“Have you been washing your face?”

It seems like a harmless question.

You notice your child's skin is breaking out, you know they're frustrated, and your first instinct is to help. Maybe you start looking for acne products. Maybe you suggest washing their face more often. Maybe you even start researching dermatologists.

You're trying to help.

But here's the tricky part: the way we talk about acne can sometimes make our kids feel worse about it.

For a teenager, acne isn't just a few spots on their face. It can feel like the first thing everyone notices about them. They may worry about pictures, school, dating, sports, parties, or simply looking in the mirror.

And while acne is a very normal part of puberty, that doesn't mean it feels normal to the teenager experiencing it.

So how can parents help without making their child feel like their skin is a problem that needs to be fixed?

First, Remember: Acne Isn't a Hygiene Problem

One of the easiest mistakes parents can make is as...