How to boost your teen’s self-confidence when suffering from acne

How to Boost Your Teen's Self-Confidence When Suffering From Acne

Teenage acne is most often than not a hormonal acne problem. Unfortunately, it can also go far beyond being just a mere skin concern. Several studies have been conducted that link low self-esteem among teenagers directly to acne. Having this condition often makes teens overly critical and conscious about the way they look, hence being reluctant to put themselves out there to socialize and even excel academically. Acne can make teens go into obsessive thinking patterns and can lead to isolation, depression, and sometimes much worse. As a parent your goal becomes two-fold, finding the most effective hormonal acne treatment for your teenager while offering them enough emotional support to build up their self-confidence once again.

Here are a few things you can do for your teen to boost his self-confidence against his/her battle with acne and similar skin concerns:

1 – Take Hormonal Acne Seriously

7 out of 10 parents do not take teenage acne seriously, according to a recent survey. This can further frustrate teens. Hearing things like, ‘it’s only hormonal’ ‘it’ll go away with time’ just will not go very far in soothing them. If your teenager is having acne, acknowledge it and offer your support to fix it. Start with some over-the-counter acne medications. Search ingredients that are effective to fight acne such as salicylic acid. If the acne is getting painful, exists mainly under the surface of the skin, or is what you would term moderate to severe, consult your doctor. You may require a referral to a specialist before the condition starts to leave scars and permanently damages the skin.

2 – Diet & Exercise

When you eat well, you feel good. Maintaining an overall healthy lifestyle can act as an excellent confidence booster for your teen in addition to acne creams and other acne medication you are offering them. Make sure they are not suffering from any other body image issues. Take them on a run with you. Instill body positivity in their minds. Adopting a low glycemic diet and adhering to a “no whites at night” eating pattern can make a dramatic difference. But give it time to work, at least 6-8 weeks of low glycemic eating before coming to any conclusions.

3 – Remind, Don’t Nag

Getting your teen to use their acne medication regularly might not be a piece of cake. You have to be persistent but patient. Be careful as not to adopt a nagging tone when reminding your teen about acne medicines. Adopt a suggestive tone. Apply pressure by telling them to adopt a routine before bed, or wash your face when they do as well.

4 – Watch out for Signs of Depression

Remember the days when a pimple would pop up on your face and you would feel like Krakatoa just erupted in the middle of your forehead? When asking your friends they would say “oh yeah, don’t worry it’s just a zit”. Remember that we are our worst enemies sometimes when it comes to criticism.  Teens are children, still very influenceable and very malleable Talk to your teen. Look out for signs of depression. Make sure your teen feels loved and cared for often. Give them a pep talk about body positivity and self-image if you deem fit. Watch carefully for signs of giving up activities they once adored and refusing to engage in social engagements. Some might just chalk these things up to being a normal teen.

5 – Maintain an Acne Skincare Routine that Works

Most importantly, work on curing the hormonal acne of your teen. There is a lot of misinformation out there on the internet and wacky claims of “natural cures”. Stick with what the researchers have found that works and save your teen from disappointment. Frequent failures may make them feel like they are abnormal. Coconut oil, lemon juice, and avocado masks will not treat anaerobic acne bacteria, so save those for dinner. Cutting out milk, red meat, white pasta, white rice, bananas, and most cheeses have been researched a lot as of late and may be the right assist alongside a good topical treatment plan.

Got comments or questions? We would love to hear from you.

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