Table of Contents
L’juvenile acne it’s a real problem for a lot of kids. When the infamous start popping up pimples not only do you fall into despair but often you don’t even know what to do. Stop eating salami, chips and chocolate? Wash your face with “something strong”? Put toothpaste or use specific creams?
To bring clarity (and hope) to the acne universe, we spoke with the Dr. Stefano Veglio, Specialist in Dermatology.
What is meant by juvenile acne
A pimple isn’t necessarily acne. Or maybe it’s the debut. We asked the expert to explain what exactly is meant by juvenile acne.
«Juvenile acne is a extremely common problem which brings a rash mainly on the most gifted areas sebaceous glands, then the face and the trunk. From the dilated pore, pustules, nodules and even small cysts (comedones) are created “explains Dr. Veglio” It is an eruption that fluctuates over time: it starts with adolescence and with hormonal stimuli presenting particularly boring and annoying ups and downs for young people who obviously want to solve the problem as soon as possible ».
But what are the first signs of acne?
«The skin becomes tends to be fatter, black points begin to form which are small open cysts in which this black dot can be seen, which corresponds to oxidized keratin. Skin impurities evolve into small papules which then turn into pustules which can get bigger and therefore become more and more visible »explains Dr. Veglio.
At what age does it occur and who it affects
Acne has a predilection for young faces. In fact, it is one of the torments of adolescence.
“Usually the age of onset of acne corresponds tobeginning of adolescence, a moment in which hormones have a peak: testosterone in particular, a typically male hormone but also present in girls, shows an increase in secretion. So we can say that it has an onset around 12-13 years but obviously follows what is the development and the pubertal evolution of each individual»Specifies the expert.
If there is a genetic component that seems to be more likely to develop acne if a close family member has suffered from it, than the sexual gender of predilectionon the other hand, it is a false belief that it affects males the most. On the other hand, however, it is true that on males it can “rage” more.
“The sexes are both equally affected, then the frequency I could say is the same. But the intensity with which the face and trunk are affected the most is often more pronounced in males due to the higher levels of testosterone present in humans ”explains Dr. Veglio.
Treatment and remedies
«There are several useful means that can give excellent results: they range from local care with creams, lotions and cleansers to treatments that the dermatologist can carry out in his own office such as peeling, pulsed light to reduce inflammation and also laser tools to reduce scars that acne can, at times, generate. The cure has to be though chosen by a dermatologist based on the type of skin of the subject and the type and manner in which acne occurs »says the expert.
«Specifically, the dermatologist can use substances sebum-reducing agents and keratolytic as derivatives of vitamin A (retinoids) and alpha hydroxy acids, antibiotics and local antiseptics. In this way you can open the sebaceous pores, thanks to a pool of therapies which must always take into account the tolerability of the skin and that they must never be improvised»Concludes Dr. Veglio.
Chocolate yes or no?
For generations and generations, acne has always been linked to the wrong diet. So, on the dock went up: chips, chocolate, cold cuts. But is it true that the wrong diet causes acne?
«We almost all grew up with the idea that a wrong diet was the cause of acne but it is now understood that the causes are to be found elsewhere. Mainly in hormonal imbalances typical of adolescence, in factors emotional and in one genetic predisposition»Explains the expert« Nutrition plays an absolutely limited role. We must therefore rule out that chocolate is the cause of the problem. However, there are dietary indications aimed at avoiding worsening of acne, such as avoid very unbalanced diets towards rapidly absorbed carbohydrates that increase skin inflammation. But it is absolutely worth noting that acne it is not a liver problem or that can be cured by changing dietary regimes. These are just clichés that do not help to solve the problem but, on the contrary, demotivate children and families who see the results move away from them ».
How long does it last?
«This pathology generally tends to resolve spontaneously when the boy reaches a greater hormonal balance then at the end of adolescence e early adulthood. However, it should be noted how often people have one strong genetic predisposition to have the problem, they can show acneic manifestations even up to thirty years and beyond »explains Dr. Veglio.
«In particular, an acne problem is common in women who have hormonal imbalances resulting from a polycystic ovary or even other situations in which the hormones are not well balanced. I always recommend to perform a gynecological check-up with an ovarian ultrasound in cases of persistent acne, to try to get to the bottom of the problem. Often, in fact, one hormone therapy agreed with a good gynecologist, it helps to obtain excellent results »concludes the expert.
How to treat acne scars
Unfortunately, acne can leave marks on the skin. But relying on a good expert can help a lot and really make a difference.
“As for the permanent signs, unfortunately in many cases these occur if acne is not treated in time and effectively. However, it is possible to avoid them when effective and intense treatments are put in place, especially in moments of greatest flowering. For the scarring we have, fortunately, also excellent responses from lasers and aesthetic dermatological treatments which have contributed to greatly reduce the impact of these scars, which also mark so much on the soul of the people who are affected »concludes Dr. Veglio.
Read also
