While the mechanisms of acne are known and easy to follow, it’s not fully understood why some teens are ravaged with acne while others go through adolescence with little trouble. When your teen is sensitive about their appearance, even a mild case of acne can be a big deal.
The team at Dr 2 Kids, Smita Tandon MD in Fountain Valley, California, specialize in acne treatment, particularly when a home care routine is proving less than successful. In this blog, we’ll take a look at five effective treatments for teen acne.
Keep in mind that no acne remedy works overnight. Acne blemishes can be slow to heal, so the effectiveness of even the best regimen may take time to emerge. Acne can be persistent. Help your child be equally as diligent with their treatment routine.
When a teen is prone to acne outbreaks, four factors combine to create blemishes and pimples. These are:
Acne usually concentrates on the face, chest, and upper back, as these are where sebaceous glands are most concentrated.
Even the best-suited acne treatments take about four to six weeks to show results. Whichever method you and your teen choose, keep these general rules in mind:
Proven treatments for teen acne include:
An over-the-counter (OTC) product, benzoyl peroxide kills the bacteria that cause acne while also reducing inflammation. It’s an ingredient in acne cleansers and in topical ointments.
An exfoliant that contributes to unblocking pores, salicylic acid is the active ingredient in some acne cleansers. It’s ideal for use if your teen is plagued with blackheads and whiteheads.
Adapalene prevents pore clogging and speeds the rate at which skin cells turn over, helpful in stopping the formation of blackheads and whiteheads. Available in gel form, adapalene is used once a day, directly onto the skin.
Prescription antibiotics can reduce the levels of acne bacteria present in and on your skin. This also relieves redness and inflammation.
Typically reserved for severe acne likely to cause scarring, isotretinoin is an oral medication that often produces results when other treatments fail. The drug can cause birth defects, however, so its use is closely monitored.
Prepare your teen for up to two months of patience before an acne treatment shows substantial improvements before moving on to the next alternative. Combining treatment methods may cause increased skin irritation, so discuss your plans before starting an additional OTC treatment.
When your teen needs a medical partner in the acne battle, contact Dr 2 Kids, Smita Tandon MD for a physician-supervised acne management plan. Call or click today to book your visit.
