Teen Acne

Teen acne is by far the most common acne in the world, and almost 100% of teens will get at least one small bout of acne during adolescence. Although we usually associate teenage acne with facial acne and blackheads and white heads, the reality is that teens can suffer from mild acne to cystic acne on the face, scalp, back, chest and legs – virtually their entire body. Fortunately there are myriad of teen acne treatments available, targeted specifically for teens and hormonal acne.

Why Teens Get Acne

When teenagers go through puberty, their bodies produce excess hormones. These hormones, besides causing moodiness, sensitivities, new hair growth and body growth spurts, stimulate various glands throughout the body. The sebaceous gland, which is responsible for producing sebum (an oil that is used throughout the body for skin repair, tear creation and many other processes), is also stimulated and start to overproduce the oil. The excess oil it produces comes up through the skin’s pores and secretes onto the skin. As a result, teens going through puberty tend to have oily skin, some of course more than others. When the oils mix with dead skin cells and other debris that is on the surface of the skin, it can start to clog pores and follicles. This blockage is the perfect breeding ground for P. Acnes, the acne causing bacteria. Once the bacterium is present in the pores, the immune system sends white blood cells to the area, which causes inflammation and results in raised comedones, or pimples. If your parents had acne as teenagers, or suffer from adult acne, your chances of getting teenage acne are much higher.

Psychological Effect

Although it is common knowledge that most teens can and will get acne, acne is still joked about, particularly in the teen age group. Stress is a major trigger for acne flare-ups, and when a teen is bugged or picked on about their acne condition, stress can actually make the problem worse, leading to more ridicule. It is important to speak to your teen (daughter, son, friend, etc) about acne and to be proactive in helping them understand that acne is a natural occurrence and acne treatment is easily available. Just as there are psychological effects for those with acne, there is just as big of a positive effect for teens that have been successful in treating their teenage acne.

Teen Acne Treatment

Teenage acne treatment products are available in abundance everywhere. Among the most popular are Neutrogena, Clearasil, ProActiv Acne Solution and the Zeno Acne Treatment device. If you are a teen looking to control or eradicate your acne, talk to your friends about what acne treatments they have used. Talk to your doctor about what types of products (active ingredients) will be right for your type of acne and skin type. Start a regular acne skin care routine, with light cleansing, and follow it every day. Remember, drastic measures are not usually necessary in treating teen acne – in most cases the acne will disappear when you pass puberty. If you feel drastic acne treatments are necessary, talk to your doctor first to make sure that it is safe for you.

Nutrition

Many teenagers believe that acne is a direct result of uncleanliness or of eating ‘junk’ food. This is, of course, a myth. Eating junk food does not cause acne. People who are fastidiously clean can still get acne, as they cannot control sebum secretion. Despite junk food not playing a role, nutrition in general plays a huge part in acne control. Making sure you eat right and get all of the vitamins and nutrients your body needs means that your skin will be healthy and hydrated and better equipped to fight off the P. Acnes bacteria. People who also practice good eating habits tend to be less stressed, which can help control an acne problem.