Preadolescent acne — 7–12 years (or up to menarche if female) Acne can be the first sign of puberty, and it is common to find acne in this age group. It often presents as
Acne is linked with: Hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy, and the menstrual cycle. Rising levels of male sex hormones (androgens) in both boys and girls during puberty that causes more sebum and more dead skin cells. Using makeup or cosmetics that block the pores.
Have your child use a mild cleanser nightly. For inflamed acne, a cleanser with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid may help. Acne cream can also be used to treat persistent acne. Teach teens not to touch their face or pick at acne.
Just like adult skin, your toddler's sensitive skin can get irritated and have blocked pores. This can sometimes trap germs in their skin and cause toddler acne. Even food left on your child's face can sometimes irritate their skin, block pores, and lead to toddler acne — or, more commonly, rashes that look like acne.
Handling the First Pimples
Dermatologists are starting to see more 7- and 8-year-olds with mild acne, such as white- and blackheads on the forehead, nose, and chin.
Although it's less common than teenage acne, infants and young children can develop acne or acne-like symptoms. Pediatricians divide childhood acne into four subgroups, each defined by how old a child is when they first develop pimples.
Cohen also stresses to parents that they can expect early acne to be the new “normal.” "We know now that a lot of normal kids will develop acne at this young age," he says.
Acne occurs when a hair follicle (pore) becomes clogged with oil, bacteria or dirt, and creates a bulge in a child's skin.
Although it might feel good to pop a pimple, dermatologists advise against it. Popping a pimple can cause infection and scarring, and it may make the pimple more inflamed and noticeable. It also delays the natural healing process. Due to this, it is usually best to leave pimples alone.
Acne is caused by overactive oil glands in the skin and a buildup of oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria, which leads to inflammation (swelling and redness) in the pores. Oil glands get stimulated when hormones become active during puberty. That's why people are likely to get acne in their teens.
According to the AAP, mild acne often can be tackled with over-the-counter fixes. Washes, lotions and other products containing benzoyl peroxide are the best studied, and the best place to start, the group said. "It's a pretty effective agent, especially for mild acne," Eichenfield said.
Acne commonly starts during puberty between the ages of 10 and 13 and tends to be worse in people with oily skin. Teenage acne usually lasts for five to 10 years, normally going away during the early 20s. It occurs in both sexes, although teenage boys tend to have the most severe cases.
Ideally you can begin around age 12 with just the basics, using a gentle cleanser, moisturizer, and sunscreen. During puberty, you may have to switch your cleanser to an oil control one if you suffer from acne and pimples. You can also incorporate spot treatments with salicylic acid to address specific issues.
The "tween years" can be challenging for both children and their parents. Young adolescents are continuing to explore their community and world and beginning to develop unique identities separate from their parents.
Cleanser for Kids
A 9-year-old skincare routine should start with a cleanser. The cleanser removes any excess dirt or oils that have built up on the skin throughout the day. Kids have more sensitive skin than adults, so it is best to start with a sensitive skin cleanser.
“Acne-like bumps on the buttocks are caused by inflammation of hair follicles, which is called folliculitis,” says MacKelfresh. Folliculitis can be caused by an infection from bacteria, yeast, or fungus, irritation of hair follicles, or blockage of hair follicles, she says.
With that being said, Proactiv may be an effective treatment option for mild to moderate acne outbreaks and scarring. But it's not a miracle cure, and it won't work for everyone. According to its product description, Proactiv doesn't work on cystic or nodular acne. It's also not the best option for severe acne.
When treated, pus-filled pimples will start to dissipate on their own. You may notice the pus disappears first, then the redness and overall acne lesions lessen. Above all else, you must resist the urge to pop or squeeze out the pus. Picking at acne can cause the inflammation to worsen.
Pus, a thick, white substance made up of bacteria and white blood cells, sometimes fills the pimple.
Basically, what happens if you don't pop a whitehead is that it goes away on its own, usually in 3 to 7 days. It may happen that you wake up one morning and notice the pimple is gone.
When to Pop, and When to Stop
If your pimple has a white or yellow head, it's prime for the popping. “At that point, it is OK to extract because the bump is very superficial to the surface of the skin,” says Lee.