Acne solutions for babies and teenagers

Understanding Acne Issues in Babies and Young People.

I suppose every mother fears about an outbreak of acne in their beautiful newborn baby – I know I did - but don't panic!

It is quite normal. More often than not the acne will clear up by itself and it is only rarely that you will need to use any medications or call your family doctor.

Newborn babies can quite often get acne bumps that are caused by natural skin oil becoming trapped in the tiny hair follicles. While mostly found on the cheeks, it's not uncommon for babies to have acne on their forehead or chin as well.

Continue as you would normally to bathe your baby using a clean, soft washcloth and gentle baby soap as long as it is hypoallergenic.

Should the condition appear to become worse, or if it doesn't clear up within a few weeks, then seek the advice of your doctor.

Adolescent and Teen Acne Problems

We are all aware the occasional blemish can break out at any time or age but persistent acne usually begins around the same time as your child enters puberty.

There are plenty of old wives tales about eating too much chocolate and fatty, greasy foods – well you can forget all about them (as far as acne is concerned, that is).

Adolescent and teenage acne results from a natural increase in body oil which becomes trapped in pores. And although facial skin care is very important problems can occur by washing the face too much. You can actually irritate the skin, clog the pores, and cause more acne.

Child Acne – the prevention and treatment.

Prevention is not always possible but you can reduce the appearance of your child's acne by encouraging them to gently wash twice a day using warm water, a soft facecloth and a mild hypoallergenic soap.

Now if you have a daughter she is definitely going to want to wear makeup. Just spend a little time and help her choose some cosmetics which are labeled 'noncomedogenic' as they are specially formulated not to promote acne.

Also encourage her to never go to bed without removing her makeup. And the other big “no no” – popping pimples – discourage them at all costs - it just makes things all the worse.

Normally most outbreaks of acne respond well to over-the-counter products that contain benzol peroxide. This medication is readily available in a number of different lotions and creams from several different manufacturers.

Save yourself some money by comparing store brands with national brands. If the ingredients are the same and they are present in the same levels, go for the cheaper one.

You will find that the percentage of available benzol peroxide varies among the different brands. Choose a product with the highest concentration possible, but it is best to always test for any reactions first.

Just put a small dab on an inconspicuous portion of your child's body to see if there is any reaction. Under the chin can be a good place.

Within four to six week after commencing the treatment you should see a marked improvement. If not, then consult your family doctor for further advice and for an ongoing treatment plan. At this stage you don’t need to go to a dermatologist unless your family doctor recommends it.

Unfortunately there is no convenient time for an acne breakout in young children or teenagers.

As a parent the main thing to do is be readily available and fully understanding of their problem – what they need most from you is someone to provide them with the emotional support to get them through this social stigma.

And if it is any consolation to all you mothers out there the torment of acne is a much bigger deal to them than it is to you.

Maybe now is a good time to read our next article called ‘ How parents can help their teenager through Acne’.