Supporting your child through hardship.
I have a beautiful, smart, and humble teenage daughter. Earlier this year she was all smiles and happiness but a few months back her smile started to fade, and she became moody.
At first, I thought it was just the normal moodiness that comes with being a teenager. But as puberty hit, she also started getting a few pimples here and there that eventually turned into acne.
Her confidence started taking a dive and I was witnessing how my little girl was losing her self-esteem. Sometimes as parents, we don’t take acne very seriously. We think of it as something that happens with puberty and that it will go away. However, our kids may have trouble coping with feelings that surface when they have a visible skin problem.
When we visited the dermatologist, she made me realize that acne is not just skin deep. Acne sufferers are more likely to develop depression, anxiety, poor self-image, and low self-esteem.
While there are several treatments out there to help clear acne, supporting your child through hardship is imperative to keep a good emotional health.
Helping my daughter fight this battle taught me three things:
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Acne is serious: Dismissing your teen’s acne as something that will clear on its own or that “it’s part of growing up” can do more harm than good. While acne may clear on its own, it may also affect your teen’s emotional health. Teens with acne are more likely to feel shy or embarrassed by the way they look and may suffer from bullying due to their acne.
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Stress may cause an acne flare-up: Experiencing stress may increase the skin’s oil production which can cause pimples. Additionally, being stressed may also cause people to consume unhealthy foods, to break away from skin care routines, and may even affect their sleep patterns.
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Acne can affect emotional health: As parents, we must be vigilant of our children’s emotional health. This is especially true when they have acne. Studies have shown that acne sufferers are more likely to develop depression and anxiety. According to AADA, here are some behaviors to keep an eye on:
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Sadness lasting for two weeks or more
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Loss of interest in activities that were previously enjoyed
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Social withdrawal
Acne may disrupt your teen’s life and emotional well-being. If your teen is going through a tough time due to acne, consider talking to a dermatologist about possible new treatment options. Here at Texas Dermatology and Laser Specialists, we are dedicated to finding new and better ways to treat acne. Our physicians are currently seeking volunteers to participate in research studies for acne. Those that qualify receive study-related care and medication at no cost, have access to possible new treatment options not yet available to the public and may receive compensation for time and travel. Click the button below to learn more!
