Teen Years and Acne
Posted on 04. Jan, 2009 by admin in Acne Prevention
It Simply Is Not Fair – Puberty, Pimples and The Accompanying Frustrations
There are as many as 90% of all teens around the world that experience problems of acne. The American Medical Association recently did a study that revealed that one of the biggest worries of teenagers is acne. It has the ability to affect to cause drastic problems with self-esteem issues.
There is a larger amount of information that is available today and one of the best ways to succeed in the fight against it is to become educated on why it has started.
Why does acne seem to focus on teens?
A hormone called androgens begins to be produced in your body at the beginning of puberty, and they are male hormones that are a natural part of boys and girls development, however boys do produce larger amounts than girls, in turn causing them to experience more breakouts. Our body and face is covered with lots of little hairs, snuggly fitting into hair follicles, also known as pores. Sebum is continuously being produced by the oil glands traveling along the hair and onto the skin forming a protective barrier between your skin and the outside world. When the production of androgens begins, the oil glands begin working overtime. The extra oil that is being produced can then become clogged in your pores, along with dead skin cells. The white blood cells then try to fight off the problems causing your follicles to become swollen and the result are bumps that become red and painful, otherwise known as zits. Contrary to popular belief they do not have a thing to do with how many times you wash your face, or the food that you eat.
Can I fight back against teen acne?
Preventing zits before they appear is the best way you can fight against the problem. Below are some simple ideas that can help minimize the problems you have with breakouts.
Keep it nice and clean – It can help a great deal to wash with a mild cleanser and warm water every single day. Teens natural produce higher amounts of oil, and your skin needs some of the sebum being produced so it can stay healthy. Over washing can only result in your glands producing even more oil.
No harsh scrubbing - Exfoliating is fine, but you will need to use a formula that is gentle and contains grains that are smooth and small. Products containing apricot fragments and almond should be avoided as they are known to cause irritation and they can even tear the skin, which will cause even more aggravation to the acne.
No alcohol – Toners are fine to use, but you need to use products that have a low concentration of isopropyl alcohol, and common rubbing alcohol should always be avoided. Using alcohol can cause the top layer to be stripped from your skin, causing more oil to be produced and resulting in skin that is flaky with the possibility of even more blemishes.
No picking or squeezing – It can cause bacteria to go further down into the pores when you use your fingernails or other sharp objects to pick and squeeze blemishes. This can result in more problems with infection and inflammation, and it also more likely to cause scarring.
Keep your hands away – Propionibacterium acnes are common bacteria that can lead to problems with acne when it becomes clogged in the pores. When you touch your face this can force the bacteria into the follicles.
The choices in products - With any sunscreen, hairspray or makeup that you use, you will want to choose products that are non-comedogenic and are oil free, meaning they will be less likely to plug the pores, causing breakouts to worsen.
Think smart when it comes to the sun – The sun can help problems with acne, but it will only be temporarily. Burns and even suntanning will cause dead skin cells to shed faster, which will result in more pores that are clogged in the long run. When you head out in the sun make sure to wear sunscreen that has an SPF of 15 or above and protects against both UVB and UVA rays, this will keep you protected from the suns harmful rays in case the acne treatments you are using have increased the sensitivity in your skin.
Use accessories wisely – Headbands and hats can cause rubbing or friction from the heat and they are known for causing breakouts. You can add a thin layer of fabric made from cotton to the inside of your hats if you must wear them. Make sure to shower as quickly as possible after sports games or working out. Sitting around in a uniform that is sweaty can cause you even further problems with breakouts.
Stick to the regimen that works for you – Many over the counter products have the ability to improve most mild cases of acne. Starting a treatment regimen before acne becomes severe will increase your chances of suffering from less emotional and physical problems in the long run. It is always best to visit your dermatologist if your acne lasts for longer than a few weeks or if it worsens.
Below is a list of some of the products that are commonly used for the treatment of acne.
* Tretinoin – Helps to encourage renewal of skin and unplugs the pores
* Oral Contraceptives – Helps to regulate levels of the hormones
* Salicylic Acid – Helps to encourage renewal of skin and unplugs the pores
* Benzoyl Peroxide – Helps kill bacteria that can cause acne
* Antibiotics – Helps reduce inflammation and kills bacteria
* PROACTIV – A combination acne management system formulated by dermatologists
* Isotretinoin – Also known as Accutane – Used for the treatment of nodular acne or severe cystic acne.
* Anti-Androgens – Inhibits the natural production of hormones that cause acne
Remember that it is not your fault – Wearing makeup or eating French fries have not caused your face to become broken out with acne. Knowing your specific triggers can help tremendously for decreasing the amount of breakouts with acne that you experience.
