Parents should help their teens fight acne

Your teen is experiencing his or her first bout of acne and is distraught. Imagine the scenario: someone who has just got rid of their braces is now battling bad skin – a deadly knock to any young person’s self-esteem.

It’s important that parents give the kind of advice that will build their children’s self esteem. Although beauty might only seem skin-deep, acne can leave more than physical scars for many years.

Approximately 85% of teenagers develop acne, but it can occur in most age groups and often persists into adulthood. Approximately 12% of women still have acne in their adult years.

Acne can take a toll on teens’ self-esteem and quality of life, and can even lead to depression and psychological issues, according to a new review of studies.

Because of this potential, parents should keep the mental health of their children in mind when they see them with acne. 

 “A little reassurance can go a long way when it comes to helping your son or daughter deal with pimple problems. Acne can affect your teen’s confidence and prevent them from doing things they once loved in an effort to hide their breakouts. You can help your child overcome the insecurity caused by acne by offering your moral support and being involved in their treatment, says Najma Khan, a paramedic specialist at DMK South Africa. 

Know that if you’re struggling with acne and breakouts, you’re not alone. It is an increasingly common problem.

• Do you struggle with acne? Does it affect the way you feel about your appearance?
• What do you do when you get a pimple? Do you try to cover it up?
• Have you ever experienced the shaming, when people made fun of you because of acne?
• Do you notice that young people and adults alike are embarrassed to talk about acne? Should it be a topic we all feel more comfortable discussing, since, after all, it’s such a common condition?

DMK South Africa has ventured on a drive to assist teenagers’ deal with acne. Throughout the year, they will host seminars; school activations where they will help students deal with acne, and provide treatment. 

In this day and age, however, nobody should end up with negative psychological effects as a result of acne.