Acne: few parents help kids

Even though most parents realise acne affects their teenagers' self-esteem, few take their children to a doctor to have the condition treated.

So says a survey done for the American Counseling Association (ACA).

The online survey of 514 parents of children aged 13 to 19 found that only 35 percent of the parents had taken their teenager to a dermatologist for acne treatment.

Other findings

The survey also found that:

• 73 percent of the parents who had acne as a teenager said it made them feel self-conscious.
  
• 79 percent said they are active in helping their teenager treat acne.
  
• 73 percent agreed that having acne as a teen can significantly impact a person's self-esteem as he or she gets older.
  
• 70 percent said they would like to do more to help their teenager.
  

Impact on self-image
Acne is often a source of anxiety that can impact a teen's self-image and confidence at a critical time in their development, ACA president Dr Mark Pope says in a news release.

It can affect various aspects of their life such as relationships, schoolwork and even employment. As counsellors, we encourage parents to talk openly with their children about all aspects of growing up - especially an issue like acne that can be easily managed, Pope says.

Acne is the most commonly diagnosed skin disorder. More than 40 percent of adolescents have acne that's severe enough to require medical treatment by a doctor.