4 Tips to Help Manage Teen Acne

Between whiteheads, blackheads, papules and pustules it can be hard to stay on top of everything you need to know about treating and preventing teen acne. Each type of acne requires varying levels of treatment which can be hard in itself, but add in teenagers and it can feel like an impossible task.

As summer winds down and the school year is fast-approaching, stress surrounding acne might become more of an issue for your teen. Middle school and high school are strange and insecurity-filled year for kids, especially those with acne. As a parent, there are things you can do to help your child take care of their skin.

Know the type of acne your child is experiencing. 
As we mentioned before, there are four main types of acne that people experience. On the easier end of the spectrum we have blackheads and whiteheads which can often be helped by over-the-counter medicines. Papules and Pustules are indicative of more severe cases of acne. If your child is constantly experience this kind of acne, schedule an appointment with a dermatologist to get a treatment plan in the works.

Know you won’t be able to provide their treatment.
Teenagers often exaggerate their level of responsibility. While you may know there’s a slim chance they will remember to follow their prescribed acne treatment regime every morning and/or night, reminders from mom and dad could actually hinder progress. Create a plan with your child about what to do if they forget- do you rely on an alarm or reminder on their phone or is the daily reminder from a parent enough?

Make sure they understand acne triggers. 
There are a number of reasons why someone breakouts. Emotional triggers like stress, environmental triggers like working in a greasy kitchen and dietary triggers like poor diet can all cause more frequent breakouts. Making sure your child is aware of these common factors could help them prevent future breakouts or lessen the severity.

Help them understand their treatment and manage expectations.
While many of us would love there to be an overnight cure for acne, science has yet to develop that. Depending on the type of acne your child has they could be prescribed a topical cream or pill. It is important to have an honest conversation with the dermatologist about any potential side effects, dosage information, treatment schedules and what to expect so that during the length of treatment your child does not get discouraged or choose to stop on their own.

If you’re tired of seeing your teen struggle with acne, we can help. Click here to request an appointment.