Being a teenager can be quite exciting. It’s a time in your child’s life when they start to become more independent. They may have their first serious boyfriend or girlfriend. They may get their first job. They may learn to drive. There are lots of good changes in their lives.
But along with those good changes comes some bad changes. Hormones start to take over their bodies and they begin to notice some not so pleasant side effects.
One of the downsides of becoming a teenager is acne. As many as 85% of teenagers and young adults will experience the joy of acne. Girls may begin to get their first pimples as young as 11 and boys usually start getting them when they are around 13. If you or your spouse had problems with acne as a teenager there is a higher likelihood your kids will suffer through it as well.
So what causes acne?
There are a lot of theories about what causes acne. And a lot of myths. For example, there is no proof that eating chocolate or greasy foods causing a person to break out. And drinking soda has no effect on your teenagers face either. Also, stress does not cause acne, but it can make existing acne even worse.
In fact doctors aren’t positive what causes acne for sure. A pimple is formed when the body produces too much sebum (or oil) and the pores get clogged. But what causes the body to produce too much? It is likely a result of super charged hormones. And who is more hormonal then a teenager?
What can be done to reduce acne?
The most important thing your teen can do to help fight acne is wash his/her face twice a day. I’d recommend using some kind of face wash rather than soap. Soap can really dry out your skin. There are tons of different brands of face wash at the local discount store. Your teen should test out a few and use the one that works best for them. They should be gently washing their face, not scrubbing, in the morning and at night. And make sure they don’t wipe their face dry, but instead pat it dry.
If you daughter wears makeup make sure it’s oil free. And make sure she washes off all of her makeup every single night. Makeup remover may be a big help to make sure it’s all gone. If she’s like many teenagers and drowns her hair with hairspray, make sure she does her best to keep the hairspray in her hair and not on her skin. Have her put a towel over her face when she sprays her hair.
If your teen is working a greasy job, such as fast food, make sure he washes his face as soon as he gets home. Same goes for exercise. It’s best to wash the sweat away soon after a workout to prevent clogged pores.
Picking at pimples is a big no-no. Like a scab, it can be very difficult to for him to keep his hands off, but try your best to discourage this. For one, the oil on his hands can cause more problems on his face. And secondly, opening up the pimple can cause more inflammation and possibly scars. It’s bad enough having to live through acne as a teenager. I’m sure your teen doesn’t want scars as a reminder when he gets older.
If nothing seems to be working, seek medical advice. Your family doctor may recommend your teen see a dermatologist. There she can get prescription medicine that will likely clear up her face quickly. Just make sure your teen is using it because sometimes teens can be a little lazy about such things.
If you want more information about acne check out Kid’s Health.
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