ASK THE DOC Teen girl’s desperate to find an acne cure
I’m a 16-year- old girl and really embarrassed by my acne. Nothing seems to work, what can I do? There are several self-help techniques, which may be useful.
These include, not washing the affected areas of skin more than twice a day.
Frequent washing can irritate the skin and make symptoms worse.
It’s best to wash the affected area with a mild soap or cleanser and lukewarm water.
Very hot or cold water can make acne worse.
Don’t try to “clean out”blackheads or squeeze spots.
This can make them worse and cause permanent scarring.
You should avoid using too much makeup and cosmetics and you should also remove make-up before going to bed.
If dry skin is a problem, use a fragrancefree, water-based emollient.
Regular exercise can’t improve your acne, but it can boost your mood and improve your self-esteem.
Shower as soon as possible once you finish exercising, as sweat can irritate your acne.
Wash your hair regularly and try to avoid letting your hair fall across your face. Although acne can’t be cured, it can be controlled with treatment.
Several creams, lotions and gels for treating spots are available at pharmacies. If you develop acne, it’s a good idea to speak to your pharmacist for advice.
Products containing a low concentration of benzoyl peroxide may be recommended.
However, be careful as this can bleach clothing.
If your acne is severe or appears on your chest and back, it may need to be treated with antibiotics or stronger creams that are only available on prescription. My baby seems to suffer from nappy rash quite a lot. Why is that? Up to a third of babies and toddlers in nappies have nappy rash at any one time. Nappy rash can be caused by your baby’s skin being in contact with wee or poo for a long time.
The nappy rubbing against your baby’s skin, not cleaning the nappy area or changing the nappy often enough, soap, detergent or bubble bath, alcohol-based baby wipes or if your baby recently taking antibiotics.
There may be red patches on your baby’s bottom, or the whole area may be red.
Their skin may look sore and feel hot to touch, and there may be spots, pimples or blisters.
Most babies with mild nappy rash don’t feel sore, but if the rash is severe, your baby may feel uncomfortable and be distressed.
If your baby gets nappy rash, you can usually treat their skin yourself.
If the rash isn’t upsetting your baby, at each nappy change apply a thin layer of a barrier cream to protect their skin.
Ask your pharmacist to recommend one.
More information is available from the NHS Inform website. Log onto www. nhsinform.scot