Most people experience some level of acne during their teenage years. But just because it’s common doesn’t mean your teen needs to accept it as a rite of passage. Acne just isn’t a cosmetic or vanity issue; it can be downright painful if they struggle with a severe case. Here’s what you need to know to help your teen through this difficult phase.
AllMomDoes has partnered with Advanced Skin Therapy to sponsor this post and bring you this information.
What Causes Acne?
Acne occurs when pores in the skin become clogged with dirt and excess oil. Teenagers are particularly susceptible because hormone shifts during puberty cause the oil glands in their skin to enlarge, producing more oil. Though acne is not simply a face-washing issue, a teenager’s less-than-stellar hygiene habits can exacerbate the problem.
Breakouts begin beneath the skin long before you see them. Acne looks different for everyone, and appears as:
- blackheads (clogged pores that are open)
- whiteheads (clogged pores that are closed)
- papules (red bumps under the skin)
- pimples (pus-tipped papules)
- nodules (hard, painful lumps under the skin)
- cysts (pus-filled nodules)
How Can I Help My Teen Manage Their Acne?
There are several things you can do to help your teen treat and manage their acne.
1. Educate them. A lot of teens don’t understand that acne begins to form before it’s visible. They have an “out of sight, out of mind” mentality so they only treat breakouts. Teach your teen about how acne forms so they understand that it’s important to be consistent with their treatment regimen even when their skin is clear.
2. Don’t pop, pick, or touch blemishes. I know it’s tempting, but keep a hands-off approach. Touching acne can cause additional clogged pores, and popping pimples can drive the clog deeper under the skin and make it last longer. It can also cause long-term scarring.
3. Try the easiest treatment first. For many teens, a simple, consistent hygiene routine and over-the-counter acne facewash will help. Remember that breakouts can take a couple of weeks to form, so give it a little bit of time to figure out if it’s working.
4. Wear sunscreen. The active ingredients in most over-the-counter acne products can cause sun sensitivity, so make sure your teen is using skincare products that include SPF.
5. Seek professional advice. Everybody has an acne solution they swear by. Whether it’s diet changes, red-light therapy, medication, supplements, or a fancy skincare line, you could make yourself crazy trying to wade through the overwhelming amount of advice to identify a solution for your teen. Instead of frustrating yourself, wasting hundreds of dollars jumping from one skincare product to the next, or heading straight to your doctor’s office for a hard-core prescription, take your teen to be assessed by a skincare expert.
Advanced Skin Therapy is a medical spa with skilled providers that are experts in helping treat skin conditions – because that’s all they do. They can evaluate your teen’s skin, identify the attributes of their specific acne, and identify a customized solution that will work. What’s even better is that as you begin following their treatment protocol, they can evaluate how your child’s skin is responding and make adjustments accordingly. So if you’re tired of the guesswork and starting over every time you buy a new product, turn to the experts and trust them to help get your teen on a path to clearer skin.
Don’t let your teen struggle another day. Schedule your appointment at Advanced Skin Therapy today!
