Acne and Teens
The general consensus
regarding acne is that it is something that strikes during one’s teen years,
a belief that is backed by statistical data which cuts across race,
ethnicity and location.
Adolescents everywhere have justifiable reason to fear this dreaded skin
affliction, which can make the years between the ages of 12 and 20 a time of
great insecurity and constant torment from one’s peers, without even going
into the physical discomfort and possibility of lasting scars.
The damage to one’s emotions can be quite significant, as many
teenagers blame acne for their inability to develop relationships, make
friends, or even go to school without being bullied or ridiculed.
Unfortunately for adolescents, their surging hormones are the
culprit, leading to the overproduction by the body’s sebaceous glands of the
chemicals that lead to acne. As
such, teenagers would be wise to take their almost inevitable acne outbreaks
very seriously, in order to minimize the effects as they endure their growth
into physical maturity.
One of the most
pressing concerns with adolescent acne is that far too many teenagers
between the ages of 12 and 14, especially males, know practically nothing
about skin care, and in particular, the type of regimen that would best
stave off the development of acne.
Contrary to popular belief, a dirty face does not translate into more
acne, because acne is not inherently caused by dirt.
In fact, incessant washing with harsh soaps and medicated substances
can cause skin to become excessively dry, which stimulates the production of
sebum on the skin. Sebum, or the
natural skin oil that normally moisturizes and keeps skin clean, builds up
in copious amounts and traps bacteria, which eventually accumulate and cause
acne formation. Consequently,
teenagers are advised to limit washing to twice daily, and to avoid abrasive
sponges or cloths, since they can cause microscopic tears in one’s skin that
allow bacteria to enter.
Astringents should also be avoided, as their alcohol content also dries up
skin. For best results, a mild
cleanser and an acne-safe moisturizer, one that is labeled “noncomedogenic”,
is highly recommended.
There are plenty of
acne medications on the market for teenagers to consider, with about half of
them being preventive in nature.
It is easy to become frustrated with these medications, since it will take
at least a month for any tangible results to show, and in the first couple
of weeks, one may experience irritation from the initial reactions of the
skin to the medication. It would
be most prudent to start with milder over the counter products, and vary
them or look for a stronger topical remedy if one does not experience the
desired results, or at least some improvement.
Product effectiveness is dependent not only on the product’s
ingredient mix, but also on the skin type and other physical properties of
the individual, so teenagers may have to go through several ineffective
substances before finding one that works for them.
Though the treatment
may vary between individuals, the common advice for adolescents is to manage
their acne as soon as the outbreaks begin, with effective cleansing and
medication. In this manner, the
worst effects of acne are alleviated, and one will not have to suffer any
long-term consequences once those hormones begin to settle down.
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