Acne

Acne is an unfortunate side effect of being a teenager and affects about 95% of people aged 11 to 30. Although very common, it is not very well understood with lots of myths and misconceptions.

If your child does really suffer then it can have a really negative affect on their mental wellbeing.

Here we take a look at what causes acne, the myths surrounding the skin disorder and what you can do to help. What causes acne? Acne is caused when the hair follicles in the skin become blocked.

We have tiny glands near the surface of our skin which are attached to hair follicles.

These glands produce an oily substance called sebum and they stop our hair and skin from drying out.

If these glands produce too much sebum, this can then mix with dead skin cells and as a result, block the follicles and can cause spots.

When we go through puberty, we have an increase in testosterone in the body and it is believed that this increase causes the glands to produce too much sebum. There are also other possible triggers which may cause an acne flare-up, including; Some cosmetics, although this is less common as cosmetics are now more thoroughly tested and are non-comedogenic (don’t cause spots). Some medication, including steroids, lithium (used to treat depression and bipolar disorder) and some epilepsy medication. Wearing tight items on the skin, like headband or backpack Smoking can cause acne in older people Myths “Acne is caused by a poor diet” Often quoted, but there isn’t any scientific research to back this up, although eating a healthy, balanced diet is always recommended. “Acne is caused by having dirty skin and poor hygiene” Acne is caused by triggers underneath the skin and not on the surface and so this is unlikely, but washing your face more than twice a day can actually aggravate your skin. “Squeezing blackheads, whiteheads and spots is the best way to get rid of acne” Thankfully this can make it worse, and you also risk scarring the skin. “Sexual activity can influence acne” This has no affect “Sunbathing, sunbeds and sunlamps help improve symptoms of acne” There is no conclusive evidence to suggest that prolonged exposure can improve your skin.

One thing to keep an eye on is some acne medications can make your skin more sensitive to light and so it is important to keep your skin well protected in the sun. “Acne is infectious” This is incorrect and you can not catch acne from other people. “Toothpaste dries out spots” Toothpaste does contain antibacterial substances, but it also contains ingredients that can irritate and damage your skin and so it is not recommended. How to treat acne If your teenager suffers with mild spots, then it is recommended that you buy over-the-counter treatments in the form of gels or creams.

You need to look for treatments that contain benzoyl peroxide, which is an antiseptic and can help remove bacteria from the skin, your pharmacist should be able to advise. If your child’s skin is moderate to severe, then it may be best to visit their GP as prescription medicine may be needed and could be one of the following: Topical retinoids – work by removing dead skin cells from the skin, which helps prevent the follicles from blocking. Topical antibiotics – these kill the bacteria on the skin which can infect blocked hair follicles. Azelaic acid – this is an alternative treatment to benzoyl peroxide or topical retinoids, if these have irritated the skin, and it works by removing dead skin and killing bacteria. Antibiotic tablets – these are often used in combination with a topical treatment (applied to the skin), and usually take about 6 weeks until you start to see an improvement. Hormonal therapies – these often benefit women, particularly if flare ups are often around their periods.

A GP may recommend the combined oral contraceptive pill, even if they are not sexually active. Isotretinoin – treats severe acne and comes in capsules.

It reduces the amount of sebum produced, prevents follicles from becoming blocked, decreases bacteria on the skin and reduces redness and swelling of the spots.

However, it does have a number or side effects, so can only be prescribed by a specialist doctor.

Sources: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/acne/treatment.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/acne/causes.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/acne/

Acne is an unfortunate side effect of being a teenager and affects about 95% of people aged 11 to 30.