Acne factsheet

Introduction

Acne is a common skin condition that causes breakouts of spots or pimples in places like the:

  • face
  • neck
  • back
  • chest
  • shoulders.

Acne can develop at any age but is most common in teenagers who are going through puberty. 

Acne develops when glands in the skin make too much oil, called sebum. Sebum clogs tiny holes in the skin called pores, trapping dead skin cells, bacteria, or germs inside. 

Acne can be caused or made worse by:

  • hormonal changes – puberty, periods, pregnancy, and certain medications can affect chemicals made by the body called hormones. These chemicals can increase the amount of oil made by the skin
  • family history – children who have a family history of acne are more likely to develop it
  • bacterial growth – an increase of bacteria on the can clog pores, causing redness and swelling, also called inflammation
  • diet – while not a direct cause, some teenagers can have acne flare-ups after eating certain foods
  • stress – can increase some hormone levels, increasing the amount of oil made by the skin glands.

While most acne will get better over time, some cases will continue into adulthood and may need medical treatment. 

Severe acne can impact a teenager's self-confidence and may lead to permanent scarring if picked at or left untreated.

 Signs and symptoms

Signs and symptoms of acne can include:

  • blackheads – small, dark spots on the skin caused by blocked pores
  • whiteheads – small, white bumps resulting from clogged pores
  • pimples – inflamed, red spots, sometimes filled with a yellow fluid called pus
  • nodules and cysts –painful lumps found deep under the skin that can lead to infection and scarring.

Occasional pimples and blackheads can be common and are not always a sign of acne.

Diagnosis

A doctor or dermatologist can diagnose acne by checking your teenager's skin. Sometimes, they may do further tests to rule out conditions affecting acne, like hormone imbalances.

Treatment

It is important that your teenager does not pick, scratch, pop, or squeeze pimples. This can lead to more severe redness, swelling and inflammation and cause infection and scarring.

Treatment depends on how severe the acne is. 

Topical treatments

Over-the-counter or prescription creams that contain chemicals that reduce bacteria and unclog the pores. 

These can include:

  • benzoyl peroxide – kills bacteria on the skin and reduces inflammation
  • retinoids – break down dead skin cells that clog the pores
  • antibiotics  – kill bacteria on the skin and reduce inflammation.

Oral medications

Prescription medications include:

  • antibiotics – reduces bacteria in moderate to severe cases of acne
  • hormonal therapies, including the contraceptive pill – can lower certain hormones that affect acne
  • isotretinoin – used in severe cases, shrinks the oil glands, stops skin cells from sticking together and lowers inflammation.

Professional procedures

Procedures done by a doctor or other trained clinician, including:

  • chemical peels – break down dead cells on the top layer of the skin
  • laser therapy – uses focused light to kill bacteria and reduce the amount of oil made by glands
  • extraction of blackheads and whiteheads – where special tools are used to physically remove pus and dead cells that are blocking pores.
     

 Management

Skincare for acne

Skincare is important, both generally and for managing acne. Taking care of your skin: 

  • helps keep it clean
  • reduces the severity of breakouts
  • helps the skin to heal after a breakout.

Support your teenager to:

  • wash their face twice daily with a gentle, soap-free cleanser
  • avoid washing or scrubbing the skin too much, as it can cause irritation and worsen breakouts
  • choose non-comedogenic makeup, moisturisers, and sunscreens. Non-comedogenic means the product is less likely to block pores and cause acne.
  • avoid touching or squeezing pimples to prevent infection and scarring
  • eat nutritious foods, and drink plenty of water.

When to see a doctor

See your local doctor if your teenager has acne that:

  • does not improve with over-the-counter treatments
  • is causing distress, pain, or scarring
  • is causing large, painful nodules or cysts to develop.