Acne

What is acne?

Acne is a common skin disease most often seen in teenagers and young adults. Acne usually begins during puberty, that time in the teen years when a person's body changes from a child into an adult.

Acne happens then because high levels of hormones stimulate the glands in the skin to produce more sebum than usual. Sebum is an oily substance that normally helps to protect the skin from infection and dryness.

Acne can develop if this oil builds up and becomes trapped by dead skin cells that block the openings (pores) of the glands. Sometimes bacteria that are normally present on the skin can also get trapped in these pores, contributing to the formation of pimples.

Acne is the most common skin complaint in young people, and it is seen to varying degrees in 80-90% of this population. Boys are more likely to suffer from acne than girls, because they produce more of the hormone testosterone that plays a role in acne. Acne tends to fun in families, and cannot be caught from another person.

Treatment / What you should do if your child has acne

If your child has acne, there are a number of medications you can try.

Various over-the-counter medications, such as benzyl peroxide, salicylic acid and resorcinol are available as lotions, gels, creams, soaps and wet wipes. Be patient, as the positive effects of these medications are often not seen until after 4-8 weeks of treatment.

Also, be prepared for things to get slightly worse before they get better. Some of these preparations can cause side effects, such as dryness of the skin and skin irritation, including redness and stinging. Starting with a small amount every other day and waiting 15 minutes after washing the face before applying these medicines can help to reduce the irritation. The redness and irritation often subside on their own in a week or two.

In the case of widespread acne or when the topical treatments mentioned above have not helped, consult a doctor. Your doctor can prescribe other treatments, such as topical antibiotics, or an oral (taken by mouth) antibiotic, such as tetracycline or erythromycin.

Other alternatives include retinoids and adapalene, which can have more serious side effects, and are used only in severe cases of acne, when other treatments have failed.