Acne
The hormonal changes of puberty increase production from the oil glands in the skin of the face, scalp, neck, chest, and back, which means that many teens develop acne. The glands of the hair follicles in the skin produce an oily substance (sebum) that combines with dead cells and tiny hair remnants to plug the follicle. Under the skin surface, the plug forms a bump, a whitehead. If the plug opens to the skin surface, it darkens to form a blackhead. If the wall of the plugged follicle ruptures, the area becomes a red and swollen bump. If the follicle wall breaks near the skin surface, it may become a pimple. If the follicle wall breaks beneath the skin, cysts can form, which may cause scarring.
Acne tends to run in families, and occurs most commonly between the ages of fourteen and seventeen. For some teens, it may last for a year or two. For others, acne persists throughout their teenage years. Acne is common in both genders, but boys may suffer more severely because they have more skin oils. Girls often find that their acne flares at certain points in their menstrual cycle because of hormone activity. Although some people believe that chocolate, greasy snacks, and salty foods can aggravate acne, there is no scientific evidence to support the belief. However, if you notice that certain foods aggravate your teen's acne, then eliminating them might help.
There are no foolproof cures for acne, but every case can be treated and improved. lt's important to seek medical help early to avoid scarring. If your teen has acne, consult your family doctor, who may refer you to a dermatologist. Topical treatments are effective for a lot of teens, as are systemic antibiotics for others. For milder cases, washing all the areas affected by acne no more than twice a day with a special soap can help. Washing too often can irritate the skin, causing more outbreaks. Girls with acne should avoid perfumed and oil- or alcohol-based makeup and facial lotions.
Treatments
There are different treatments available that bring improvement within a few weeks or months. Be prepared to stay with a treatment for at least two months before deciding it doesn't work. Acne treatments are meant to prevent future outbreaks rather than clear up the pimples that have already occurred.
Benzoyl peroxide is available as a cream, gel, lotion, or soap, and can be bought without a prescription, but your doctor should recommend the most suitable strength and frequency for your teen's type of acne.
Antibiotics: Your doctor may prescribe an oral antibiotic, or one available in cream (least drying), lotion (less drying), or gel (most drying) form. For them to be effective, your teen must follow closely the directions for use.
Tretinoin (Retin-A, Stieva-A) is applied to the skin once daily. With this treatment, the skin may appear to get worse before it gets better, usually in several weeks. The teen must avoid the sun or use a strong sunscreen during treatment.
Isotretinoin (Accutane) is usually prescribed to treat severe cases of acne, particularly cystic acne. Although this treatment is very effective, a young woman should know that if she becomes pregnant while under treatment, the drug can cause a miscarriage or birth defects.
