| Over 70% of teens say that acne has affected them | | | | dead skin on the skin's surface and blocks pores. Inside |
| in a negative way. An estimated 20 million teens suffer | | | | these pores the bacteria multiple and cause |
| from acne, but even the fact that they're not alone | | | | inflammation. |
| doesn't ease the pain they feel. Teens are | | | | Most cases of light to moderate acne can be treated |
| embarrassed at a time when they are unsure of | | | | by over the counter medications. There are many to |
| themselves. They may become depressed and | | | | choose from. Some find that benzoyl peroxide or |
| withdrawn. Acne is especially hard on teenage girls. At | | | | salicylic acid works well. Benzoyl peroxide is known to |
| a time when they're noticing boys, and visa versa, | | | | readily kill acne bacteria. Benzoyl peroxide can be |
| acne can be devastating. They're surrounded by | | | | found in cleansers and in spot treatments. Benzoyl |
| visions of beauty all around them on TV, in movies, in | | | | peroxide is very drying and can make your face look |
| magazines and on line. We live in a society that | | | | even more irritated, especially when you first start |
| worships youth and beauty. | | | | washing with it. Many acne suffers use a moisturizer |
| Parents can help their teenage girls through this time | | | | on their face after washing. There are many |
| by offering a supportive and sympathetic ear. Parents | | | | moisturizers available that are specifically designed to |
| should help the child focus on all their positive attributes, | | | | help with acne such as Cetaphil, Eucerin, and |
| which will help to strengthen the child's self esteem. | | | | Neutrogena. |
| The parents need to be actively involved with helping | | | | Severe acne, or acne that has not responded well to |
| their child find the best possible cure for their particular | | | | over the counter products, can be successfully treated |
| form of acne. | | | | with the knowledge and expertise of a dermatologist. |
| Parents should also educate themselves about acne | | | | A dermatologist will consider many things before |
| causes and treatments. Thirty years ago it was | | | | suggesting treatment. He will perform a thorough |
| thought that acne was caused by eating the wrong | | | | evaluation of the patient, considering things such as |
| foods. Chocolate and potatoe chips were culprit. It's | | | | severity of acne, patient age, lifestyle, and co-existing |
| now known that this isn't true. Food is not thought to | | | | conditions. The dermatologist then may suggest a |
| play a large role in acne. It also has nothing to do with | | | | combination of two or three different therapies for |
| cleanliness of the skin. | | | | best treatment. |
| What is fact is that acne in teenagers is caused by | | | | Whatever one of the literally hundreds of treatments |
| the action of hormones on the skin's oil glands. During | | | | you decide to choose, or if you seek the help of a |
| puberty both boys and girls have an increase in the | | | | dermatologist, remember that acne takes time to |
| hormones called androgens. These hormones cause | | | | disappear. Overnight or miraculous results don't happen. |
| sebaceous glands under the surface of the skin to | | | | It takes six to eight weeks to see results from |
| enlarge. The sebaceous glands in response produce | | | | treatment. Unfortunately, in a teenage girl's life six to |
| excess oil. This excess oil mixes with bacteria and | | | | eight weeks can feel like a lifetime. |