ACNE

Most teenagers develop acne at some point. Pimples are caused by oil ducts in the skin getting plugged up and then rupturing, causing redness and swelling.  The main factors causing acne are hormones, heredity and plugged oil ducts.

At the beginning of puberty, hormones called androgens increase (in males and females). The androgens trigger oil ducts on the face, upper chest and back to produce oil, which can lead to acne in some people.   Some families have more of a tendency to develop acne than others.

In many teens, the cells that line the oil ducts in the skin get larger, produce more oil and then plug the ducts. This traps the oil and then blackheads or whiteheads form. The plugged ducts allow bacteria in the skin to multiply and produce chemicals that cause redness and swelling.

Acne is not caused by food or dirt.

There are also some things that can make acne worse:

• Some makeup, which can block oil ducts and aggravate acne
• Popping or pinching pimples, which causes the oil into the skin around the pimple, causing redness and swelling
• Scrubbing too much, which irritates the skin
• Some medications
• Hormonal changes during menstrual periods
• Stress

These should be avoided if possible.

Although there is no cure for acne, there are some treatments, in addition to paying attention to the above factors.  Benzoyl peroxide, which is a topical lotion or gel, helps to kill skin bacteria, unplug the oil ducts and heal pimples.  You can get this medication over-the-counter. It should be started at 2.5 % and gradually increased if not working to 5% one-two times per day.  It should be applied to the entire area where acne occurs, not just the individual pimples.  It can be drying, so decrease the frequency if that occurs.

If that does not work, you should call us. We may be able to prescribe a topical tretinoin (Retin-A) cream, a topical antibiotic or an oral antibiotic.  We also may recommend that your child see a dermatologist.  They may use the above medications or prescribe Accutane or a birth control pill (for the girls).  Both of these medications have potential side effects, which can be discussed with the prescribing dermatologist.



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