Anti Aging Skin Care » Tips to Avoid Teen Acne

Best Teen Acne Treatments

Teen acne is not a severe problem. At the onset of puberty, the body begins to produce hormones called androgens. These "male" hormones are a natural part of development for both boys and girls, but boys tend to produce more of them - and therefore tend to have more severe breakouts. Our faces and bodies are covered with tiny hairs, each one fitting snugly into a hair follicle. Deep within each follicle, oil glands are hard at work producing sebum, which travels up the hair and out onto the surface of your skin. Sebum's work is to form a protective layer between your skin and the world, keeping it soft and smooth.

However, androgens produce extra oil, which can clump together with the dead skin cells on the top layer of your skin. When this sticky mixture finds its way into your pores, it acts just like a cork in a bottle - trapping oil and bacteria inside. Unfortunately, your oil glands keep producing oil, and the follicle becomes swollen. Your body's natural defense system, white blood cells, rushes to the area to clean up the mess. This results into red, painful bumps, black spots, zits, blackheads, pimples, acne.

The best way to zap zits is to prevent them from showing up in the first place. Following are a few simple practices than can help you minimize your breakouts.

• A Tip on Avoiding Teen Acne - Keep it clean. Since teenagers produce more oil, it is important to wash twice a day with warm water and a mild cleanser. Since your skin does need some sebum in order to stay healthy, do not be tempted to over wash; your glands could pay you back by producing more oil.
• Teen Acne Advice - Skip harsh scrubs. It is okay to exfoliate, but be sure to use a gentle formula with small, smooth grains. Keep away from products with almond or apricot shell fragments; they can irritate or even tear your skin and further aggravate your acne.
• Avoiding Teen Acne - Say no to alcohol. If you use a toner, keep away from products with high concentrations of isopropyl alcohol, or common rubbing alcohol. Alcohol strips the top layer of your skin, causing your glands to produce more oil. This results into dry, flaky skin - and possibly more blemishes.
• Ways to Avoid Teen Acne - Do not squeeze or pick. Squeezing your blemishes with fingernails, pins or anything else can force bacteria deeper into the skin. This can cause inflammation and infection, increasing the chances that your pimple will leave a permanent scar. Remember, a zit that is bugging you today will go away if treated properly; if you pick at it, it may stick around forever.
• Being Smart about Teen Acne - The bacteria that causes acne, Propionibacterium acnes, hangs out on your skin all the time; it doesn't lead to acne until it gets trapped inside the hair follicle. Touching your face, including rubbing or even resting your chin in your hands, can drive bacteria into your pores - where it can spread.
• Dealing with Teen Acne - Choose products wisely. If you wear make-up, be sure it is oil-free and non-comedogenic - that means it will not clog your pores and make your breakouts worse. The same goes for your sunscreen and your hair products; sticky sprays, gels and pomades can aggravate acne, too.
• Getting Ahead of Teen Acne - Be smart about the sun. If you think tanning helps your acne, you are right - and wrong. Small amounts of sun exposure may improve acne for a few days. However, suntans (and burns) also make you shed your dead skin cells faster, so in the long run, you will end up with more clogged pores. And that means more acne. One more thing you should know: some kinds of acne medication make skin more sensitive to the sun. So if you are headed outside in sunny weather, be sure to slather up with sunscreen. Look out for oil free sun protection products and have a "sun protection factor" (or SPF) of at least 15 for both UVA and UVB rays.
• Avoiding Teen Acne - Accessorize wisely. Heat and friction (rubbing) can cause acne flare-ups. So steer clear of hats and headbands - and if your sports team requires you to wear a helmet or any other equipment that might rub against your skin, try lining it with a layer of clean, soft cotton. In addition, remember to shower immediately after exercising - do not sit around in a sweaty uniform, no matter how cool you look.
• Teen Acne Treatment - Find a regimen and stick with it. Most cases of mild acne can be improved with "over-the-counter" products, or products that do not require a prescription from your doctor. There is a broad range of treatments available, and there is a good chance one of them will work for you. If you begin treatment before your acne gets severe, you will have a better chance of avoiding physical and emotional problems down the road. However, if your acne gets worse or lasts more than a couple of weeks, see a dermatologist.

Here is a quick listing of the most common products used to treat acne:

• Benzoyl Peroxide : Kills the bacteria that cause acne.
• Proactiv® Solution : Manages acne.
• Salicylic Acid : Clear your pores and encourages skin renewal.
• Tretinoin (Retin-A®) : Promotes healthy sloughing.
• Antibiotics : Kill bacteria and reduces inflammation.
• Oral Contraceptives : Help regulate hormone levels.
• Anti-Androgens : Slow down the body's production of acne-causing hormones.
• Isotretinoin (Accutane®) : Treatment for severe cystic or nodular acne.

Now you know a few of the things that can aggravate acne in teenagers. However, since acne is different for everyone, you should watch your own skin carefully for things that trigger breakouts - and avoid them. If your acne still hangs around, see a doctor.