Tips for treating teens’ acne
Acne is an unfortunate condition that arises during puberty and is considered as normal.
POLOKWANE – Somatologist Charlize Grobler provides tips teens can use to combat bad skin.
“Roughly eight out of 10 teens will develop acne, which is a condition of the skin that shows up as various bumps. These bumps can be blackheads, whiteheads, pimples or cysts.
Teens get acne because of hormonal changes related to puberty. The hormone, androgens, increases sebum production. The good news, for most people, is that acne goes away almost completely by the time they are out of their teens.”
Charlize says the most common acne among teens is acne vulgaris and it usually shows up on the face, neck, shoulders, upper back and chest.
“The hair follicles, or pores, in your skin contain sebaceous glands that produce sebum, which is an oil that lubricates your hair and skin. Your sebaceous glands often produce the correct amount of sebum but during puberty, hormones stimulate the sebaceous glands and more sebum is produced.”
Pores become clogged due to overproduction of sebum, dead skin cells and a bacteria called Propionibacterium, which multiplies and causes swelling and redness. This causes acne.
“To prevent the build-up of sebum and bacteria, it is advised to cleanse your skin twice a day with a gentle cleanser in order to wash away all makeup and debris clogging your pores. Overcleansing your skin with incorrect products can dry out and damage your skin.”
She advised readers to cleanse their skin after exercising, as sweat can clog the pores and acne can develop.
When searching for the correct product, look for non-comedogenic and non-acnegenic products as they won’t clog your pores and try to use water-based products.
For acne on your chest or back, avoid tight fitting clothes that can cause irritation.Products that contain salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are available to prevent and clear up acne.
Salicylic acid is commonly found in body washes, face washes and astringents and its purpose is to get rid of dead skin cells that leads to acne.
Benzoyl peroxide is a stronger treatment used for more severe breakouts and helps to dry up dead skin cells and fight excess sebum. It also destroys acne-causing bacteria.
Topical retinoids can be applied, but with caution, as Vitamin A can increase your skin’s sensitivity to UV rays (pigmentation).
“Wear sunscreen every day as it not only protects your skin from sun damage and cancer, it can also prevent acne that is sometimes caused by sunburns.
“It is important to wear sunscreen if using retinoids.”
Charlize explained that dairy, high-glycemic and processed foods may contribute to acne breakouts and that it is important to increase your water intake to keep your skin hydrated.
“Acne is treatable with the correct skin care regime and salon treatments.”
