"Parents just don't get it." That's not the quibbling complaint of a pimply-faced kid, but the disappointed observation of Manhattan area dermatologist Bruce Katz, M.D., who for more than 18 years has helped hundreds of acne-plagued patients banish their blemishes.

What's clear to Katz's teenage patients is also critical for their parents to understand, says the doctor: Acne is no trivial cosmetic problem to be waited out until the pimples disappear on their own, but a medical condition that, left untreated, can leave youngsters with unsightly scars that lead to emotional pain and social inhibition. "Acne should be taken very seriously," Katz says. "Because of the stage of life when it's most common — during puberty — breakouts can be very depressing for young people."

Acne is by far the most common skin complaint among teenagers, affecting nearly all of those in the 12-to-17 age frame at least occasionally, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. The condition, fortunately, is as treatable as it is common. "Dermatologists love to take care of acne," says Marianne O'Donaghue, a Chicago dermatologist and vice president of the American Academy of Dermatology, "because we do it well and can get people back into the community with their self-esteem restored."

Home Acne Fighters
You might think that a bad diet and stress are huge contributors to acne breakouts. Not true. Experts say ordinary day-to-day stress is not an important factor. And, while eating a balanced diet always makes sense, scientific studies haven't found a connection between a diet and acne. Even so, if avoiding chocolate, French fries, or other food seems to keep your acne at bay, then doctors say it's a good idea to avoid them.

It's airborne grease that's a more likely culprit when pimples appear, so working at a fast-food restaurant is more likely to trigger breakouts than eating at one. There are steps short of quitting your fast-food job that you can take to keep your skin healthy:

• Wash your face gently a couple of times a day with mild soap and warm water to remove excess surface oils and dead skin cells. Because acne is caused by oily buildup, not dirt, scrubbing won't help control blemishes and can actually irritate the skin and further inflame pimples. Some lifestyle factors — playing football with the helmet's chin strap in friction with your face, for example — can increase oily buildup and make regular skin cleansing even more important. If you want to wipe the oil from your face but you're not near soap and water, O'Donaghue recommends carrying face-cleansing pads to wipe your face during a break.