Teens With Acne Need To Seek More Medical Care
A recent article published in Pediatric Dermatology about the help-seeking behaviors and treatment choices of adolescents with acne shed light upon how teens are going about treating their acne. The data, which was pulled from an anonymous survey administered to 1,214 students in public middle and high schools in New Jersey, showed that the majority of the teens were not seeking medical treatment and did not have the right information to lead them to better skin. In the study, 57% of the students treated their own acne, while a much smaller proportion (17%) sought medical care. These surprising numbers are proof that most teens with acne need the correct guidance and education from a physician to find the proper treatment.
Self-care of acne is a dangerous and unhealthy road to go down. There are countless treatments on the market that when used improperly or without the guidance of a dermatologist, will often lead to further acne breakouts. The study also found that the majority of students get their information on acne from nonphysician sources. Any cursory Google search pulls up countless articles and tips about acne treatment, many are from non-credible sources. Most teens will follow the advice they find online, regardless of who it comes from. At Clear Clinic, our board-certified dermatologists will work one-on-one with teenagers to find the right medically-sound treatment for their skin. Teenage acne patients who partner with a dermatologist are much better off–they avoid future acne scarring and a better life in school all around.
