Acne
What is acne?
Acne occurs when the oil glands of your skin become plugged.
More than 90% of teenagers have some acne. With acne you
will have blackheads, whiteheads (pimples), or red bumps on
your face, neck, and shoulders.
How can I take care of myself?
- Basic treatment for all acne.
- Wash your skin twice a day and after exercise. Use a
mild soap.
- Shampoo your hair daily.
- Avoid picking and squeezing. Picking keeps acne from
healing. Squeezing causes bleeding into the skin and
blotches that last a month.
- Treatment for pimples (infected oil glands) or blackheads
(the plugs found in blocked-off oil glands).
- Benzoyl peroxide 5% lotion or gel: This lotion helps
to open pimples and unplug blackheads. It also kills
bacteria. Apply the lotion once a day at bedtime.
Redheads and blonds should apply it every other day
for the first 2 weeks. (Caution: benzoyl peroxide
can bleach clothing and bedding, so apply it
sparingly.)
- Pimple opening the safe way: Never open a pimple
before it has come to a head (has a yellow center).
Wash your face and hands first. Use a needle that
has been sterilized with rubbing alcohol. Nick the
surface of the yellow pimple with the tip of the
needle. The pus should run out without squeezing.
Wipe away the pus and wash the area with soap and
water. Don't "pop" pimples by squeezing.
- Treatment for red bumps.
Large red bumps mean the infection has spread beyond the
oil gland. If you have several red bumps, you probably
also need an antibiotic. Antibiotics come as solutions
for the skin or as pills.
Your antibiotic is __________________________. Use it
______ times a day every day.
Call your doctor during office hours if:
- The acne has not improved after you have treated it with
benzoyl peroxide for 2 months.
- It looks infected (large, red, tender bumps).
- You have other concerns or questions.
Written by B.D. Schmitt, M.D., author of "Your Child's Health," Bantam Books.
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to
change as new health information becomes available. The
information is intended to inform and educate and is not a
replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or
treatment by a healthcare professional.
Copyright © 2006 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.