Supporting Your Teen with Acne

Parenting is a struggle in itself, but can be further complicated when acne is brought into the mix. Many parents lack the know how when it comes to this disorder to provide their kids with tips to overcome the physical and psychological effects of acne. As children, not too many of us suffered from breakouts in the first place. Teenagers often face problems like teasing at school. Children can be quite insensitive during their teenage years. Parents seem to prefer ignoring the problem, telling their kids that it is a stage in life that will pass with time. This is not an effective approach and will make the experience no much easier for your child. We have some effective strategies that can, however, make a difference.

Quick and consistent treatment is key in stopping pimples. If your child asks you to buy an acne medication, don't refuse by saying it will subside on its own or jokingly suggest that they pop their pimples. This is not an effective strategy and could end up scarring your child later in life. What you should instead do is visit your local store and browse the various acne treatments with your son or daughter. Ask the pharmacist for some advice, or search the internet for product reviews before actually heading to the store. Don't fall for the clever marketing ruses of acne product makers, which like to include misleading graphs on their products and such. Nearly all over the counter products contain similar ingredients. Anything with benzoyl peroxide is a sure bet, but the lowest concentration you can find will reduce irritation.

When your child has finally commenced with treating their lesions, you need to keep a close eye on them. After all, you need to have a plan b ready to go. If you observe improvement, let them know. This will be a self-confidence boost. If things are headed in the other direction, just take a mental note for future reference. Ensure that your son or daughter is not missing applications or using the medications improperly. The skin will initially purge in the first few weeks, so new breakouts will occur. Rest assured that this is a normal part of the process. You child should proceed with treatment.

As you give the medication sufficient time to take effect, keep an open line of communication with your son or daughter to see if they are being teased at school or somehow suffering. If this is indeed the case, share some tips to help them overcome teasing. Assessing their emotional well-being is crucial as it will allow for a more informed decision as to what the next step in treatment is.

After you have given the medication at least two to three months, do a follow up assessment. Have the breakouts disappeared, or are they continuing? Is your child still in a semi-depressive state because of the lesions? If you answered yes to any of these questions, it may be time to contact a dermatologist, who can prescribe your child powerful medications that will eventually clear their skin. If the treatment has succeeded, congratulations! Regardless, if you continue providing the support your child requires, you will together accomplish the intended goal. Stay committed!

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Tags: Acne, acne breakouts, blemishes, cystic acne, dermatologist, health, pimples, rosacea, skin care, zits

September 29 2009 | Acne | No Comments »

Clear Pimples with Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is a home-based acne treatment that has soared in popularity in recent times. There are several factors that have allowed lemon juice to become such a widely used treatment in the fight against acne. For one, it is a completely natural remedy. You know from the minute you apply it to your skin that there will be no adverse effects from harsh and foreign chemicals often found in other treatment kits. Further, lemons are cheaply available. You can buy ten or more lemons without even coming close to the astronomical costs of modern day acne kits. In order to understand why lemon juices makes the perfect acne treatment, we will have to explore the properties of lemon and how each respective property helps stop acne in its tracks.

Anyone who has a basic knowledge of chemistry will tell you that lemons are slightly acidic. Their pH (or acidity) ranges from two to three. This acidic nature can be harnessed by acne sufferers to help their skin shed away dead skin cells. Lemon juice acts as an acidic peel, bringing new skin cells to the surface. This is highly beneficial in that it protects against one of the main causes of acne. Acne is formed when the skin pores become clogged with dead skin cells, allowing sebum to collect within the pore. This sebum acts as food to acne bacteria, which begin to multiply inside the pore and consequently give more severe types of acne an inflamed appearance. Since your skin can remain sensitive during this peeling cycle, some precautions need to be taken. For one, be sure to wear sunscreen if you intend to go outside. You can get a nasty sunburn if you leave your skin unprotected. It is recommended that you avoid significant sunlight exposure until your skin has finished peeling and you are no longer applying lemon juice on your face.

Anyone who has completed some form of acne treatment knows that the battle is far from over when the pimples have cleared. Darkened areas on the skin are often present once acne has vanished. Fortunately, these can be somewhat treated with lemon juice. Lemon juice acts as a natural skin lightener, helping detract attention away form such unsightly areas. Some even see improvement in the appearance of their acne scars. Lemon juice is said to tighten the skin, leaving smaller scars less noticeable. Please take note that you will have to be patient and consistent in your treatment to see results.

An avoidable, negative effect often reported by those who've used lemon juice in the past is tight, dry skin. This is to be expected when applying an astringent such as lemon juice to the skin. Fortunately, problems associated with dry skin can be mitigated by applying a non-comedogenic moisturizer. Some are even available with an SPF for additional protection. Those of you with oily skin will also need to wear moisturizer. If not, you may experience increased amounts of oil on your skin, likely trying to compensate for the dryness.

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Tags: Acne, acne breakouts, acne cure, facial care, lemon juice, pimples, skin care, zits

August 27 2009 | Skin Care | No Comments »