From the time I was a teenager to only a few years ago, I suffered with terrible skin. Some parts of my face were dry and flaky, while other sections were oily and covered in pimples. I wanted to fix my skin problems once and for all, which is why I made an appointment with a dermatologist a few years ago. After meeting with my skin doctor, he evaluated my skin and helped me to figure out what to do to fix the issue. My dermatologist helped me to overcome years of trouble with my skin, and I want everyone to know about my successes. Check out this website to see how a dermatologist might be able to help you.
Acne, a common skin problem usually associated with teens, is occurring more often in preadolescent children, including kids as young as age 7. Puberty brought on by a rise in hormones is the typical cause of teen acne. But with puberty starting in some children at younger ages, dermatologists are seeing more cases of early acne in both boys and girls.
If acne is severe or negatively affecting your child's self-esteem, there is no need for him or her to suffer. Learning more about the causes and treatments available can get your child the early help that can prevent more severe acne in the future.
Where Breakouts Occur
What is referred to as preadolescent, or pediatric, acne usually appears on the T-zone – the forehead, nose, and chin. Although most kids don't get acne before age 11, or the onset of puberty, the condition can affect children at any age. While younger children usually have milder cases of acne, it's important to get the condition under control to keep it from getting worse during the adolescent years.
What Causes It
An increase in male sex hormones (adrenal androgens) in males and females during puberty causes the sebaceous glands to release more sebum (an oil that lubricates the skin and hair), clogging pores with oil and dead skin cells. This creates an environment where bacteria can grow and cause inflammation. Clogged pores can lead to whiteheads, blackheads, small pustules, or cysts.
Although an increase in hormone production and heredity are key factors causing most forms of acne, external elements that may have an effect on the body's hormone levels include:
Synthetic forms of hormones in drugs
Synthetic hormones given to poultry and livestock to make the animals grow faster and bigger, and dairy cows to make them produce more mild
Flame-retardant chemicals
Chemical phthalates used to make plastics harder
Whether exposure to chemicals and artificial hormones in the environment is causing earlier onset of puberty in children, pediatric acne is becoming more common.
Treatment Options
Treatment of pediatric acne generally involves the use of over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide creams, gels, and cleansers for mild cases of acne. For more severe acne, your child's doctor or a dermatologist may recommend treating the condition with low doses of oral antibiotics to slow the growth of bacteria and/or prescription topical treatments including retinoids (vitamin A derivatives) to kill bacteria. Dry skin and skin irritation are common side effects of topical medications.
Additional treatment tips include:
Your child gently washing his or her face twice daily – scrubbing can make acne worse
Use of alcohol-based rather than oil-based sunscreens
Wearing a cap or hat outdoors to protect skin that has been affected by acne from exposure to the sun; otherwise even acne that had been treated successfully can leave brown spots behind
For more information, contact a professional like East Carolina Dermatology and Skin Surgery, PLLC.
Share7 January 2016
