Increase of Acne Among Children Between 7 and 12 Years

A new study notes that there has been a rise in preadolescent acne that affects children aged between 7 and 12.

The reason for preadolescent children suffering from acne at a younger age is because of earlier onset of puberty, according to doctors.

Researchers say that children are experiencing adrenarche (When the adrenal glands get active) and menarche (first period) at younger ages than before.

According to the Treatment Guidelines from the American Acne and Rosacea Society published in the May issue of Pediatrics, the authors have noted a noticeable "downward shift in the age at which acne first appears."

"Acne is a common problem, and the presentations and differential diagnosis differ among the various ages of childhood and adolescence. We had a strong desire to increase recognition and improve management of pediatric and adolescent acne across the spectrum of primary and specialty care," explained Dr Lawrence F Eichenfield, co-chair of the guideline-writing panel comprised of general pediatricians, pediatric dermatologists, and acne experts.

According to the experts, the increase in the acne cases is because parents are more bothered by it and are looking for treatments very actively. Also doctors prescribe powerful acne medications, which have been rarely tested for use on children, reports the New York times.

 According to a previous study on acne treatment by children 6 to 18, done in 2007, the average age of treatment sought by adolescents has come down from 15.8 in 1979 to 15 in 2007. Also visits of children in the age group of 6 to 8 for acne treatment rose to 1.5 percent from nought during the same time period.

Pediatricians believe that the numbers have gone up because earlier the matter was not addressed so seriously by both parents and doctors who believed children will naturally outgrow it, but now people seek treatment more aggressively .

Dr Lisa M. Asta, a pediatrician in Walnut Creek, Calif., said that what matters most is that who is really bothered by the acne. "My rule of thumb with preadolescents and younger adolescents is if the acne isn't going to scar and isn't bothering the child, routine skin care is adequate," she told The New York Times.