Major breakouts...too many zits to count.

If you feel you have a serious teenage acne condition, you should talk with your mom or another adult about seeing a dermatologist. A dermatologist is a skin doctor who will be able to work with you to find a solution for your teenage acne problem. Remember, what you think is a major breakout may be just a bad case of normal teenage acne. But a dermatologist knows best. Here is what dermatologists want you to know about teenage acne.

During your first visit, the dermatologist will evaluate you. This may mean looking at the severity of your condition and asking you questions about what you have been doing to cleanse and care for your skin, or finding out how long you've had teenage acne problems. Your dermatologist may also ask if you are pregnant, nursing, or trying to become pregnant. Be sure to tell your dermatologist if any of these apply. This information will help your dermatologist create an appropriate treatment plan just for you.

Once your dermatologist has made their assessment, they may offer you treatment to help with your teenage acne. At first, your doctor may prescribe topical treatments—treatments that are applied directly to your skin. They come in many forms, like gels, lotions, and creams. Common topical medications may include benzoyl peroxide, antibiotics, retinoids, or salicylic acid. At your follow-up visit, if the topical treatments haven't helped, a special treatment may be needed. The special treatment might include oral antibiotics (antibiotics you take by mouth), birth control pills, or corticosteroids. Only your doctor will know what is right for you.

In some cases, and only for people who suffer the most severe forms of teenage acne, your doctor may prescribe a product called isotretinoin. This drug should only be taken under the close supervision of a doctor and patients must register for a program called iPLEDGE before taking this drug. This is because it is really important you do not become pregnant while taking this drug. The risk of a severe birth defect is extremely high, even if you take this medication only for a short time while pregnant. The iPLEDGE program was developed to prevent birth defects. If your doctor prescribes this treatment for you, it is also important that you keep all of your follow-up appointments with your dermatologist, so that they can monitor you for physical and psychological effects that might occur while on the drug.

As you can see, there are options for dealing with serious teenage acne, so see a dermatologist if you can. It may make a big difference.