How can you help when your child gets acne?

Acne is something of a rite of passage for almost all young people, but if the condition is particularly recurrent or severe, it can be distressing for the sufferer.  In the most severe cases, it can even cause scarring.

Acne occurs when hair follicle openings on the face, chest, back, or shoulders get blocked either by the skin’s natural oils, dead skin, or a combination of the two, causing a build-up of bacteria and infection.  Despite the fact that it is most commonly seen as a young person’s condition, primarily due to its association with the increased hormones of puberty, acne can actually occur at any age, through causes as varied as stress or diet.

In Mild Cases

In its milder forms, keeping the face clean through daily washing with cold water and a good quality face wash should clear up any outbreaks and clear minor acne blockages. Applying a readily obtainable cream to affected areas will speed up the process even more.

Any good pharmacy will be able to advise and supply these medications over the counter, along with a soap that is known to be effective for the condition.  The cream will usually contain a substance like benzoyl peroxide or azelaic acid. They might sound somewhat daunting, but they are harmless when used correctly, only killing the bacteria that may be causing the infection, as well as dissolving the dead skin blocking the pores.

These creams should not be used on areas not yet affected by acne, as overuse will damage the skin, and hands should be washed after use.

Your pharmacist will be able to explain the correct usage if the instructions provided are unclear. 

More Serious Attacks

More serious attacks of acne do happen, and they can be deeply uncomfortable both physically and psychologically for the sufferer.

The next step up from concentrated washing and over the counter acne creams are antibiotic tablets, which will have to be prescribed by your G.P.  These tablets, known as tetracyclines, will generally take up to a month and a half to show an effect, but they are highly effective and over the course of treatment the rate of improvement can often be quite startling.

The course of antibiotics will usually be stopped after six months and assessment will take place. This is in order to limit the chance that the bacteria will build a resistance to the treatment. 

Extreme Acne

In some cases, neither cream nor antibiotic treatments will be effective and it will be necessary to see a specialist dermatologist.  They will be able to prescribe stronger treatments than an ordinary G.P., with Isotretinoin, a capsule medication derived in a large part from Vitamin A, the most likely.

It should be noted that the stronger the medication, the more likely the occurrence of side effects. Ensure that these are properly explained to your understanding before embarking on a course of medication and give yourself the best chance of limiting their influence.