All in the Family -- When Your Child Develops Acne, Too
During a recent class, I asked participants to share feelings they had regarding their skin. One woman in particular, gave an emotional account on how acne had affected her life. She became especially upset as she told us about her young daughter, who was beginning to experience acne breakouts as well. She was desperate to spare her child the anguish and loss of self-esteem acne had caused. She was also carrying a lot of guilt, feeling somehow at fault for her child's acne.
As an acne sufferer and a mom, I could empathize with this woman. Watching your child deal with his or her own skin problems can be agonizing. And as acne tends to run in families, your child has a greater chance of developing acne if you have suffered from it at any point. But, as I assured the woman during class, this doesn't mean you should feel guilty. There are steps you can take steps to keep your child's acne to a minimum.
Teen acne usually begins between the ages of ten and 13. Early treatment is extremely beneficial, and can help prevent acne from progressing to a more serious form. Keep an eye out for the beginning stages of acne. It usually first appears on the nose, so watch there for any breakout activity. As acne progresses it typically moves to the forehead, then cheeks, neck and possibly to other body areas.
Begin treatment as soon as you notice the development of blackheads or early pimples. Don't wait to see if breakouts will resolve on their own. You may wish to start with an over-the-counter product containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. If your child's acne isn't responding to treatment after six to eight weeks, call your pediatrician. A dermatologist isn't necessarily needed at this time, unless recommended by your doctor.
No one wants to see his or her child suffer from acne. But with a little awareness, early involvement, and consistent treatment, your child's acne can be controlled.
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