Acne Treatment Tips

Do you need to see a dermatologist?
In general no. Most Pediatricians are able to treat children with mild and moderate acne. If your child fails this treatment, has significant side effects and can't tolerate traditional treatments, or if he has severe cystic acne that may lead to scarring, then you may want to see a dermatologist. In addition to the treatments discussed above, a dermatologist can prescribe Accutane, a very effective medication for severe and persistant acne. Accutane has been associated with many serious side effects though, including birth defects, depression and suicide, so your child will need to be closely followed when using Accutane.

Important Reminders
Be patient. It can take 3-6 weeks to see improvement and your child's skin may get worse before it starts getting better.
Use your medicines every day. If your skin is getting too irritated, red or dry, then start using them every other day. It takes time for your skin to adapt to your new medicines.
Accutane can cause severe birth defects, and should never be taken by someone who may become pregnant. There is also a possible association with depression and suicide in teens using Accutane.
Don't overdo it! Scrubbing your skin or using too much of these medicines can irritate and dry out your skin and won't make your pimples go away any quicker.
Protect your skin from the sun. These medicines will make your skin more sensitive to the effects of the sun, leading to serious sunburns.
Call your physician if you haven't improved in 4-6 weeks with your current regimen