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Straight Talk for Parents on How to Help Teens With Acne
Dermatologists Offer Help, Advice
News release from Ortho Dermatological
SKILLMAN, NJ - May 29, 2001 - Approximately 20 million teenagers
in the United States suffer from acne, and many of their parents
don't know how to talk to them about it. Some parents are hesitant
to broach such a sensitive topic with their teens, while others
ignore the subject, believing that acne is an inevitable part
of adolescence that can be healed or prevented by simple lifestyle
changes. At www.caringforyourskin.com,
dermatologists from
around the country offer advice to parents on how and when to
talk to teens about acne and acne treatments.
"Since acne can be an awkward topic for highly sensitive adolescents, parents need to approach their teens in an honest and caring manner," advises Kathy Fields, M.D., clinical instructor of dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center.
"Find out how much your child's skin bothers him or her and if he/she is interested in seeking treatment."
A good way to broach the topic, she suggests, is to ask about
the teen's friends and find out if any of them have had good
luck with a
particular doctor. "Suggest and discuss seeing a dermatologist,
rather than mandating it," says Fields.
When is the right time to see a dermatologist?
Everyone has his or her own level at which acne simply becomes unacceptable. For some teens, it may be the appearance of even one pimple, while others may be more able to cope with breakouts. Avoiding treatment, however, can make acne worse and may increase the chance for permanent scars.
"The ultimate goal of acne therapy is to help clear up the pimples you have and to prevent the occurrence of future breakouts," says Larry Green, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology at George Washington University School of Medicine.
"In general, if your child is not responding to home
remedies and
over-the-counter treatments after one month, it's a good idea
to see a
dermatologist. Dermatologists have access to effective prescription
medications that can offer long-term treatment."
Let Your Child Speak
Perhaps the most common mistake parents make occurs during the first visit to the dermatologist's office. Too often, parents monopolize the conversation with the doctor and do not give their child a chance to verbalize his/her feelings.
"I find that teens respond best and listen when they
are in the exam rooms by themselves first, while the parent stays
in the waiting room," says Dr. Green. "Eventually,
the teen will want their
parent in, especially when we go over treatment. Parents can
help most by listening to their child and letting him/her be
an active participant in decisions regarding treatment."
"I like to have parents in the room, because I want their input regarding oral vs. topical medications and other issue that arise where I may need their consent," says Katie Rodan, M.D., clinical assistant professor of dermatology at the Stanford University School of Medicine in California.
Be Supportive and Don't Be A Nag
"Patient ownership of and commitment to the treatment plan is important," adds Hilary Baldwin, M.D., associate professor of clinical dermatology at the State University of New York in Brooklyn.
"Acne treatment often involves once or twice a day medication use," she says. "Sometimes, my teen patients may tell their parents that they are not happy with one or more aspects of a particular medication, such as its taste, smell, or perhaps a specific side effect (e.g., irritation). I advise parents to take their child's comments seriously and without argument, and to be supportive, even if it means an additional expense because we have to change medications."
"Parents play an integral role during treatment," says Montclair, New Jersey dermatologist Jeanine Downie, M.D. "They need to be supportive and encouraging, but must resist the impulse to nag or criticize, as it could have a counter-effect (i.e., the child may elect to rebel by not complying with the doctor's instructions)."
Dr. Downie generally provides her teen patients with written
instructions they can put in visible places (such as a bathroom
mirror) to serve as gentle reminders. "This gives them a
sense of
ownership to the treatment plan."
"Most parents do really well as far as supporting their
child's acne
treatment is concerned," says Dr. Rodan. "By far the
worst mistake I occasionally encounter is a parent who doesn't
take their child's acne seriously and doesn't appreciate that
acne scars both the skin and the psyche. Some parents really
view acne as a normal adolescent process that every kid can live
through. They favor a minimalist approach to treating the acne
even if it merits aggressive treatment."
MORE ACNE INFO AT parent-teen.com:Acne: The High Price of Perfect SkinAcne AgonyWEB RESOURCESTwo educational sites from Ortho Dermatological, makers of the acne medication Retin-A: Teen-friendly: To find a dermatologist, visit the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) website at www.aad.org. For specific questions pertaining |
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