Avoiding Pimples

Most people are concerned about how they look and teenagers especially worry about how others see them. It is a time when they want to feel attractive, appeal to their friends and generally feel good about themselves. But it is also a time when they often feel gawky, ugly and underconfident. They often seem to exaggerate the bad points about themselves. Pimples can become one of the nightmares for an adolescent. As a parent there is a delicate balance between being helpful and yet not drawing too much attention to their skin and how it looks. Pimples are usually called zits by adolescents.

What causes pimples?

Your teenager's skin is largely influenced by two things:

The skin contains a huge number of pores (tiny holes) connected to glands which produce the oils to keep the skin healthy. At puberty these glands become more active and make more oil to pump out. Sometimes bacteria (germs) get into the pores and when mixed with the oil the pore becomes blocked. There will be pus, and you'll see the tell-tale red soreness with the white spot in the middle. Blackheads are just pores that have discoloured as the oil and germ mixture in them meets the air.

How can pimples be avoided?

The way you give your teenager this information will make the difference between it being accepted or rejected. Lecturing and nagging are likely to have little effect.

A more casual, laid back manner which gives the information ithout "pushing" will have more chance of being taken up.

• regularly washing the skin with soap and water or skin cleanser- (no more than three times a day otherwise there is a risk of more oil and more pimples).
• touching pimples as little as possible - (fingers are a terrific source of germs and the more often the pimple is touched the more it is aggravated).
• reducing the level of stress- (tiredness, overwork, exams, big events, worry, overpartying and difficult relationships can all trigger a "zit hit").
• exposing the skin to a little sunshine- (not enough to give sunburn).
• avoiding cosmetics and sunscreens which have an oil base.
• getting regular exercise, sleep and food. Some foods trigger pimple outbreaks in some

  people but there is no "pimple free" diet.
• Getting your teenager to take note of what he is eating about the time pimples appear may give an idea about which foods are triggers.
• taking more care of personal hygiene around period time (your daughter may find pimples are more common just before a period).

How can your teenager get rid of pimples?

There is no "cure" for pimples.

If the pimple hangs around for more than a day or so your teenager will be tempted to squeeze it, particularly if it comes to a "head". There is a risk then of spreading the bacteria and making things worse. If she must squeeze, encourage her to wash her hands first and use a clean tissue.

Use astringents or alcohol based skin cleansers on areas where the pimples collect. These skin products work by cleaning and drying the skin and opening up the pore. This lets the oil flow more freely and avoids dead skin cells clogging it up.

Use of acne lotions, provided they are used for several weeks at a time, can suit some people.

If your teenager has done all the right things, tried all the advertised skin lotions but still feels it is a problem, suggest seeing a doctor. Some people have such a problem with pimples that they can only be controlled by taking prescribed medicines. Antibiotics are generally effective and the most common to take.

Suggest to your teenager that she ask the doctor to explain all the effects and any possible problems with whatever treatment is suggested.

Reminders

• Be sensitive to your teenager's embarrassment about pimples.
• Remember it feels a lot more serious to your teenager than to you.
• Don't draw attention to the pimples.
• Provide information in a laid back manner.
• Suggest seeing a doctor if your teenager feels there is a problem after everything has been tried.
• Reassure your teenager that for most people pimples eventually disappear.