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Best Face Forward
Coping with teenage acne By Carma Haley
Understanding what acne is should be the first step in treatment. It's a multifactor disease, with no single cause, says Baxt. It's also an inflammatory disease. "Rubbing, picking and manipulating, and hot water are not going to help an inflammatory disease, they are going to make it more inflamed," she says.
Instead, Baxt suggests teens wash with cool or lukewarm water, using their fingertips -- no scrubbing or buff-puffing -- and applying over-the-counter treatments. If your teen's skin doesn't respond to this treatment, a dermatologist may be needed.
Contrary to social beliefs, all acne is not responsive to the same products. What works for one teen may not work for another. "The problem is you have to know what kind of acne is present to treat it properly," Baxt says. "There are a lot of over-the-counter products that are very effective -- benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid -- for people who have oily skin and acne. The problem comes with people with sensitive or dry skin, as some of these products are extremely harsh. They may not do as well with these over-the-counter products and they usually need some professional help."
Acne is treatable. Teens do not have to live blemish-filled lives, trying everything on the market or hiding their face to avoid being seen. "Acne is not a fact of life you have to accept," Baxt says. "You can win the battle over acne."