Acne: Pimples and zits

Sooner or later, almost all kids get something called acne. You might call them pimples or zits. People in TV commercials call them blemishes. Whatever you call acne, nobody wants it. But pimples are part of growing up. They usually appear when you are between the ages of 12 and 17, but they can appear earlier or later than this. You might be lucky and only get a few pimples. You might get more than a few. Or you might get big bumps that hurt and cover a lot of your face.

If you're like a lot of kids, you might be embarrassed by your pimples. Maybe you don't raise your hand in class even if you know the answer. Or you get shy around that cute kid at the next locker. Your pimples might make you sad, so you don't want to talk to anybody, even your good friends.

The good news is you can do something about your pimples. You might just need to change the way you wash your face. Gently washing twice a day can help. There are pimple treatments you can buy at the store. If your pimples don't go away or they really bug you, your mom or dad can take you to a skin doctor (dermatologist).

If your parents want to know about how to help you with your pimples, they can visit Acne for more information.

Next: Just what are pimples?