Severe Acne in Teens

While eight in 10 teens suffer from acne, according to child development experts with the Kids Health website, teens who are afflicted with severe acne often still feel stigmatized and self-conscious. Your teen can take comfort in the fact that acne is not a permanent condition. Most cases clear up as the teen leaves his teenage years, but in the meantime there are ways to minimize acne and clear up the skin.

  1. Cause

    • Acne develops when the body overproduces sebum, which, when combined with dead skin cells, clogs skin pores. Once the pore is clogged, bacteria that is naturally present builds up in the pore, creating a whitehead, blackhead, pimple or cyst. Hormones associated with puberty increase the body̵7;s production of sebum, which is what makes acne common in teenagers. Genetics also play a role in the development of acne. A teen whose parents suffered from severe acne is more likely to develop it himself.

    Misconceptions

    • There are a variety of misconceptions surrounding the treatment of acne. Sunlight does not clear up acne. It may reduce the appearance of acne because the skin is darker or redder, but it does nothing to ̶0;dry up̶1; acne. Many people believe that certain foods, such as chocolate or french fries, cause acne. There is no evidence to support this fact; however, there is some scientific data that suggests that a diet high in sugar can aggravate acne, according to the website of The College of Family Physicians of Canada.

    Treatment

    • Severe acne doesn't require aggressive treatment. In fact, scrubbing the skin roughly or with harsh cleansers can irritate the skin and make acne worse. Wash your face with a gentle cleanser twice a day, and follow up with an acne treatment product containing benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Resist the urge to pick at your skin, which will not clear up the acne and can lead to scarring. Finally, commit to an acne treatment program. It may take up to two months to see results.

    Professional Care

    • If over-the-counter acne treatments don̵7;t provide measurable results, you may want to consider a visit to a dermatologist. There are various prescription medications available that can help clear acne. Some are relatively benign, such as topical or oral antibiotics. Others, such as tretinoin and isotretinoin, have the potential for serious side effects, such as severe sunburn from sun exposure and birth defects in pregnant women. A physician with experience treating teens will be able to explain the benefits and drawbacks of various medications.

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