Although anyone can get acne at any age, even babies and adults, teens tend to corner the market on blemish balms and pimple potions because most of them deal with the problem at some point between puberty and adulthood.
As a parent, it’s tough to watch your kid suffer from the embarrassment and discomfort of chronic acne, especially when nothing seems to work.
At Dermatology Associates of Central New Jersey, Dr. Santiago Centurion, Dr. Maria Joyce Bernabe, and our team of skin specialists understand acne and how to get rid of it. We want you to understand it, too, so you can help your teen finally clear up their face and feel confident at school and in social settings.
Because acne stems from various causes, anyone can get it, but teens often have several risk factors all at once, which makes them more susceptible than people in other age groups. Here are four acne drivers your teen may face.
Acne goes hand in hand with adolescent hormonal changes. Androgens, the hormones that stimulate sebaceous (oil) glands, increase during puberty, and excess oil can clog pores, leading to acne.
Food doesn’t cause acne directly, but it can influence the condition. Foods high in sugar and dairy can increase acne breakouts. Encourage your teen to eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and water.
High school pressures, social dynamics, and extracurricular activities can spike stress levels in teens, exacerbating acne. Teach your teen stress management techniques such as mindfulness or yoga — a calm mind can calm their acne.
Certain medications can also contribute to acne. For instance, corticosteroids, androgenic steroids, and lithium can trigger breakouts.
Over-the-counter (OTC) creams and cleansers can help your teen manage minor acne and occasional breakouts, but they can’t handle chronic acne, and here’s why:
OTC acne treatments aren’t strong enough to combat severe acne. They might provide temporary relief but are usually ineffective against persistent, chronic acne.
Many teens struggle with consistency, forgetting to apply topical treatments regularly. Inconsistent use weakens the effectiveness of OTC remedies.
OTC treatments are okay for mild-to-moderate acne. However, there are several types of acne, and each has unique symptoms and calls for a different treatment:
Chronic or severe cases require a professional approach that addresses specific acne types.
Your teen bears most of the responsibility for beating acne, but you can help.
Help your teen establish a simple yet effective skin care routine. Supply them with a gentle cleanser, a noncomedogenic moisturizer, and sun protection — we can recommend the best anti-acne products.
Encourage your kid not to pick or squeeze pimples, which can lead to scarring and infection.
Tell them to avoid touching their face — oil and bacteria on the hands can clog facial pores.
Frequently washing their pillowcases can also help decrease breakouts.
Whether your teen follows your lead or not, it helps to establish healthy habits in the home. Serve balanced meals, encourage adequate sleep, and get regular exercise. These good habits can improve overall health, including skin health.
When OTC efforts don’t work, don’t give up. Turn to our skin experts for next-level help.
While acne may seem like a rite of passage for teenagers, it doesn’t mean they have to suffer with it for years. We have several effective treatments for tough acne of all types.
When OTC treatments fail, we can prescribe stronger topical creams or gels. Antibiotics can reduce excess oil and bacteria on the skin, showing noticeable results in less than six weeks.
Laser and light therapies work in conjunction with topical solutions or antibiotics to reduce acne severity by targeting bacteria and reducing oil production.
In some cases, we may need to extract whiteheads and blackheads manually to prevent them from becoming bigger problems and reduce the risk of scarring.
A corticosteroid injection quickly reduces pain and inflammation in deep nodules and cystic lesions and helps them heal faster.
If your teen has been battling acne without success, it may be time to consult our team at Dermatology Associates of Central New Jersey. We have four locations: Call us in Old Bridge, Freehold, Union, or Toms River, or book online.
