Managing teen acne can be a challenge.
Everyone’s acne is differentso the best strategies for one person may be different for another.
The next step may involve some trial and error to figure out what works best.
Verywell / Alexandra Gordon
It’s important that you tell them acne is not their fault.
For young people especially, acne can be triggered byhormonal fluctuationsduring puberty.
Thanks to genetics, some people are also just more likely to get pimples than others.
That is why a good skincare routine is important.
It only takes a few minutes a day and doesn’t require a lot of fancy products.
Consistency is also key to successful acne control.
However, not all acne products are created equal.
Choose a product that fits your budget and is easy for them to work into their daily routine.
Your family’s healthcare provider can recommend prescription options that may help get your teen’s acne under control.
Your teen doesn’t necessarily have tosee a dermatologistfor acne.
It’s likely that your family healthcare provider has helped many teenagers manage breakouts.
They can refer you to a dermatologist if they think it’s necessary.
Often, they work when OTC products haven’t.
If your teen is desperate to heal a big pimple, have them use an acne spot treatment.
These work by delivering treatment directly to a blemish, reducing redness, swelling, and inflammation.
Another option is a pimple patch, which works by drawing moisture out of a pimple to shrink it.
Treat Body Acne Too
Thefaceisn’t the only place where acne can pop up.
Many of the same medications used on your teen’s face can also be used for other body parts.
Benzoyl peroxide soaps and body washes are often used to treat body breakouts.
Your teen’s provider might also prescribe other medications, like oral antibiotics or even isotretinoin.
This will depend on how serious your teen’s acne breakouts are.
There may also be pimples or tinybreakouts around your lipscaused by lipstick or lip balm.
Your teen might have to try different non-comedogenic products to find the right ones for them.
Some experts recommend double cleansing, which involves using an oil-based cleanser followed by a water-based cleanser.
Give Shaving Advice
confirm your teen knows to shave carefully around an area with pimples.
The more the skin is irritated, the redder and more inflamed it’s going to look.
Starting treatment and seeing some positive results can really help your teen feel better.
It also helps to support your teen in focusing on things other than their skin.
It’s also important your teen has realistic expectations about treatment.
There are many acne treatment products that can clear your teen’s skin.
However, despite advertising claims, even the most effective products won’t work magic overnight.
They won’t cure acne, either.
A full response to treatment may take 12 weeks.
There will likely be times when your teen just can’t seem tonotthink about acne.
If they seem preoccupied and distressed, double-check they know they can come to you for support.
If your teen is patient, they will almost certainly see improvement from using acne treatments.
It just won’t be as quick as some acne treatment products claim.
Summary
There are a lot of myths out there about the causes and treatment of acne.
Here’s the truth: If your teen is prone to acne, there are ways to treat it.
Help them establish a simple skincare routine.
Even once their skin is clear, your teen still needs to keep up with their routine.
Acne medications don’t stop acne for good; rather, they just keep it under control.
If your teen stops using the medication, acne will probably come back.
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