THURSDAY, Sept. 18, 2003 (HealthDayNews) --
Even though most parents realize 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.
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.
"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 counselors, 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.
The ACA has an ongoing campaign, "Healthy Skin, Healthy Outlook," which is meant to help parents and their teens communicate about acne. The campaign's official celebrity spokesperson is Christopher Knight, who played middle son Peter Brady on "The Brady Bunch."
The ACA campaign includes information on the cause and prevalence of acne, as well as treatment options.
Acne is the most commonly diagnosed skin disorder in the United States. More than 40 percent of adolescents have acne that's severe enough to require medical treatment by a doctor.
More information
Here's where you can learn more about acne.
