Acne Specialist

Smita Tandon, MD

Pediatrician located in Fountain Valley, CA

The teenage years are hard enough without the stigma of adolescent acne. Acne flare-ups can impact your teen’s self-esteem and self-confidence, as well as the health of their skin. At her pediatric practice in Fountain Valley, California, Smita Tandon, MD, and her compassionate team offer innovative treatment options to manage teen acne issues. If your teen is struggling with chronic acne issues, contact the office today for a consultation. You can book by phone or online.

714-410-1025

Acne Treatment

What is acne?

Acne is a common skin condition that affects teens. Acne happens when the hair follicles beneath the skin’s surface become clogged with excess oils and dead skin cells, causing an inflammation that forms noticeable bumps, like:

Blackheads, or open clogged pores
Whiteheads, or closed clogged pores
Pimples, or tender pus-filled bumps

In severe acne, scaly skin lesions can form on the surface of the skin. Any of these issues can result in physical discomfort and increase your teen’s risk for scarring.

What causes acne?

Clogged hair follicles that trigger acne breakouts may be the result of excess oil production in your teen’s body. Your teen may also develop frequent acne breakouts due to bacteria if they’re not cleaning their face properly.

Hormone changes can also trigger acne. For this reason, teens who use hormonal birth control are at increased risk for acne breakouts. Your daughter may also experience frequent acne issues in the days before her period starts.

Teens may also develop acne or notice their breakouts are worse after eating certain foods, including bread, skim milk, or chocolate.

For kids with existing acne, touching the face or picking at pimples can trigger additional acne flare-ups.

What treatments are available for acne?

During the initial evaluation, Dr. Tandon and her team assess your child’s overall skin health, their usual diet, and their skin cleansing habits. She can provide resources to ensure your teen is washing their skin properly and using high-quality products for cleaning and acne control.

If home care isn’t enough to address moderate to severe acne outbreaks, Dr. Tandon can prescribe medications to ease the severity of your teen’s acne. The goal of treatment is to reduce the frequency of acne and prevent long-term scarring or infection.

Dr. Tandon may recommend lifestyle and dietary changes to prevent future acne issues and the worsening of your teen’s current condition. It’s important that your teen avoid picking or squeezing pimples. They may also need to avoid exposure to the sun during acne flare-ups.

Your teen doesn’t have to live with the embarrassment of severe acne anymore. Call Dr. Tandon’s office today to schedule a consultation or use the convenient online booking system.