Lots of kids get acne. Skin care and medicines usually can help acne get better, but it can take a while before the skin improves.

Your child should:

• Use prescribed creams, gels, or pills exactly as directed.
• Understand the side effects of the medicines. These can include skin redness and irritation, and increased sun sensitivity.
• Gently wash the areas with acne once or twice a day using warm water and mild soap or a non-soap cleanser. This is especially important after exercise or sweating.
• Only use skin products (such as sunscreen, moisturizers, and makeup) that are labeled "oil free," "noncomedogenic," or "nonacnegenic."
• Shampoo hair daily, especially if it's oily.
• Keep hair and hair styling products like hairspray and gels away from the face.
• Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher whenever going outdoors.
• Not pick, squeeze, or pop pimples because this can make the acne worse and cause scarring.
• Not wear hats if they make pimples worse along the hairline.

• Your child's skin gets very red or irritated.
• The acne doesn't improve or gets worse.

What causes acne? Acne happens when pores (tiny holes in the skin) get clogged with oil, dead skin, and germs called bacteria. Dirty skin doesn't cause acne — kids who wash regularly can get breakouts too.

What can make acne worse? Using oily skin products, washing the skin too often or too harshly, and stress can make acne worse. Hormonal changes can cause acne in girls and boys. For girls, acne often gets worse a few days before their period starts. Usually, a person's diet won't lead to acne.

How is acne treated? Health care providers often recommend medicines to treat acne. Some are put on the skin and others are taken by mouth. Acne medicines can help:

• make the skin less oily
• get rid of dead skin cells
• limit bacteria growth