Ask Abbey*:
Q. My teenager is struggling with acne-prone skin. What do you suggest?
A. Keeping things simple is the key to success! We have a great deal of experience in aiding teen skin.
Before we get into the nuts and bolts of a consultation, your child should answer these questions:
- Am I drinking enough water? You probably need more than you think you need!
- Am I getting enough sleep? For today’s highly scheduled, high-achieving teens, the answer is often “no,” which is bad news for skin.
- Am I unusually stressed? Periods of high stress can take a toll on skin, with skin issues beginning to resolve when the stress lessens.
If water, rest and stress management don’t do the trick, we recommend bringing your child in for a consultation. Things that we touch base on during a teen consultation are:
- Diet – What is your dairy intake? Fruits and vegetables?
- What has worked in the past? What hasn’t?
- Is skin breaking out cyclically? All the time? During sports?
Depending on skin and breakout type, we have an array of topicals that are super helpful in keeping breakouts at bay and clearing skin. We want to increase cell turnover without the irritation and redness that are associated with acids that are often recommended for breakout-prone skin.
In order for us to successfully treat your child’s skin, we will need to see it. Each person’s skin is unique, and we are committed to providing the appropriate customized regiment for each of our patients.
*Abbey Helton, BSN, RN C is board certified in critical care, plastic surgery, medical surgery and aesthetic nursing. She has more than 12 years of continuing education in medical skin care and is past president of the Society of Plastic Surgical Skin Care Specialists. Abbey joined the practice in 1999 and performs non-invasive cosmetic and medical skin procedures and is the practice’s lead consultant for prescription-based skin care.
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