How Do I Know If My Teenager’s Acne Needs Help?

If your teenager has started getting spots, one of the first questions you might ask yourself is:

“Is this just normal teenage skin, or is it something I should actually do something about?”

It can be difficult to know.

You might have been told that teenage acne is normal.

You might remember having spots yourself and thinking, “They'll grow out of it.”

Or perhaps you've started searching online for what to put on their skin, only to find completely conflicting advice.

One person says to leave it alone.

Another recommends a strong acne treatment.

Someone else says they need a completely different skincare routine.

And meanwhile, you're just trying to work out what is actually appropriate for your child.

Teenage acne is common, but that doesn't mean it should automatically be ignored

Acne is incredibly common during the teenage years, particularly as hormonal changes can influence the skin.

But I think there's an important distinction between saying teenage acne is common and saying there's nothing you can do about it.

Those aren't the same thing.

Every teenager is different.

Some may have the occasional breakout that comes and goes without causing them much concern.

Others may have persistent breakouts, blocked pores, inflamed spots or deeper lesions that continue to develop.

And then there's the part that you can't always see by looking at their skin.

How do they actually feel about it?

Because that matters too.

Look beyond the number of spots

Parents sometimes compare their teenager's skin to somebody else's.

“Their acne isn't that bad.”

“Other teenagers have much worse skin.”

“It's only a few spots.”

But acne isn't a competition.

A teenager doesn't have to have severe acne for it to affect their confidence.

They might suddenly become very conscious of their appearance.

They may not want their photograph taken.

They might constantly check their skin in the mirror.

They may start covering their face with makeup or their hair.

They might pick at their skin because they're frustrated by what they're seeing.

Or they may simply be fed up with waking up every morning and seeing another breakout.

So when you're deciding whether your teenager needs support, I wouldn't only look at how many spots they have.

I'd also look at what their skin is doing and how they're feeling about it.

You don't have to throw a whole skincare routine at them

This is where I think parents can become overwhelmed.

You see your teenager struggling with their skin, so naturally you want to help.

You start looking at cleansers, exfoliants, spot treatments, masks, serums and everything else marketed towards acne.

But more products don't necessarily mean better skin.

In fact, when you're dealing with teenage skin, I think it's particularly important to understand what you're actually trying to achieve before adding lots of products.

The aim isn't to attack every spot as aggressively as possible.

It's to understand what's happening with the skin and make sensible decisions based on the individual teenager in front of you.

That means considering their current skin, their existing routine, what they've already tried and how they're actually managing their skin day to day.

What should you do if you're unsure?

You don't need to panic because your teenager has started getting spots.

But you also don't have to sit back and do nothing simply because someone has told you it's “just hormones”.

If you're concerned about their skin, if their breakouts are persistent, or if you're noticing that their confidence is being affected, it's reasonable to look for appropriate professional guidance.

And if you're unsure what products they should be using, getting advice before buying a bathroom cabinet full of acne products can make far more sense than trying everything and hoping something works.

The important thing is not to make your teenager feel as though their skin is a problem that needs to be constantly pointed out or fixed.

They need support, not shame.

And sometimes the biggest thing you can give them is understanding

Teenage acne isn't just about what's happening on the surface of the skin.

It's happening during a period of life when appearance, confidence and fitting in can feel incredibly important.

So if your teenager is struggling with their skin, don't dismiss their feelings simply because acne is common.

You don't need to make them feel that something is wrong with them.

You can simply let them know:

“I can see that this is bothering you, and I'm here to help.”

That can be a very powerful place to start.

Throughout October, I'm talking specifically about teenage acne and how parents can support their teenagers' skin.

I'll be covering what to be cautious about, what I look at when a teenager comes to me for help, why I don't believe in throwing endless products at acne, and how professional skin support can fit into the bigger picture.

Because your teenager's skin doesn't need to become a source of stress for either of you.

© 2018. Emily Britten. All rights reserved.

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