Acne can be a lot more devastating to a teen than a parent realizes. It
can cause loss of self-esteem and a poor self-image, and even
depression. Resist giving the old advice to "scrub your face".
Scrubbing hard with soap will only irritate it and make it worse.
Acne
is not caused from dirt; rather, it is caused from oils that are
overproduced as a result of raging hormones. Similarly, contrary to
popular belief, it is not caused by dietary factors. Taking away your
teen's pizza won't cure her acne. Treat it as best you can with
over-the-counter or prescription topical treatments; in serious cases
antibiotics may be prescribed to help. In very extreme cases, a
dermatologist may recommend a more intense treatment, such as chemical
peels or a laser treatment. Don't ignore it and assume "it'll just go
away when they get older." Sometimes if it gets worse before it gets
better, permanent scarring may result.
Nearly a third of teens have at least one bout of depression, but not
nearly as many recognize it for what it is, and seek help for it. It's
important for the parent to be able to recognize the symptoms, but also
not to jump to conclusions. Everybody, teens and others, becomes
depressed from time to time, and this is no cause to start bringing out
the Prozac. But when it starts to happen every day, and the teen loses
interest in things that once excited them, it may be clinical
depression. This can be incapacitating if left untreated. While in some
cases, psychotherapy can help, in severe cases of depression or bipolar
disorder, medication may be in order. Most of the common antidepressant
medications available are safe for use in teens and children.
Eating disorders as well as obesity are also a major problem and must
be watched for. Teens today, and Americans in general, are more
overweight than ever, and this can lead to serious health problems.
When your teen is overweight, encourage healthy eating and exercise.
You may need to change your own sedentary habits and fast food
addiction as well, to set an example. Encourage reasonable dieting, but
discourage "fad" diets and set reasonable goals. At the other extreme,
eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia will appear sometimes
during the teen years. Don't dismiss it as a "phase." Trying to force
an anorexic teen to eat won't work. This is a serious disorder that
requires professional treatment.
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