When should you take your child to the dermatologist? Dr. Schlessinger says the earlier, the better.
Summer is winding down and school is right around the corner. While many students are worried about what to wear for their first day, others are worried about their acne prone skin. Acne can leave adolescents feelings embarrassed, insecure and socially isolated. While no parent wants his or her children to feel this way, many grapple with the same basic question – when should I take my child to see a dermatologist?
Acne is characterized by pimples, lumps and clogged pores that develop on the face, neck, chest, back and shoulders. Nearly 85 percent of all people develop acne prone skin at some point in his or her life, often occurring during the teenage years.
If left untreated, acne can become painful, causing unsightly lesions and scars. However, once scarring has occurred, it could be too late to make a significant improvement in skin tone and texture.
“One of the most heartbreaking situations I encounter is when a parent brings in their child after acne has caused severe scarring and wants to do anything to make the scarring improve,” said Dr. Joel Schlessinger. “Unfortunately, once scarring occurs, there is very little that can be done to improve it.”
Dr. Joel Schlessinger recommends taking your child to a dermatologist as soon as you notice mild to moderate acne.
“While many parents assume acne treatments or a dermatologist visit is expensive, it is usually not the case. We have treatments that are very cost conscious and most of the time, they are actually less expensive than many of the infomercial alternatives,” Dr. Joel Schlessinger said.
As soon as you notice acne, make an appointment with your dermatologist. You can recognize acne prone skin by these common signs on the face, neck, chest, back and arms:
- Blackheads or whiteheads
- Tender red spots
- Pus-filled lesions
- Large, painful lumps
“Due to severe emotional issues associated with teenage acne, it is always best to have treatments when it is early enough to save children from embarrassing or socially isolating situations,” said Dr. Joel Schlessinger.
While you’re out shopping for notebooks and pens, be sure to add a call or visit to your local dermatologist to your back to school to-do list.