Is your Doctor Treating Acne when He Should Be Treating Steroid Abuse?

Anabolic steroids may be all the rage-literally. Uncontrollable anger and rage are just two of the side effects of the use and abuse of anabolic steroid use.

Steroids act in a similar way to testosterone and these days are also used to treat those who have problems gaining and retaining weight and muscle mass such as people with AIDS or other muscle disorders.

Sadly, these drugs are also popular amongst some professional athletes, Hollywood stars and other celebrities and since teens are intelligent but impressionable if they see a popular figure taking them and looking good they may be tempted to try them.

The unfortunate thing about steroids is that they have many positive effects, at least initially. They increase muscle mass and strength, endurance and stamina. These effects may be very addictive to the teen with low self-esteem.

With prolonged use, however, steroids cause many serious physical side effects as well as mental changes like suicidal behavior, severe depression, and rage-commonly known as “roid rage”.

Many of the effects are irreversible and this is why it’s so important that you talk to your teen about the dangers of steroid use. But which teens are at risk? Any teen that participates in sports like weight training and any sport where muscle mass, strength, speed and stamina are important at a school, club or professional level may be vulnerable. Teens that have poor self-image are particularly vulnerable as are those who are unrealistically competitive.

In young people suicide is already a significant risk-it’s the third leading cause of death among people aged 15-24. Steroid use will aggravate already existing mental disorders like depression and bipolar disorder as well as teenage acne-which already a significant risk factor for suicide during adolescence.

“It can be difficult to detect when adolescents or young athletes are using steroids, so parents and coaches need to know what to look for,” says Professor Brower, associate professor of psychiatry at University of Michigan Health System.

“One of the reasons it can be difficult is because some of the things that you see, such as mood swings, teenage acne and weight gain, are things that you would expect to see in adolescents.”

This makes it doubly important that parents of teens with acne, depression, bipolar disorder and suicidal behavior are very vigilant and ensure that their doctors are not treating acne or mental health problems when the real problem is steroid addiction and abuse.

While treatment for adult acne might be straightforward, with teens we always need to suspect other causes and eliminate these. The best treatment for adult acne will not help teens using steroids.

Parents should make sure to monitor their teens dietary habits, noting any severe or rigid dietary regimes coupled with intense training. An athlete may become obsessive about workout and food regimes.

If they are prevented or inhibited in these aims they may get increasingly irritable and angry. They may stop eating or sleeping or talk about suicide. Their peer group may include drug abusers.

The physical signs of steroid abuse are also very important. Some physical signs of steroid abuse include male pattern baldness, increased facial hair and deeper voice in girls, severe facial and back acne and oily skin.

There may also be injection sites on the body, particularly on the thighs, buttocks and shoulder. In boys the testicles may start to shrink and female organs may start to appear more masculine than feminine.

Often a teen may not tie these physical or mental health problems to his/her steroid use. They may for example seek facial and back acne treatment for severe acne or treatment for facial hair, and fail to seek treatment for their steroid abuse problem.

In fact, they probably don’t think they even have a problem! As we mentioned previously the drugs improve their performance and this might override their health concerns and/or perspective.

Professor Bower notes: “We like our sports heroes because they’re celebrities, they’re famous, they look well, they perform well,” Brower says. “And when that becomes associated with anabolic steroids, it adds to the positive image of steroids”.

The media has been vociferous about how common steroid use is amongst famous baseball players and this does not help a teen who may idolize the player and want to be just like him.

It may be hard for a teen to tie the image of a wealthy, healthy and famous player to serious effects of drugs. Sadly this is even further complicated by the fact that steroids are easy for teens to obtain!

If you think your teen may be using steroids or considering using them here are some facts you might want to share with him/her and his peer group:

Anabolic steroids can be addictive and may cause depression and rage. Physical effects might include: muscle and tendon tears, face and back acne, liver toxicity and damage, mood problems and anger/rage, shrinking testicles, impotence, decreased sperm count, larger breasts in men, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, male-pattern baldness in both sexes, jaundice and facial hair growth in women.

If you suspect your teen might be using steroids start by talking to him or her. Opening up a dialogue is vitally important and keeping it open might mean the difference between helping your teen and aggravating the problem. Let your teen know that you’re not judging him but want to help.

Point out the serious health risks, both physical and mental and provide some reading material or informative website addresses where more information can be obtained in private.

If your teen confesses to steroid use, then remind him that there is help for the problem. It is important to consult a medical professional in order to ascertain exactly what permanent physical damage if any has already occurred and which effects are likely to reverse after the drug is withdrawn.

Remember that teens need positive role models and should surround themselves with athletes that are competing at realistic levels. Providing support, love and information will help them heal.

Is your Doctor Treating Acne when He Should Be Treating Steroid Abuse?

Anabolic steroids may be all the rage-literally. Uncontrollable anger and rage are just two of the side effects of the use and abuse of anabolic steroid use.

Steroids act in a similar way to testosterone and these days are also used to treat those who have problems gaining and retaining weight and muscle mass such as people with AIDS or other muscle disorders.

Sadly, these drugs are also popular amongst some professional athletes, Hollywood stars and other celebrities and since teens are intelligent but impressionable if they see a popular figure taking them and looking good they may be tempted to try them.

The unfortunate thing about steroids is that they have many positive effects, at least initially. They increase muscle mass and strength, endurance and stamina. These effects may be very addictive to the teen with low self-esteem.

With prolonged use, however, steroids cause many serious physical side effects as well as mental changes like suicidal behavior, severe depression, and rage-commonly known as “roid rage”.

Many of the effects are irreversible and this is why it’s so important that you talk to your teen about the dangers of steroid use. But which teens are at risk? Any teen that participates in sports like weight training and any sport where muscle mass, strength, speed and stamina are important at a school, club or professional level may be vulnerable. Teens that have poor self-image are particularly vulnerable as are those who are unrealistically competitive.

In young people suicide is already a significant risk-it’s the third leading cause of death among people aged 15-24. Steroid use will aggravate already existing mental disorders like depression and bipolar disorder as well as teenage acne-which already a significant risk factor for suicide during adolescence.

“It can be difficult to detect when adolescents or young athletes are using steroids, so parents and coaches need to know what to look for,” says Professor Brower, associate professor of psychiatry at University of Michigan Health System.

“One of the reasons it can be difficult is because some of the things that you see, such as mood swings, teenage acne and weight gain, are things that you would expect to see in adolescents.”

This makes it doubly important that parents of teens with acne, depression, bipolar disorder and suicidal behavior are very vigilant and ensure that their doctors are not treating acne or mental health problems when the real problem is steroid addiction and abuse.

While treatment for adult acne might be straightforward, with teens we always need to suspect other causes and eliminate these. The best treatment for adult acne will not help teens using steroids.

Parents should make sure to monitor their teens dietary habits, noting any severe or rigid dietary regimes coupled with intense training. An athlete may become obsessive about workout and food regimes.

If they are prevented or inhibited in these aims they may get increasingly irritable and angry. They may stop eating or sleeping or talk about suicide. Their peer group may include drug abusers.

The physical signs of steroid abuse are also very important. Some physical signs of steroid abuse include male pattern baldness, increased facial hair and deeper voice in girls, severe facial and back acne and oily skin.

There may also be injection sites on the body, particularly on the thighs, buttocks and shoulder. In boys the testicles may start to shrink and female organs may start to appear more masculine than feminine.

Often a teen may not tie these physical or mental health problems to his/her steroid use. They may for example seek facial and back acne treatment for severe acne or treatment for facial hair, and fail to seek treatment for their steroid abuse problem.

In fact, they probably don’t think they even have a problem! As we mentioned previously the drugs improve their performance and this might override their health concerns and/or perspective.

Professor Bower notes: “We like our sports heroes because they’re celebrities, they’re famous, they look well, they perform well,” Brower says. “And when that becomes associated with anabolic steroids, it adds to the positive image of steroids”.

The media has been vociferous about how common steroid use is amongst famous baseball players and this does not help a teen who may idolize the player and want to be just like him.

It may be hard for a teen to tie the image of a wealthy, healthy and famous player to serious effects of drugs. Sadly this is even further complicated by the fact that steroids are easy for teens to obtain!

If you think your teen may be using steroids or considering using them here are some facts you might want to share with him/her and his peer group:

Anabolic steroids can be addictive and may cause depression and rage. Physical effects might include: muscle and tendon tears, face and back acne, liver toxicity and damage, mood problems and anger/rage, shrinking testicles, impotence, decreased sperm count, larger breasts in men, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, male-pattern baldness in both sexes, jaundice and facial hair growth in women.

If you suspect your teen might be using steroids start by talking to him or her. Opening up a dialogue is vitally important and keeping it open might mean the difference between helping your teen and aggravating the problem. Let your teen know that you’re not judging him but want to help.

Point out the serious health risks, both physical and mental and provide some reading material or informative website addresses where more information can be obtained in private.

If your teen confesses to steroid use, then remind him that there is help for the problem. It is important to consult a medical professional in order to ascertain exactly what permanent physical damage if any has already occurred and which effects are likely to reverse after the drug is withdrawn.

Remember that teens need positive role models and should surround themselves with athletes that are competing at realistic levels. Providing support, love and information will help them heal.

Being a parent of any teenager can be a tough job.  Being a parent of a teenage girl in today’s society can be completely nerve-racking.  Even when you teach your children strong values and morals, you still can’t be 100% sure of what they do when they walk out your door.  It can be hard to decide if you should allow your teenage daughter to begin using birth control, even if you know that there is a medical reason for that birth control.  So, how do you decide what to do?  Here are some tips:

1.  Be honest with your daughter.  Talk to her about the benefits that some hormonal methods of birth control might offer her during her menstrual cycle.  Also talk to her about any side effects that might occur from that birth control.  Take some time to research the information on the internet together.  Make an appointment to visit with the doctor so he or she can answer any additional questions (or correct misconceptions) you might have.

2.  Look for honesty from your daughter.  Although hormonal birth control can prevent pregnancy, if your daughter is sexually active (or considering the option) then it is not the only answer.  Find out what your daughter is doing so that you can help her understand the consequences of her decisions and also so you can help her best protect herself if she decides to continue down that path.

3.  Play the “what if” game.  This is going to be much easier if you have already established a relationship with your daughter prior to this point.  Ask her things like, “What if you did get pregnant?” or “what if he was infected?” or “what if others find out?”  The answers to these questions may help her make her decisions and they may also help to guide the choice of birth control.

4.  Be honest with yourself.  Unless you keep your daughter locked up for the rest of her life, she is going to make her own decisions.  All you can do is support and inform her about where those decisions are likely to take her in life.  If you believe that she is sexually active then do whatever is necessary to protect her from possible life-altering (and even deadly) mistakes.

5.  Share the statistics.  Help your daughter to understand the dangers that sexual activity can bring in the form of STDs.  Show her the statistics for birth control options (particularly any you can find based on incorrect usage).  Help her to see that the only safe and 100% effective form of birth control is abstinence.

There are valid reasons to have your teenage daughter begin taking birth control.  Even if the reasons are medical, be sure to discuss all the complications and difficulties that may lie ahead in your child’s sexual life.

Is your preteen going through puberty?  If so, talking to your preteen about their changing body is as important today as it was when we were kids.  The only problem is some of us didn’t hear about menstruation and sex from our parents, but rather from our friends.

Today, we live in a different world than when we were teens.  With so many diseases and problems facing our teens, it’s important they are given the knowledge and answers to the many questions they may have concerning their bodies.  If you have a teen that is going through these changes, here are some tips for talking with your preteen about puberty as well as the thoughts and feelings they are experiencing as a result.

1. If you are comfortable discussing puberty with your teen, then find a few hours in a quiet room so that you can freely talk about the subject and answer all of their questions and concerns.
2. Purchase several books on the subject of puberty and offer them to your child to read.  Then ensure you are available to answer any and all questions.
3. Direct your child to go online, where there are many teen sites which answer questions on puberty and body changes.
4. Be honest with your child in every aspect of this subject.
5. If you are feeling uncomfortable, remember your teen is as well.
6. Discuss menstruation and how the cycle works. 
7. Discuss how the onset of puberty also encompasses breast enlargement, additional hair growth, and hormones.

While our parents couldn’t or wouldn’t discuss these topics with us, you now have the opportunity to break the taboo chain once and for all and openly and lovingly so that as the changes occur, your child is not frightened, or doesn’t think there is something terribly wrong with them.

Remind your child, how unique he or she is, and that everyone develops in different ways and at different times.  While one of your child’s friends may develop breasts earlier than your child, assure them it has nothing to do with them, but that physical changes in the body are different for everyone. 

Another way to present it as a positive change is to celebrate your child’s first menstruation by taking the whole family out to dinner.  Rejoice in the fact that your child is growing and will soon become a woman.  In this way, your child will view these changes as positive ones and accept them more readily.

It may seem trivial to some, but to a teenager acne is a horrible affliction. While almost all teenagers get acne at one point or another, severe acne can lead to a negative body image and even severe depression. But don’t get worried; there are steps you can take to help your child get treated and start feeling better.

There are many myths floating around about acne. Your child may here them at school or find them on the internet. To properly treat your teen’s acne, you need to learn the facts and share them with your child. Here are just a few facts you need to know:

What causes acne or makes it worse:
* Genetics
* Leaning on or touching skin
* Too much scrubbing
* Popping pimples

What hasn’t been document as an effect on acne but does contribute to overall health:
* Diet
* Stress
* Hair and oils
* Make up

You should teach your child proper skin care. It’s best to teach them before a problem develops, but later is better than never. Teach them to wash their face with a mild soap twice a day (and only twice a day. If they have an acne problem, offer to buy them over the counter acne face washes and treatments. Remember that no one product works for everyone and nothing works overnight. Encourage your child to be persistent.

If your child has no luck using the over the counter treatments, it’s a good idea to take them to a dermatologist. If you can’t afford it, talk to your regular doctor and see if there’s anything they can do. It may not seem important enough to you to warrant spending a lot of money on, but it’s probably very important to your teen. Again, most prescription medications take up to two months to work; so be patience.

The most important step in helping your child deal with acne is to start early. You may think it’s rude to step in and try to help if they only have a pimple or two, but many teens are too embarrassed to ask their parents for help. Getting treatment early could also prevent the condition from getting much more serious.

Acne can be hard for a teen to deal with, but your help can make it a whole lot easier.