3 Tips for Parents of Teens Suffering from Acne
Puberty is a hard time for teenagers—there are so many changes and mood swings as hormones surge. One sad side effect of puberty is acne in teenagers; most teens experience at least some pimples and blemishes, while some experience serious cases of acne that can affect self-confidence and make a young person feel embarrassed and ashamed of the state of his or her face. If you are a parent of a teen experiencing acne, use the following tips:
Explore Over-the-Counter Acne Treatments
As mentioned, teenage acne varies from person to person; some teens have minor blemishes while others have to deal with the horrible experience of cystic acne. When your child begins puberty and starts showing signs of acne, take the time to visit a drug store and help your child pick out face washes and over-the-counter creams that can help eliminate pimples. There are a number of products available, and buying them for your teen will let him or her know that you want to help them. Ensure that your child is using the products appropriately and monitor how their acne responds to over-the-counter treatments before taking further measures.
Make an Appointment with a Dermatologist
In some cases, acne treatments from a drug store are just not strong enough to control the situation. If your teen has persistent acne despite carefully washing his or her face with cleansers designed for acne and uses pimple creams with no results, it is in the best interest of your child to make an appointment with a dermatologist. A reputable dermatologist will be able to make medically sound suggestions for controlling acne while also prescribing extra-strength facial treatments that are not available over the counter. In cases of severe acne, it is best to see a dermatologist as soon as possible in order to help keep your teen from ending up with scars or pock marks from deep pimples under the skin.
Be as Supportive as Possible
Parenting a teen who is going through puberty is hard enough, but when acne is involved it can be very difficult on your child. Suffering from moderate to extreme acne can be highly embarrassing for a teen, so it is important for him or her to know that he or she has strong, supportive parents. Try to avoid making any remarks about how your teen's face looks, especially during a break out, and make it known that you will do whatever is necessary to find an acne treatment that will help get his or her acne under control.