Acne is a common skin disorder that affects most people some time in their lives. Although it is not uncommon for acne to occur late in adulthood, it is most common among teenagers due to hormonal changes in the body. Teenagers are socially mobile, spending a good deal of time outdoors. Having fun being uppermost on their minds, basic skin care is not high on their checklist. Lack of awareness in this area aggravates their acne problems.
Although acne is rarely a serious medical condition, when outbreaks are severe it can cause emotional distress especially when the acne problem extends into young adulthood. If not treated properly, permanent scarring of the skin may result. This is the time when professional medical advice is needed and prudent.
Parents play an important role for teenagers to recognize this critical stage of severe acne onset. Having a family history of acne will usually result in the next generation also having acne problems. It is thus best to seek the advice of a dermatologist before the onset of severe acne. A dermatologist will be able to give the right skin care advice and proper acne treatment. To battle acne, prevention is always better than cure.
For those who are already in the midst of a severe acne outbreak, it is best to seek medical treatment from a dermatologist if you have persistent pimples or inflamed cysts. It is important not to allow this to persist as this may cause scarring or other damage to your skin. Getting proper professional advice and skin care treatment is extremely crucial at this stage.
Most acne treatments work by reducing the skin's production of oil and accelerating skin cell turnover while fighting bacterial infection. Therefore with most prescriptions you may not see immediate results. Sometimes it may get worse before it gets better. Expect about four to eight weeks to see gradual improvements. In the meantime follow the good basic skin care and hygiene routine like not squeezing your pimples and you should be on your way to a clearer skin.
