It may seem trivial to some, but to a teenager, acne is a horrible affliction. While almost all teenagers get acne at one point or another, severe acne can lead to a negative body image and even severe depression. But don’t get worried; there are steps you can take to help your child get treated and start feeling better.
There are many myths floating around about acne. Your child may hear them at school or find them on the internet. To properly treat your teen’s acne, you need to learn the facts and share them with your child. Here are just a few facts you need to know:
What causes acne or makes it worse:
- Leaning on or touching skin
- Too much scrubbing
- Popping pimples
What hasn’t been document as an effect on acne but does contribute to overall health:
- Hair and oils
- Make up
You should teach your child proper skin care. It’s best to teach them before a problem develops, but later is better than never. Teach them to wash their face with a mild soap twice a day (and only twice a day. If they have an acne problem, offer to buy them over the counter acne face washes and treatments. Remember that no one product works for everyone and nothing works overnight. Encourage your child to be persistent.
If your child has no luck using the over the counter treatments, it’s a good idea to take them to a dermatologist. If you can’t afford it, talk to your regular doctor and see if there’s anything they can do. It may not seem important enough to you to warrant spending a lot of money on, but it’s probably very important to your teen. Again, most prescription medications take up to two months to work; so be patience.
The most important step in helping your child deal with acne is to start early. You may think it’s rude to step in and try to help if they only have a pimple or two, but many teens are too embarrassed to ask their parents for help. Getting treatment early could also prevent the condition from getting much more serious.
Acne can be hard for a teen to deal with, but your help can make it a whole lot easier.