Acne At Different Ages

     Most parents think of acne as being an adolescent problem, but acne can occur at any age.

     Acne in the first few weeks of life is very common. This “newborn” form of acne is mild with small red bumps but no blackheads and minimal inflammation. No treatment is necessary and it usually just goes away with time. It leaves no scars.

     In older infants and toddlers up to age 2, acne can look more like adolescent acne with inflammation, blackheads and pustules. This acne can result in scaring, so the child should be seen by his caregiver and should be treated. The child should also have a good examination to be sure that the child’s growth and development are normal. Acne at this age is much less common than newborn acne, but it does occur.

     Acne in the age group between 2 and 6 years of age is rare and it should always make the parents and the caregiver worry about a hormonal problem. It is probably best to refer children who develop acne in this age group to an endocrine specialist for evaluation.

     Some preteens can get acne. Puberty seems to be occurring at younger ages in this country and acne is often the first sign of puberty. When a preteen gets acne, the child’s caregiver needs to evaluate the child’s growth and development, but, if everything is normal, regular acne therapy should be started.

     For common adolescent acne, there is a product that is heavily advertized on infomercials and in print that is very expensive. This product’s active ingredient is benzyl peroxide, a common acne medicine that can be purchased in any drug store without a prescription and at a much lower cost. The only benefit of the product is that it gives teens a strictly scheduled way of applying it and teenagers are likely to follow it. If the teen would follow the same regimen with the benzyl peroxide from the drug store, it would be every bit as effective.

     If adolescent acne is mild or moderate, their caregiver has ways of treating it that are very effective. If the acne is more severe, a referral to a dermatologist may be necessary. If a teenage girl gets acne at the time of her periods and then the acne improves when the period ends, regular acne therapies may not be effective and she may need to go on a high-estrogen birth-control pill to control the acne.