Easing the Strain of Acne, Young and Healthy, Children's Hospital Medical Center of Cincinnati Young and Healthy Archives, Winter 1997 Easing the Strain of Acne Medical solutions help bring every teenager's torment under control. During the most self-conscious years of their lives, it's extra torture for teenagers to face acne when they look in the mirror. When it's their own face they're looking at, there is a lot of anxiety. That's why it's important to be supportive and understanding with the children and their families, and to emphasize that most cases resolve through the adolescent years. A Common Problem Acne, which affects 85 percent of persons between the ages of 12 and 24, is an abnormality of the sebaceous glands, which secrete a fatty lubricant called sebum.
Blemishes often result from a clogging buildup of sebaceous materials and oils in the gland.
As children approach puberty, male hormones start to circulate, making many skin types more oily. Mild cases of acne cause the clogged pores known as whiteheads or blackheads. Cystic acne is the most severe form. Although there is no cure for acne, many hygienic techniques and medications can help control it. They need to give any treatment at least six weeks before they can expect to see improvement.