How to treat your child’s acne

It’s pretty likely that as a teenager, your son or daughter will develop acne. I know I have a good few years before this becomes an issue but it’s always good to be prepared. It can be something that causes them a lot of stress and be upsetting for them.  I have put a list together of some things that you can do to help clear their skin and make it look a lot healthier should they get an acne breakout. 

Make yourself Alert of the Acne Warning Signs

Usually acne occurs when your child is between 10 and 13, however you can start to see some symptoms of it as early as 8.  Acne usually starts on your child’s nose, so make sure you are on the lookout for small blackheads.  As it gets worse, you will then see it develop onto their chin and forehead, however you should try and catch it early, so it doesn’t progress too far. 

Encourage Good Skincare Habits

Kids from 8 or 9 should be cleansing their face each night with non-perfumed cleanser. This will improve any blocks they have in their pores.  It’s particularly important for boys – as acne is usually worse for them.  If you notice that your child’s face becomes dry that you then get them to put on a perfume-free moisturiser to hydrate the skin.

Visit a Dermatologist

There are some great acne treatments available should the problem persist. For example, the acne treatments in London offered by The Dermatology Clinic include topical treatments (creams, lotions and gels), antibiotics and more. The treatment that you’d receive would depend on the severity of the acne.  They will be able to tailor a plan that is specific to your child and advise on the best way forward.  They may be a little self-conscious at first – but once they start seeing improvements, they will definitely want to keep going.

Try Some Mild Acne Creams

If you find that the acne is still present, as a first port of call, you might want to check out some of the milder acne creams.  One of the most common ones is Benzoyl Peroxide cream.  This doesn’t need to be prescribed and can be bought over the counter at your local pharmacy.  It’s usually only uses in mild cases of acne and kills the bacteria that causes the pimples.  All of the instructions for use are on the packaging, and you can also ask the dispenser for information.

Make Sure they Don’t Touch the Affected Areas

We all know how tempting it can be to touch spots when they pop us never mind acne.  Make sure that you reinforce that your children shouldn’t try to pop the pimples or pick them.  Normally this will cause the acne to get worse and can actually result in a nasty affection.  Make sure that you remind your teenagers that touching and picking their spots will make the situation worse. 

Teen acne can be a massive problem for kids in high-school and can be distressing for them during school time.  Make sure you take appropriate preventative measures and visit the experts if you need to.