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.
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