How to Care for Teen Acne

Acne is a prevalent skin issue, affecting nine out of ten teenagers (NIH). The teen years can be fraught with many challenges as your child grows and changes and their confidence can be negatively affected by something like acne. However, the good news is that acne can be managed with proper skin care and, if necessary, medication.

Symptoms

Symptoms of acne include: 

• Redness
• Raised, Inflamed papules and pustules
• Comedones, also known as “whiteheads” and “blackheads”
• Inflamed nodules and cysts, which may be painful

Treatment Options

The first thing to explore to treat your teen’s acne is to start a skincare routine specifically tailored to acne. This will probably include some sort of acne scrub or cleanser with the active ingredients Benzoyl peroxide and Salicylic acid. You can find many options for this at a local drugstore. Additionally, you’ll want to select products that are non-comedogenic, which means they will not clog pores.

If your teen has acne, they should:

• Wash their face twice a day with a gentle facial cleanser.
• Wear an SPF daily that is oil-free
• If they wear make-up or cosmetics, choose ones that are labeled “non-comedogenic” or “won’t cause acne.”

Additionally, try to avoid the following:

• Picking pimples
• Touching your face
• Using hair grease or other greasy products near your face
• Do not use scrubbing sponges, wash cloths, astringents, alcohol or scrub-type cleansers on skin as this can cause additional irritation and redness

We understand that acne can be something that weighs heavily on a teen’s confidence. If your at home skin care routine isn’t doing enough, come to see us for evaluation and possibly prescription treatment. If needed we can also recommend a dermatologist for cases that aren’t responding or are more severe.

For questions or any other concerns, Augusta Pediatrics can be reached at (706) 868-0389. The information on this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images and information, contained on or available through this web site is for general information purposes only.