Teenagers and acne
My 14-year-old daughter has developed small infected spots on her forehead, chin and chest. I'm presuming it's acne, given her age.
Acne is a very common skin condition caused by the interaction between skin oils, bacteria and hormones which results in inflammation of the hair follicles. Acne mainly develops at puberty in both sexes as a result of fluctuating hormone levels, particularly of testosterone, which result in excessive production of the oily substance, sebum.
Acne can also occur at other times when hormones tend to fluctuate - for example, during menstruation, pregnancy and even at the menopause. Cortico- steroid and anabolic steroid use can also result in the development of acne due to over-stimulation of the sebaceous glands which produce sebum.
Acne occurs most frequently on the face, shoulders, chest and upper back. The main characteristics of the condition are pimples, small cysts and sometimes abscesses. In mild cases blackheads can appear as small dark centres in a swelling, while pimples form a white centre surrounded by a small red, raised area of skin.
Cysts, more common in moderate to severe cases of acne, can be numerous and large. These large, red, pus-filled lumps can also be very painful. If several join together, they can form an abscess which may require medical attention.
Although she scrubs her skin and applies cream throughout the day the problem is not going away. Is there anything else she can do?
Mild acne responds well to simple measures. Washing the skin twice a day with water and a mild soap should help. Strong anti-bacteria washes or scrubs, alcohol-based cleansers and frequent scrubbing may aggravate the problem.
She should avoid oil-based cosmetics which can worsen the problem and instead opt for water-based cream to avoid blocking the pores. Encourage her to follow a well-balanced diet and ditch the junk food. If her acne does not respond to these measures she may need to use a topically applied preparation to either kill the skin's bacteria or to unblock the pores.
In more severe cases, your family doctor may recommend medication or referral to a dermatologist. Certain treatments must be used with caution as they can cause serious side effects in some users.