Be an Acne-Free Teen!
Synopsis 1: Teenage acne may be an all too common site on young skin, but it can be controlled. Read on to learn a few simple and easy ways to stop acne in its tracks.
Synopsis 2: Don't let acne challenge your teenager's skin. Instead, take control of acne with a skincare routine customized to a teenager's individual needs and see results, fast.
There's no way around it: acne is painful. Avoid the frustration of teen acne by taking control of the situation before it takes control of you and be rewarded with clean, clear skin.
Teenage Triggers
Why are teens prone to acne? The answer is two-fold. Along with a developing body comes over active hormones, in particular, androgens. Androgens are the hormones which signal the oil glands to start producing sebum. Sebum, also called "natural moisture factor" is the bodies own moisturizer and in normal skin, neither too much nor too little is produced by the oil glands. However in teenage skin, quite often the body produces too much sebum, which - when trapped in the pore along with dead skin, dirt and bacteria, causes breakouts.
The specific bacterium to blame for acne, Propionibacterium acnes or P. acnes, is naturally present on the skin. The problems begin when this bacteria becomes trapped in the pore along with dead skin and sebum, triggering an inflammation. One great way to manage acne is to eliminate the environment where acne breeds, achieved by clearing dead skin cells and excess oil from the skin�s surface using products that fight bacteria and exfoliate. Follow these steps to eliminate acne and breakouts.
Cleanse, But Don't Strip!
To treat acne with cleanser, be certain to use a formula with active, acne-fighting ingredients that will help normalize the skin and kill bacteria, such as salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. However, don't be tempted to over-wash the skin; acne cleanser should not be used more than twice a day. Over cleansing may seem like the answer, but stripping the skin of its natural moisture will likely only make acne worse. When skin is dehydrated, it often compensates by producing more sebum which can start the whole cycle all over again. Stick with a twice per-day cadence and always pat the skin dry carefully.
Scrub Gently
Although it may not seem like a necessary step in treating acne, exfoliation, which smoothes the skin and promotes cell turnover, is a key step. Preventing a build-up of dead skin cells and sebum starves the bacteria of what it craves most and in the process, helps eliminate the chance of a blemish. Try an exfoliator that contains alpha and beta hydroxy acids (AHA's and BHA's), which when used together, exfoliate away dead skin and keep pores clear. Look for AHA products in concentrations between 8% to 10%, and BHA in concentrations of 1% to 2%.
Start by exfoliating twice a week after cleansing, incorporating a third day per week if the skin can tolerate it or is very oily. Finish with a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer that contains SPF 15 or higher.
Banish Bacteria
The final step towards a clearer complexion is eliminating the bacteria that cause acne. One product which does this efficiently is benzoyl peroxide (BP). BP is ideal because it targets and kills bacteria without irritating the skin like some other topical antibacterial products. In addition, the skin won't build up immunity to BP. Initially, start with a treatment product that contains 2% BP and increase the percent (although only up to 5% for the face) if needed. For skin that is sensitive to BP or darker complexions (who should avoid BP due to the risk that it may cause hyper-pigmentation), there are other options. Hydrogen peroxide and Triclosan are two common antibacterial agents that are readily found in acne treatments, and are suitable for all skin types.
Finally, although it may be tempting to cover up embarrassing breakouts with heavy layers of makeup, don't. Thick foundation can easily lead to blocked pores, resulting in more acne. Instead, use a lightweight, oil-free makeup and make sure that to remove all traces of makeup nightly.
