Puberty Acne: Causes and Management from a Dermatology Clinic near Boramae Station

When looking at teenagers’ faces, you may notice that small red spots begin appearing here and there one day.

At first, these may be seen as just a passing part of “growing pains,” but once you realize that these spots are acne, the worry begins.

Puberty acne is not simply a skin trouble.

Inside the body, hormones change rapidly, the sebaceous glands become more active, and in the process, pores become blocked and inflammation develops.

Simply put, when sebum becomes clogged and bacteria multiply, it develops into red, painful acne.

For this reason, if puberty acne is ignored and left untreated, scars may remain or it may recur even after becoming an adult, so caution is needed.

-Today’s column outline-

1. Puberty acne: Why it should not be left untreated
2. Puberty acne: Ointment treatment methods
3. Puberty acne: How to prevent recurrence

Why puberty acne should not be left untreated

Many parents and teenagers often hear the following:

“Things will naturally get better after puberty.” This may be true in some cases, but in many others, it is not.

The conditions for acne to develop still exist within the skin, so if it is left untreated, inflammation can deepen and leave scars.

In addition, acne scars on appearance can place psychological burden and stress on teenagers.

Therefore, rather than simply hoping time will solve the problem, it is preferable to begin treatment and care early.

Puberty acne: Ointment treatment methods

For teenage acne treatment, antibiotic ointments and retinoid ointments are mainly used.

Antibiotic ointments help suppress the bacteria that cause acne and reduce inflammation, and may help relieve painful, red breakouts.

However, if used for a long period, resistance can develop, so they must be used according to the dosage and frequency prescribed by medical staff.

Retinoid ointments help regulate dead skin cells inside pores and reduce sebum secretion, opening blocked channels and helping correct the underlying cause of acne.

When first using them, for about two weeks, the skin may become more flaky or irritated, but this is a natural part of the treatment process and does not need to cause excessive concern.

It is also important to remember that applying ointment alone is not enough to expect sufficient improvement in acne.

Along with acne treatment, daily care to improve the skin environment and prevent recurrence must be combined in order to maintain healthy skin.

Puberty acne: How to prevent recurrence

Acne is a skin condition that often recurs even after it has improved once.

Therefore, consistent care is needed along with treatment, and through this, you can expect to maintain healthy skin.

First, you should review your cleansing habits.

It is good to remove sebum with proper cleansing once or twice a day, but excessive repeated washing can instead dry out the skin and increase sebum secretion, so caution is needed.

In particular, using a mildly acidic cleanser made for acne may help control sebum while minimizing skin irritation.

After cleansing, you should also restore the skin’s oil-water balance with sufficient moisture, and consistently apply sunscreen to help prevent skin damage.

Diet also has a major effect on acne management.

It is better to avoid chocolate, flour-based foods, fast food, and greasy foods, and to moderate dairy intake because it may affect hormonal balance.

Instead, maintaining a diet centered on fresh vegetables and protein helps support skin health.

In addition, enough sleep and stress management have a major impact on skin regeneration and hormonal balance, so maintaining a regular lifestyle is necessary.

Puberty acne is not simply a skin trouble, but a skin condition that requires long-term management.

Along with ointment treatment, consistently maintaining proper cleansing habits, sufficient moisturizing, and healthy eating and lifestyle habits can help minimize scars and recurrence and support healthy skin.

Since each patient’s skin characteristics and causes of acne are different, it is important not to forget that it is safest to consult with medical staff and develop a customized treatment plan.

I hope today’s column from the dermatology clinic near Boramae Station is of some help to teenagers and parents who are struggling with puberty acne.

If you have any questions beyond the content above, please leave them in the comments below.

We will reply kindly.

Thank you.

| This post was written for informational purposes in compliance with Article 56, Paragraphs 1–15 of the Medical Service Act. All treatments carry the risk of side effects and complications depending on the individual. Before treatment, please be sure to make a sufficient consultation with experienced medical staff before making a decision. |