Managing teen acne can be a challenge. Everyone’s acne is different—so the best strategies for one person may be different for another.
The first step in managing teen acne is learning what does and doesn’t actually cause breakouts and what acne treatments are available. The next step may involve some trial and error to figure out what works best.
Read on to learn about what may be causing your teen’s acne and what isn’t (though they may have heard otherwise). Review the variety of over-the-counter and prescription acne treatments, how best to care for skin, and ways to help them cope with this phase of life.
Verywell / Alexandra Gordon
How to Clear Up Pimples Fast
Know What Doesn’t Cause Acne
It can be tough when a teen isbreaking outand their friends have clear skin. It’s important that you tell them acne is not their fault.
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Make Daily Skincare a Habit
A basic face soap orcleanseris all your teen needs, along with a moisturizer if their skin is feeling dry.Encourage your teen to wash their face routinely in the morning, at night, and after exercising, heavy sweating, or getting dirty. It only takes a few minutes a day and doesn’t require a lot of fancy products.
Consistency is also key to successful acne control. Tell your teen that you know they’re busy and there might be times when they just flat-out forget to do their skincare routine. However, make sure your teen understands that if they’re not cleansing regularly, their skin will not clear up.
While a teen is capable of taking on the responsibility of their own skincare, anyone starting a new habit can benefit from some help. For example, you might:
Review the directions on the product packaging with them, even if using it seems obvious. Make sure your teen understands and follows all the instructions your provider gave, and let your provider know if you or your teen has any questions.
Once your teen gets into the habit of using acne treatments, they’ll find that it doesn’t take much time and the payoff is well worth the commitment.
Picking a Moisturizer for Your Skin
Start With OTC Acne Treatments
If your teen’sacne is mild, or if they’ve just started to break out, they might be able to clear their skin with over-the-counter (OTC) acne medications.
However, not all acne products are created equal. The most effective ones will contain one or more of the following active ingredients on the label:
How to Choose the Best OTC Acne Treatment
If you’re helping your teen pick a product, don’t worry too much about the brand name or what form of treatment it is (e.g., a medicated cleanser, pad, or lotion). Choose a product that fits your budget and is easy for them to work into their daily routine.
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Know When a Prescription May Be Needed
If they’ve tried a variety of OTC acne products and your teen is still breaking out, they might need a prescription. Your family’s healthcare provider can recommend prescription options that may help get your teen’s acne under control.
Your teen doesn’t necessarily have tosee a dermatologistfor acne. It’s likely that your family healthcare provider has helped many teenagers manage breakouts. They can refer you to a dermatologist if they think it’s necessary.
An advantage of prescription medications is that they are stronger, come in combinations, and usually work faster than OTC products. Often, they work when OTC products haven’t.
If your teen’s acne is severe, inflamed, or leaving scars, skip the OTC products and inquire about prescription medications right off the bat.
Specific prescription acne medications include:
In 2023, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Cabtreo (clindamycin phosphate, adapalene, and benzoyl peroxide), the first-ever triple-combination topical gel for treating acne in people ages 12 and older.
When Is Prescription Acne Treatment Needed?
Remind Them Not to Pop Pimples
Picking and popping pimples can trigger acne, lead to infections, and cause scarring and dark spots (hyperpigmentation).
Treat Body Acne Too
Thefaceisn’t the only place where acne can pop up. It also commonly appears in the following areas:
Encourage your teen to shower regularly and especially after sweaty practices, games, and other workouts. Sweat can trigger oil production and clog pores, which leads to acne on the face or other parts of the body.
Many of the same medications used on your teen’s face can also be used for other body parts. Benzoyl peroxide soaps and body washes are often used to treat body breakouts.
Your teen’s provider might also prescribe other medications, like oral antibiotics or even isotretinoin. This will depend on how serious your teen’s acne breakouts are.
How to Get Rid of Back Acne
Choose Non-Comedogenic Cosmetics
Some cosmetics can cause pores to clog and make acne worse.Non-comedogeniccosmetics are products that contain ingredients that won’t clog or block the pores, or don’t createcomedones(a type of acne blemish), on the skin.
Look for products that specify oil-free or non-comedogenic on the label.Keep in mind that just because a product is labeled non-comedogenic does not mean it won’t clog pores—it’s just less likely to do so. Your teen might have to try different non-comedogenic products to find the right ones for them.
Protect the Skin From Sun
Sun exposure can make acne worse, and some medications make skin sensitive to the sun’s rays. If your teen is planning to be in the sun, have them apply a non-oily sunscreen and when possible wear protective clothing, such as a hat, sunglasses, and long sleeves.
How to Create a Skin Care Routine
Avoid Unproven Acne Remedies
Just like there are many myths about what causes acne, there are also a lot of misconceptions about what can be used to treat it.
The internet is full of unproven home remedies said to banish pimples, including:
If your teen comes to you wanting to try these remedies, gently explain that they don’t work but that there is plenty of evidence that tried-and-true acne treatments do.
Can Acne Be Cured?
Give Shaving Advice
Make sure your teen knows to shave carefully around an area with pimples. The more the skin is irritated, the redder and more inflamed it’s going to look.
Here are a few tips to give your teen if they shave:
How to Shave If You Have Pimples
Offer Support
Your teen may not want to admit it, but acne can take a toll on their self-esteem. It can make them feel less confident, insecure, angry, and depressed.These are normal feelings to have, but it’s important to talk about them.
Starting treatment and seeing some positive results can really help your teen feel better. It also helps to support your teen in focusing on things other than their skin. It’s also important your teen has realistic expectations about treatment.
There are many acne treatment products that can clear your teen’s skin. However, despite advertising claims, even the most effective products won’t work magic overnight. They won’t cure acne, either.
It will likely take at least six to eight weeksof treatment before your teen starts to notice a change in their skin. A full response to treatment may take 12 weeks.
While you’re waiting for results, help your teen stay distracted with sports, music, art, or any other interests they have.
There will likely be times when your teen just can’t seem tonotthink about acne. If they seem preoccupied and distressed, make sure they know they can come to you for support.
It’s also important to make sure your teen knows that if they’d rather not talk to you about how they’re feeling, they should still reach out to someone else they trust—like a favorite teacher or coach.
If your teen is patient, they will almost certainly see improvement from using acne treatments. It just won’t be as quick as some acne treatment products claim.
Does Stress Cause Acne?
Summary
There are a lot of myths out there about the causes and treatment of acne. Here’s the truth: If your teen is prone to acne, there are ways to treat it. By working with your family’s healthcare provider or dermatologist, you can find over-the-counter (OTC) or prescription treatments that will work.
Make sure your teen avoids questionable home remedies for clearing up acne, though they might be popular online or with their peers. Help them establish a simple skincare routine. No matter what treatment your teen is using, make sure they stick with it long enough for it to work.
Even once their skin is clear, your teen still needs to keep up with their routine. Acne medications don’t stop acne for good; rather, they just keep it under control. If your teen stops using the medication, acne will probably come back.
If your teen is consistently feeling frustrated and even depressed about their skin, make sure they know they can talk to you about how they’re feeling. If they’d rather not talk to you, help them connect with another trusted adult like a coach or school counselor.
10 Things Teens Should Know About Acne
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Magin P.A systematic review of the evidence for ‘myths and misconceptions’ in acne management: diet, face-washing and sunlight.Family Practice. 2004;22(1):62-70. doi:10.1093/fampra/cmh715Mukhopadhyay P.Cleansers and their role in various dermatological disorders.Indian J Dermatol. 2011;56(1):2-6. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.77542Decker A, Graber EM.Over-the-counter acne treatments: a review.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2012;5(5):32-40.American Academy of Dermatology Association.What can clear severe acne?.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Back acne: how to see clearer skin.American Academy of Dermatology Association.I have acne! Is it okay to wear makeup?Totri CR, Matiz C, Krakowski AC.Kids these days: urine as a home remedy for acne vulgaris?.The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. 2015;8(10):47-8.Hazarika N, Archana M.The psychosocial impact of acne vulgaris.Indian J Dermatol. 2016;61(5):515-520. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.190102Kraft J, Freiman A.Management of acne.Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2011;183(7):E430-E435. doi:10.1503/cmaj.090374
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Magin P.A systematic review of the evidence for ‘myths and misconceptions’ in acne management: diet, face-washing and sunlight.Family Practice. 2004;22(1):62-70. doi:10.1093/fampra/cmh715Mukhopadhyay P.Cleansers and their role in various dermatological disorders.Indian J Dermatol. 2011;56(1):2-6. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.77542Decker A, Graber EM.Over-the-counter acne treatments: a review.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2012;5(5):32-40.American Academy of Dermatology Association.What can clear severe acne?.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Back acne: how to see clearer skin.American Academy of Dermatology Association.I have acne! Is it okay to wear makeup?Totri CR, Matiz C, Krakowski AC.Kids these days: urine as a home remedy for acne vulgaris?.The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. 2015;8(10):47-8.Hazarika N, Archana M.The psychosocial impact of acne vulgaris.Indian J Dermatol. 2016;61(5):515-520. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.190102Kraft J, Freiman A.Management of acne.Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2011;183(7):E430-E435. doi:10.1503/cmaj.090374
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Magin P.A systematic review of the evidence for ‘myths and misconceptions’ in acne management: diet, face-washing and sunlight.Family Practice. 2004;22(1):62-70. doi:10.1093/fampra/cmh715Mukhopadhyay P.Cleansers and their role in various dermatological disorders.Indian J Dermatol. 2011;56(1):2-6. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.77542Decker A, Graber EM.Over-the-counter acne treatments: a review.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2012;5(5):32-40.American Academy of Dermatology Association.What can clear severe acne?.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Back acne: how to see clearer skin.American Academy of Dermatology Association.I have acne! Is it okay to wear makeup?Totri CR, Matiz C, Krakowski AC.Kids these days: urine as a home remedy for acne vulgaris?.The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. 2015;8(10):47-8.Hazarika N, Archana M.The psychosocial impact of acne vulgaris.Indian J Dermatol. 2016;61(5):515-520. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.190102Kraft J, Freiman A.Management of acne.Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2011;183(7):E430-E435. doi:10.1503/cmaj.090374
Magin P.A systematic review of the evidence for ‘myths and misconceptions’ in acne management: diet, face-washing and sunlight.Family Practice. 2004;22(1):62-70. doi:10.1093/fampra/cmh715
Mukhopadhyay P.Cleansers and their role in various dermatological disorders.Indian J Dermatol. 2011;56(1):2-6. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.77542
Decker A, Graber EM.Over-the-counter acne treatments: a review.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2012;5(5):32-40.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.What can clear severe acne?.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Back acne: how to see clearer skin.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.I have acne! Is it okay to wear makeup?
Totri CR, Matiz C, Krakowski AC.Kids these days: urine as a home remedy for acne vulgaris?.The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology. 2015;8(10):47-8.
Hazarika N, Archana M.The psychosocial impact of acne vulgaris.Indian J Dermatol. 2016;61(5):515-520. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.190102
Kraft J, Freiman A.Management of acne.Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2011;183(7):E430-E435. doi:10.1503/cmaj.090374
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