gonzalez, Pediatric Dermatology
Every child going through puberty worries about acne. Why shouldn’t they?
A very common occurrence, about 90 to 95% of teens will get acne. Although normal, severity varies, some kids may have a mild case while others might have severe acne.
HOW DO YOU PREVENT ACNE?
There is really no way to 100% prevent acne. Acne is a result of hormonal changes that occur during puberty. Your body starts producing more oils and your skin cells becomes stickier, forming little plugs that are called the blackheads or whiteheads. That’s the start of acne. Later, these plugs become more inflamed and create pink puss bumps and cysts.
Although you can’t prevent it, a good idea, around the ages of 10 or 11, is to start using over the counter acne washes to get into the habit of washing your face twice and day.
OVER THE COUNTER vs PRESCRIPTION TREATMENTS FOR ACNE
In general, when acne is first starting and its pretty mild, just blackheads or whiteheads, over-the-counter products is usually recommended.
Look for over-the-counter products that contain basically two main ingredients for acne: salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. They come in all preparations – wash, gel, on the spot treatments or even toners.
If those products are not working and your child continues to breakout, especially with inflamed lesions or bumps, visit a dermatologist to get a prescription medication.
For more information about Dr. Gonzalez, click here! To find a doctor in your area, call 844-967-6348 and our representatives will connect you with a TopLine MD physician.
