Acne can be handled with over-the-counter treatments
5:53 p.m. Monday, March 5, 2007
The bumps and break-outs of acne are so common, they're considered a normal part of growing up.
"All teenagers get acne," dermatologist Dr. Miriam Cummings said. "It's a myth that you can say that I went all through school and never had acne. Everyone has whiteheads and they just don't notice it."
But that doesn't make it any easier to face.
"When you wake up in the morning, it's like sad like cause you see another one there," 13-year-old patient Nicole D'Ambrosio said. "And not everybody at school has it, so you kind of feel like out of it."
Many things cause a teenager's skin to break-out. Hormones play a big role. So does family history.
"So if your mother or father had acne, you'd be more prone to having acne as well," pediatric dermatologist Dr. Robert Buka said.
During puberty, the skin makes too much oil which clogs the pores. That becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and inflammation. For many teens, good hygiene and a trip to the drug store is all they need.
"You start with the over-the-counter, salicylic acid products or the over-the-counter benzoperoxide products or a combination of the cleansers and the leave-on products and if you're clearing up with that regimen, you're fine," Cummings said.
But if drugstore treatments don't work in a couple of months, see a doctor.
"Stay away from home remedies such as toothpaste and vinegar," Buka said. "Don't pay as much attention to over-washing. Don't pay as much attention to diet, because those are really not contributing factors to acne."
Fast Facts
- Acne affects 17 million Americans.
- It's most common after the onset of puberty. About 85 percent of adolescents and teens have acne.
- If, after several months, over-the-counter treatments are not helping clear acne, patients should seek help from a physician.
- In 2000, adolescents made 14.5 million visits to physicians for acne treatment.
More information about acne and it's treatment is available from the American Academy of Dermatology or the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
A doctor can treat acne with prescription medicines, stronger creams and cleansers, even oral antibiotics that kill the bacteria and reduce inflammation.
17-year-old Freddie doesn't consistently use his medicine, but after three years, he's seeing improvement.
"It's just got better and better over the years, gradually," 17-year-old patient Freddie Paull said.
For 13-year-old Nicole, getting a handle on her acne has been a long, frustrating struggle.
"I hope that, like, it all will be gone one day," D'Ambrosio said. "I hope maybe when I'm a little older."
The bumps and break-outs of acne are so common, they're considered a normal part of growing up.
"But don't just ignore it, and if you are feeling emotional and depressed, talk about it," Cummings said. "Talk about it to your mom, talk about it to your friends, don't hold it all in."
There's no guarantee of perfect skin, but with all the choices in treatment, there's breakout help for everyone.
Doctors say one of the most important rules, no matter how tempting it is, never squeeze or pop a pimple. It can make the inflammation worse and picking at your skin can leave permanent scars.
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