In the first days of life, a baby's skin may become covered with small pimples of different appearance, color and location. In order not to worry and wonder why you suddenly encountered this scourge, it is better to immediately familiarize yourself with the most common causes of its occurrence and, depending on what exactly the problem in your case entailed, decide on treatment. Not all pimples in children need it; many go away on their own.
What is teenage acne and why does it appear?
The main reason for this problem is hormones. Due to the characteristics of age, the amount of androgens in the blood (a hormone produced in the stronger sex) sharply increases. This has a direct impact on the functioning of the sebaceous glands, which begin to secrete their secretions in large quantities.
The amount of sebum not only increases, but its composition also changes greatly. It turns into a dense and very viscous mass. Before this, sebum, which is called the secretion of the sebaceous glands, easily left them and was washed off with plain water. Now it is increasingly accumulating inside, which causes acne.
How are they formed?
Viscous sebum can no longer pass through the narrow duct of the sebaceous gland, which means it accumulates inside. This would not be a problem if this product were not an excellent breeding ground for the proliferation of microbes and bacteria. Against the backdrop of all these events, the first pimples appear - comedones.
A particularly large number of teenage acne in boys appears on the face . At the same time, in order to somehow solve the problem, teenagers often begin to simply squeeze them out, but this contributes to the situation becoming much worse, the acne does not decrease, and the disease moves to a more serious stage, and scars begin to form after acne.
Getting rid of such scars will not be so easy, which means that acne treatment should begin as early as possible. Most often, teenage acne appears on the chin and resembles small mounds.
However, their appearance indicates not only hormonal changes, but also a variety of diseases of the stomach or intestines, as well as problems with the immune system. In order to find out exactly the cause of their appearance, you should consult a doctor.
Acne on the face of an infant
In infants, due to the tenderness of their skin, acne can be observed quite often. Blackheads and pimples appear in one-month-old babies due to clogged pores and are usually located on the cheeks, nose and chin. Babies also have white spots. These two types of rashes should go away on their own after some time; there are no effective ways to combat them yet. Small reddish pimples on a child’s back and neck are also self-limiting. They appear as a result of the formation of the hormonal background of babies.
But a rash can also appear due to allergic reactions of a small child to something. Usually the main irritants are considered to be pets, poor nutrition of a nursing mother and flowering plants.
Another cause of rash in children under 7 months is dysbacteriosis, the main signs of which are considered to be a violation of the child’s stool, colic in the abdomen, and restless behavior of the baby.
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Teenage acne on boys face. Additional treatments
In the most severe cases, a cosmetic procedure may be recommended to remove purulent rashes and inflamed pimples (comedones). The procedure must take place in a specialized institution and may include the following steps:
- Manual removal. Today, this procedure is practically not used, since it has not proven its effectiveness.
- Mechanical cleaning, in which comedones are removed using special sterile instruments.
- Application of vacuum. Using a special device, dirt and accumulated sebum are pulled out of the skin pores.
- Ultrasonic cleaning. One of the most effective procedures that does not cause pain and is the best.
- Laser cleaning. The device is adjusted in a certain way, and the procedure is carried out only in the upper layers of the skin, the possibility of burns is completely excluded.
After such treatment, peelings, masks and special creams should be used, which will be recommended by the cosmetologist.
How to Treat Acne in Babies?
In young children, acne does not require treatment. This is a state of self-restraint that resolves on its own. This may only be required in a few rare cases. When developing a treatment plan, it is necessary to determine the cause of acne. The doctor will determine the root cause and suggest appropriate treatment. The following is a commonly suggested treatment plan for acne in young children (3) .
- Topical application of benzoyl peroxide may be recommended.
- Using topical antibiotic ointments such as erythromycin may help treat acne.
- If topical application does not help, the doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics such as erythromycin, trimethoprim, etc.
The doctor will plan acne treatment only based on the underlying pathology. If hormonal problems are suspected, the endocrinologist will plan treatment accordingly.
Treatment with traditional methods
Traditional medicine can also help get rid of acne in adolescence. However, it should be remembered that before using this or that product, you need to consult a specialist.
- Tincture of calendula . To prepare the tincture, you need to pour boiling water over a large spoon of these flowers, close the container with a lid for 15 minutes, and then strain. The product can be used to wash or wipe acne areas.
- Furacilin, chamomile and calendula . Pour boiling water over one large spoon of each herb and keep in a container with a lid for 15 minutes. Strain. Crush three tablets of furatsilin and add a little decoction to the resulting powder, so that you get a thick mass. Apply to acne at night. In the morning, rinse with warm water and wipe your face with the remaining solution.
It is not possible to get rid of teenage acne in boys in one day, despite the fact that this is exactly what advertised drugs promise. The treatment process will be long and may take several months, but the result is worth it.
Author - Anna Mikhailova, dermatologist-cosmetologist of the first category, specialist at the Academy of Scientific Beauty. Especially for the site “Treating Acne”.
Prevention
In order for parents to be less likely to encounter acne problems in their children, they need to know a few general rules of prevention. The baby needs to have air baths, and do this as often as possible (at least three times a day). You need to take care of his hygiene and change his diapers more often.
In addition, you need to pay attention to the child’s nutrition. If a child is fed formula milk, then it should be selected exclusively with a doctor in order to avoid an allergy to any component of the formula. In the case when the baby eats only mother’s milk, she needs to monitor the nutrition and quality of the products she consumes.
You should also buy hypoallergenic detergents for washing dishes and washing clothes, and quality toys. You also need to keep the house clean and free of large amounts of dust. It is better to keep the temperature in the house at 18–22 degrees.
You need to dress your child in clothes made of high-quality and natural materials in order to avoid skin irritation. Before going outside in too warm or too cold weather, you should smear exposed areas of the child’s body with a special protective cream.
Why do they appear?
The occurrence of purulent acne can be influenced by a variety of factors.
They represent a strong inflammatory process, accompanied by the formation of pus in the hair follicle. This is preceded by bacterial infection of the sebaceous gland secretion.
Rashes on the body (the photo shows the variety of types of such rashes) can have very different causes.
The most common are as follows.
- Hormonal imbalance. First of all, the activity of the sebaceous glands is caused by male sex hormones. Hormonal changes can be observed in adolescence, during pregnancy, in different phases of the menstrual cycle, due to taking hormonal medications.
- Hyperkeratosis. This is a condition accompanied by thickening and compaction of the upper layer of the epidermis.
- Insufficient skin cleansing. Washing with water is not always enough to completely cleanse the skin, so remaining dirt quickly becomes a breeding ground for bacteria.
- Improper skin care.
- Abuse of decorative cosmetics or use of comedogenic skin care products.
- Frequent situations of nervous tension.
- Diseases of various origins . Among them are those that are sexually transmitted. Adults do not always manage to avoid “childhood” infections if immunity to them has not been formed in due time. With psoriasis, red pimples may also appear, which quickly merge into dense plaques.
Children may have their own reasons leading to the formation of purulent acne:
- teething, accompanied by active salivation;
- prickly heat, which occurs due to overheating of the body;
- unfavorable environmental factors;
- intestinal dysbiosis;
- infectious lesions - staphylococcal infection, streptoderma.
Let's take a closer look at some factors.
Irritation
Skin irritation can be caused by rubbing with clothing or exposure to external factors (weather, household chemicals).
As a result, the top layer of skin is damaged, reddened, inflamed areas and small rashes appear on it.
Damaged epidermis cannot serve as a good defense against the penetration of bacteria. And as they develop, new pimples with purulent contents appear.
Photo: perioral dermatitis
In babies, irritation can easily occur around the mouth due to increased salivation.
Saliva itself is an irritating factor for the epidermis, so the formation of acne with subsequent infection is not uncommon.
Allergic reactions are a common cause of skin rashes.
Photo: manifestations of diathesis
- They can appear on almost any area: not only on the face, but also in skin folds and on the butt.
- Often small pimples merge into larger formations and begin to get wet.
- The situation is worsened by severe itching, which is sometimes accompanied by scratching the affected areas.
All this contributes to skin infection.
Viral diseases
Chickenpox, measles, meningitis, rubella and some other viral infections may be accompanied by skin rashes.
Usually in this case there are other symptoms of the presence of the virus in the body: fever, weakness, headache.
In such cases, consultation with a doctor is required.
Insect bites
Photo: rashes after insect bites
- Insect bites on the skin look similar to pimples.
- They are red, compacted, with a raised middle.
- But such formations do not have purulent contents.
- Another thing is that bites often cause severe itching. By scratching them, you can easily damage the epidermis and introduce an infection there. In this case, a purulent formation may appear at the site of the bite.
- Pimples from bites are located singly, without merging into groups. They may appear in places not specific to the rash (for example, on the knee) or be scattered throughout the body.
Folk remedies
Traditional medicine recipes have proven themselves to be effective in treating teenage rashes. With the right choice of natural ingredients, such products will become a reliable ally in the fight against hated acne.
Chamomile for washing
Chamomile infusion can be a worthy replacement for modern cleansers. It is made from a tablespoon of the plant in a glass of boiling water. You can also wipe inflamed pimples with this infusion.
Aloe juice
Squeeze fresh juice from the aloe plant from its leaf and lubricate the pimples at least three times during the day. For the procedure, use only fresh juice.
Calendula and honey
Combine one tablespoon of medicinal calendula with a glass of boiling water. When the infusion has cooled a little, add a teaspoon of natural honey. Apply to the skin as compresses for half an hour.
St. John's wort decoction
A decoction of St. John's wort will help remove youthful acne. You will need a tablespoon of herbs and a glass of water. Boil the mixture over low heat for 10 minutes. Strain and apply to problem areas.
Egg white mask
Beat one fresh egg white. Apply to affected areas of the skin for 20 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Before using the mask, you need to cleanse your face of impurities.
Birch sap
Birch sap is suitable as a cleanser. The healing agent can be used every day to prevent and treat acne in adolescents.
Causes of pustules in newborns
A baby's skin is extremely thin and sensitive, lacking the dense layer of subcutaneous tissue that adults have. That is why skin rash is often a reaction of the child’s body to certain external factors. The main reasons for the appearance of pustules on the skin of a child:
- Decreased immunity in the baby.
- Diseases of the mother suffered during the period of bearing the child - dental caries, tonsillitis, cholecystitis, acute respiratory infections.
- The appearance of pustules on a child's body can be facilitated by intense temperature fluctuations - overheating or hypothermia, various microtraumas and diaper rash on children's skin.
- Pustules in newborns are often the result of insufficient hygiene of the baby's skin.
- Eczema and prickly heat are common causes of pustular rash in an infant.
Which doctors should you contact?
The main doctor in the treatment of acne for any teenager is a dermatologist, whose help cannot be avoided. He will conduct a thorough examination and refer you to another specialist if necessary. A dermatologist will be able to make an accurate diagnosis not only after examining the patient, but also after receiving information about habits, nutrition, chronic diseases and passing all the necessary tests.
Only a specialist will be able to determine the true causes of rashes in boys and prescribe competent treatment. Sometimes you may need to visit a gastroenterologist, because acne often causes problems with the functioning of the stomach and intestines.
If small rashes have turned into a serious problem, it cannot be solved with one visit to a cosmetologist, so a visit to a dermatologist for teenagers is a mandatory procedure for both treatment and preventive purposes.
