“While it may seem that teenage boys don’t care as much about how they look or what their skin is like, acne can actually have a lot of the same psychological and social effects on boys as it does on girls,” says dermatologist, David Bank, M.D., director of The Center for Dermatology, Cosmetic and Laser Surgery, in Mount Kisco, New York. “Talking about your teen daughter’s acne is very main-stream and young girls have tons of magazines and beauty Web sites offering tips and options. There are less of these resources for boys and, ultimately, it is just harder for boys to ask for help.”

Dr. Bank offers tips to help parents talk with their sons about how to help treat and prevent acne breakouts:

• Clean Up the “Blame” Act: According to the Acne Report moms of teen boys are more than twice as likely as moms of teen girls to blame breakouts on poor hygiene. “This not only is incorrect, but will create a wall between you since he’s being ‘blamed’ for his acne,” adds Dr. Bank. “Acne comes from one main factor – hormones – which are ultimately out of their control, and, in fact, worse in boys than girls since it is the male sex hormones, or androgens, that play the biggest role in breakouts.”
• Tune In: “Basically, even if he seems annoyed with you, your son could use your help because he may not know where to start, and most of the skincare products are directed to women,” says Dr. Bank. “Deliver your advice tactfully and offer a solution by talking about products specially formulated for teen guys, like the OXY products which have fragrances and even packaging designed to appeal to males.”
• Be Realistic: Don’t attempt to get your son to start a complicated skincare regimen. One out of every four boys indicated they only wash their face when they are in the shower, according to the Acne Report, so Dr. Bank recommends buying your son products that fit his routine. The new OXY® Bar Soap or Body Wash can be used right in the shower. The effects also last beyond the shower, with the new bar soap fighting acne 300 percent longer than other leading acne washes, and both can be used on the body and face.
• Hands Off!: According to the OXY® Acne report, 20 percent of moms admitted that they actually “picked or popped their son’s pimples.” Popping a pimple doesn’t help. “When you squeeze a pimple, you can trigger more inflammation and increase the risk of scarring,” explains Dr. Bank.
• Expect a Change…Eventually: All acne medications are designed to prevent future outbreaks, not to automatically make a current one disappear. “I know adolescents expect immediate magic, but they need to have realistic expectations in order to keep them on the continued path of daily skincare to control their breakouts in an ongoing way,” says Dr. Bank. “If they keep switching products or give up too soon, it will be difficult to see the results they were hoping for.
• See a Dermatologist: If your son isn’t willing to listen to your suggestions for dealing with his acne breakouts, offer a visit to his pediatrician or a dermatologist. . “I have seen marked changes in confidence and personality after helping teen boys deal with acne by just talking about it,” explains Dr. Bank.

For more information about the complete line of  skincare products or for a chance to enter the “No Room for Acne” Sweepstakes, visit http://www.oxymom.com. Now through February 29, 2009, one lucky parent/guardian will be randomly chosen to win a complimentary house cleaning service to keep his or her teen son’s room spotless ($5,000 total value), plus a one year supply of OXY® skincare products.

Q) My daughter is 18 years old. She has swelling in her left cheek that is now moving into her eye. Her dermatologist says it’s cystic acne. We tried tetracycline and erythromycin, to no avail. What can we do? Your help would be appreciated

A) Let’s start with some basic facts about acne. First, despite popular belief, acne can occur to anyone at any age but is most common in teenagers. Because of this, it is thought that hormones may play a role. For some women, the week before menstruation, pregnancy or starting/stopping birth control may also cause outbreaks.

When pores that contain hair follicles become plugged by an overproduction of oil, a buildup of bacteria and/or irregular shedding of dead skin cells, acne can occur. It primarily affects the face, shoulders, back, neck and chest because these areas have the greatest number of functional oil glands.

There are five types of lesion associated with acne

• Papules are small, raised bumps that may be red and tender, and typically signal inflammation or infection of the opening of the hair follicle.
• Nodules are large, solid lumps beneath the surface of the skin and may be painful, indicating infection deep within the hair follicles.
• Pustules are red, tender, pus-filled lesions.
• Comedones occur when the hair follicle becomes plugged by oil and dead skin. When the pore is open, the plug becomes dark and is referred to as a blackhead. When the pore is closed, the lesion is referred to as a whitehead because it remains flesh-colored.
• Cysts are pus-filled lumps beneath the skin that are often painful. They are boil-like and are the most likely form to cause scarring. Because of this, cystic acne is the most severe form of acne and the hardest to treat.

In most cases, a physician doesn’t need to treat acne. If the lesions resist over-the-counter remedies, cover a large area, or are adversely affecting your social interactions or self-esteem, referral to a dermatologist may be beneficial.

There are several over-the-counter remedies. Most are topical lotions or ointments. These may contain salicylic or lactic acid, sulfur, resorcinol or benzoyl peroxide as the active ingredient. Their primary purpose is to dry oil and aid the removal of dry skin

Some prescription topicals work similarly to OTC products but are more potent, while others include topical retinoids and antibiotics.

• Antibiotics (oral and topical) are used to treat infection that may be present and are most commonly used by those with moderate to severe forms.
• Topical ointments are often used simultaneously. Oral contraceptives can be considered, especially if menstrual-cycle irregularities are also present.
• Chemical peels and microdermabrasion may be helpful. Laser and light therapies may be recommended for people who can’t tolerate acne medications.

When cystic forms do not respond well to other options, isotretinoin may be considered. It is highly effective but carries some potentially serious side effects, so users must be closely monitored. Women of reproductive age must participate in an FDA-approved monitoring program in order to receive the drug because of the high risk of birth defects should the woman become pregnant. These effects can last for several weeks after stopping treatment.

Home remedies and prevention include using a mild cleanser and warm water to wash the affected areas no more than twice a day. Scrubbing or using strong cleansers may worsen the condition. Avoid touching the areas, using oily or greasy cosmetics or sunscreens, and picking or squeezing the lesions. Remove all makeup before bed, keep applicators clean, and don’t use outdated products. If the back, chest and/or shoulders are affected, avoid wearing tightfitting clothing.

Write to Peter Gott, c/o United Media, 200 Madison Ave., Fourth Floor, New York, NY 10016.

Bird droppings!

If you thought the whole gloves-and-socks-in-bed thing was weird, wait till you hear Victoria Beckham’s latest beauty fix.

The former Spice Girl reportedly has bird poo facials.

Lovely!

Posh regularly treats herself to £100 Geisha Facials, which use a paste made from nightingale droppings, in a bid to combat acne she has suffered since her teens.

‘When Victoria was in Japan recently she was admiring the local women’s clear skin and discovered to these facials,’ reveals a pal to Closer magazine.

‘She was intrigued and when she got back to the US she found that some New York beauty salons now offer the treatment.  She tried it and loved how great her skin looked. She also uses a cream derived from nightingale poo at home.’

Read the full story in Closer magazine, on sale tomorrow

VANESSA Williams has admitted that she has let vanity get in the way of common sense.

The former beauty queen, who plays evil editor Wilhelmina Slater on Ugly Betty, revealed she once resorted to using urine on her face to get rid of acne.

“The weirdest thing I ever heard was to take your morning urine and put it on your acne,” she said at the March of Dimes beauty ball in New York, which she hosted.

Nowadays, Vanessa, who has been honest about her love affair with Botox, uses less dramatic procedures to reduce blemishes.