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Dr Goodlove's frequently asked questions: Skin

I have zits. I can't get rid of them. Do you know what method I can use to get rid of them in under a month?
Dr Goodlove replies,
Yes there is some things that can help with zits. Not always within a month though. The first thing you need to do is to see a doctor. You could try your family doctor or the 198 Youth Health Centre at 198 Hereford Street. They can prescribe a number of things that could help. If you have a family history of acne or the first things a doctor suggests don’t work, sometimes you may need to see a skin specialist. Get onto it, there are some thing you can do about zits.
At what age should I start shaving?
Dr Goodlove replies:
Shaving, and I presume you mean legs or underarms, is a personal choice. Some girls start at an earlier age because they feel self conscious about hair, and others leave it because it doesn't bother them or they haven't much to show. Good idea to chat to your Mum rather than start using other family members shavers. That can cause problems and is not a good health practice either. I
have pimples and blackheads all over my face. What treatments should I use?
Current thinking is that pimples and blackheads develop because of hormones in our bodies. At your age hormones are in a bit of chaos and it's fairly common to have some skin problems. They are NOT caused by not washing properly or with the right stuff, or having your hair over your face, or any of that. Although it's not related to diet specifically, some people find that cutting down on sugars (coke, lollies etc) and fatty foods can help; also it will probably make you feel better. There are some creams etc you can get from the pharmacy like Pan Oxyl (5mg) costs around $20, you might like to try this or something similar. If there is no improvement in a couple of weeks it would be a good idea to have a chat to your family doctor. There are other things they can prescribe that will help. Remember (and I speak from experience) that these days we can get stuff to help this. For some people it just lasts a short while and for others longer.

Got more questions?

If you have a question that has not been answered, you can ask Dr Goodlove.