Acne

Acne, or acne vulgaris, is a skin problem that starts when oil and dead skin cells clog up your pores. Some people call it blackheads, blemishes, whiteheads, pimples, or zits. When you have just a few red spots, or pimples, you have a mild form of acne. Severe acne can mean hundreds of pimples that can cover the face, neck, chest, and back. Or it can be bigger, solid, red lumps that are painful (cysts).

Acne is very common among teens. It usually gets better after the teen years. Some women who never had acne growing up will have it as an adult, often right before their menstrual periods.

Symptoms of acne include whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples. These can occur on the face, neck, shoulders, back, or chest.

Mild acne usually causes only whiteheads and blackheads. At times, these may develop into an infection in the skin pore (pimple).

Severe acne can produce hundreds of pimples that cover large areas of skin. Cystic lesions are pimples that are large and deep. These lesions are often painful and can leave scars on your skin.

Acne can last for a few months or many years. Or it may come and go your entire life.

When you see a doctor about acne, you'll have a physical exam. Your doctor will ask you questions about your past and current health. Women may be asked questions about their menstrual cycles. This information can help a doctor find out if hormones are playing a role in a woman's acne.

Most often, you won't have any special tests to diagnose acne.

You may need other tests if your doctor suspects that acne is a symptom of another medical problem. These problems include higher-than-normal amounts of testosterone in a woman.

To help control acne, keep your skin clean. Avoid skin products that clog your pores. Look for products that say "noncomedogenic" on the label. Wash your skin once or twice a day with a gentle soap or acne wash. Try not to scrub or pick at your pimples. This can make them worse and can cause scars.

If you have mild acne, you can get an acne cream without a prescription. Look for one that has adapalene, benzoyl peroxide, or salicylic acid. These work best when they're used just the way the label says.

It can take time to get acne under control. But if nonprescription products haven't helped after 3 months, see your doctor. You may need different medicines or prescription medicines. The medicines may be creams or pills, and may include antibiotics or medicines derived from vitamins. If you are a woman, taking certain birth control pills may help control acne.

• Have your child gently wash their face 1 or 2 times a day with warm (not hot) water and a mild soap or cleanser and rinse well.
• Have your child use an over-the-counter lotion or gel that contains benzoyl peroxide. Start with a small amount of 2.5% benzoyl peroxide and increase the strength as needed. Benzoyl peroxide works well for acne, but your child may need to use it for up to 2 months before the acne starts to improve.
• Have your child apply acne cream, lotion, or gel to all the places your child gets pimples, blackheads, or whiteheads, not just where they are now. Follow the instructions carefully. If your child's skin gets too dry and scaly or red and sore, reduce the amount. For the best results, make sure your child applies the medicines as directed and does not miss doses.
• Do not let your child squeeze or pick pimples and blackheads. This can cause infection and scarring.
• Be sure your child uses only oil-free makeup, sunscreen, and other skin care products that will not clog pores.