Skincare Basics
Hands Off
You may see your teen washing regularly, but perhaps they're undoing the good work of cleansing. "An important factor that is often overlooked, and just as important as cleansing, is to not touch or pick at the skin," Shamban said. "This often leads to infections and sometimes permanent scarring."
Don't Pick It
If a blemish appears, tell your teen not to panic. "First off, tell them don't pick at it," Shamban said. "Before they go to bed, make sure they cleanse with a gentle, non-comedogenic (non-pore-clogging) cleanser. Then have them use products that contain salicylic or glycolic acid or benzoyl peroxide as a spot treatment on the blemish. This should help with the inflammation and redness and hopefully stop the pimple or blackhead in its tracks." If you're caught with none of these products, Shamban advises crushing an aspirin in water and dabbing it on the blemish.
What to Buy
If you're stocking up on your teen's skin care products, the drugstore offers plenty of solutions. "I recommend Neutrogena On-the-Spot Acne Treatment," Shamban said. "The 2.5 percent concentration of benzoyl peroxide is enough to get the job done and low enough to avoid irritation in most skin types."
Drastic Action
If drugstore products aren't controlling your teen's skin issues, you may need to visit the dermatologist for extra help. "I always recommend monthly facials, a gentle cleanser and exfoliant, and topical retinoids such as tretinoin, tazarotene and adapalene," Shamban said. "These work very well to clear pores and to reduce the frequency and severity of acne outbreaks."
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Antibiotic Approach
If nothing is working and you're concerned your teen may end up with acne scarring, there are more steps you can take. Ask your dermatologist about antibiotics. "If they have moderate to severe acne and other courses of treatment, including hormonal treatments and topical antibiotics, aren't working, then oral antibiotics may be given," Shamban said. "Oral antibiotic therapy should be given long enough to blast the bacteria, but not long enough for the bug to develop resistance."
More Medication
You may have heard of Accutane — a strong medication used to treat serious acne. "Accutane is generally prescribed when all else fails," Shamban said. "There are several potential side effects associated with it, [but] it's as close to a cure to acne as we have," Shamban said. If you're interested in Accutane, be sure you and your teen are well-informed of all its effects by your doctor.
