The problem with pimples
> Here are some ways parents can help their children deal with teenage acne
Ask around for proven products which are used by your circle of friends.
Not everything you try might be suitable.If you don’t want to end up with a lot of products which are ineffective, try to get a small amount from friends for testing.
They might have an almostfinished tube of their miracle product which they could donate to your teenager for experimenting.
You could also ask strangers on Facebook groups. You would get some people recommending products they are selling, but there are also many helpful people out there who will offer suggestions.
Buy them a good cleanser and remind them to wash their face twice a day.
Remind them not to overwash and scrub the skin too hard as it can result in overstimulation of the sebaceous glands and exacerbate the acne.
You might have to experiment with a few brands before you find a suitable one for their skin, so buy it in the smallest packaging you can find.
Remind your teenagers to eat well and drink sufficient water. Drum into their head the acronym, GIGO – garbage in, garbage out. Junk food, processed food, greasy and fried stuff taste great but they might be reincarnated as zits on their face. It’s best to limit the intake of these food. Water is important to keep the skin hydrated and to flush toxins out of the body.
Keep your hands off their face, and remind them not to touch their face unnecessarily too.
The more they touch it, the higher the likelihood of their face being contaminated with germs and what not.
Your teenagers should try to reduce their levels of stress. Stress is great for the growth of acne
Don’t play video games too late into the night, don’t cram for exams at the 11th hour, don’t do anything that causes mega stress (homework and chores are exempted from this category).
If the outbreak of acne is bad, do bring them to a doctor or a skin specialist. You can research online. Forums are great for discovering where the good ones are, and which ones to avoid. Finally, remind yourself and your teenagers to be patient. No matter how bad the situation is, there is clear skin to be discovered under that layer of acne. Yes, there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Lydia Teh is a mother of four and author of 10 books, including the latest, How I Wrote Ten Books. Send comments to lifestyle.lydia@ thesundaily. com.