Teenage acne

Statistics are against teens because 85% of them are destined to get some amount of acne. However, even though most teenagers will have breakouts, it does not have to be inevitale. There are some very good skin care products on the market that can help keep the breakouts under control. It’s ironic  that, just as teens are getting to a point in their lives where appearance becomes a major part of their identity, acne rears its unattractive, red, oily, white-spotted, swollen head. 

If our teenagers are taught the proper skin care from young, they will be much better off when the time comes when they need the vital info of how to look after their skin. To make matters worse, searching for treatments amidst the countless options out there is enough to make anyone break out. And companies know this, launching an endless array of anti-acne products marketed directly to teens, which are all mostly very drying to the skin and only a temporary solution.

We have to admit that their advertising and marketing of these products is very good as it portrays the desires of every blemished teen out there. These ads almost always contain blemish free teens, parading around in whatever trend cloths are on the market, going to the hippest places, etc.What these ads never contain are good, solid, research-based details about what works and what doesn’t for problem skin. But there is good news. While acne is difficult, if not impossible to cure, there are solutions to control it, and depending on the type of acne, it doesn’t have to be expensive. Once you learn some basic facts about what causes acne and what should (and should not) be done to manage it, you and your teen will be far ahead of the game.

What Causes a Pimple?

There is very little mystery about how a pimple is created. Hormones stimulate the oil glands to become more active. The hormonal interaction comes primarily from the male hormone,androgens , which have corresponding receptor sites at the bottom of the pore lining.

When androgens hook up to the receptor sites on the pore, they communicate excess production of sebum (oil) which starts the formation of a clogged pore that, with the presence of a specific bacteria, can cause a blemish. Excess hormones communicate an increase in the production of sebum (oil) in the sebaceous gland (oil gland), which causes a backup in the pore.

This oil being created (which is more solid than typical fluid inside the pore) is unable to move freely and evenly through the pore’s opening, resulting in a blockage that leads to a clogged pore. This may be due to an abnormally shaped pore lining (the pore lining is made of skin cells that can build up and close off access to the surface), or a defect in the kind of sebum being produced. Complicating matters is a specific type of bacteria that’s naturally present in our pores called Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes).

This bacterium subsists and flourishes on our dead skin cells and oil. When oil and dead skin cells back up in the pore lining, it’s as though this bacterium is first in line at an all-you-can-eat buffet. The “gorging” the bacterium does results in an inflammatory response which, cou-pled with the bacterium’s gluttonous nature, causes it to proliferate. There are other factors that may contribute to acne. It is suspected that other growth hormones and insulin-like growth factor may play a role in the prevalence of teen acne (Source: www.emedicine.com). There is also research looking at the presence of certain fatty acids in sebum that may trigger breakouts. What remains a complete mystery is why one pore gets a blemish and not another, and why some people have acne erupt from what seems to be every pore on their face. Do not aggravate the condition.

There are also three other types of acne, that is just caused by hormonal changes:

• acne excoriee - At any age the question about removing or squeezing blemishes is a contentious one.  You definitely can make acne worse by attacking the lesions—making sores and scabs, damaging skin, rupturing the pore, which spreads oil and bacteria in areas it doesn’t belong, and making skin more inflamed—thus impairing the healing process,  resulting  almost always in  red or dark discolorations, which can lead to permanent scarring. On the other hand, white, pus-filled bumps on the face don’t look or feel great either. The issue is one of degree. If the contents of a blemish can be gently (the operative word being gently) removed without injuring skin or creating a sore, then it can help heal the blemish faster and reduce swelling (after all, it’s usually the matter trapped inside the pore that’s causing the inflammation). If not, then the blemish should be left alone.
• acne cosmetica - Some individuals have sensitivity to makeup—particularly foundation or emollient moisturizers—as these products sometimes are formulated with ingredients that can trigger breakouts. Hair-styling products also can trigger acne-like eruptions, especially when used in great amounts around the hair line or if the hair hangs on the face. Fluoride toothpaste or the mint/peppermint/wintergreen flavorings are other culprits. Those who tend to break out around their mouth and chin may want to talk to their dentist about avoiding fluoride toothpaste or products containing these flavorings for a period of time to see if that clears up the problem.While acne cosmetica rarely causes large breakouts, it isn’t fun to deal with and can be persistent. To avoid this problem it is critical to make sure your teen  never sleeps with makeup on, as this is the time when the skin breathes and rejuvenates itself. We certainly do not need make-up particles inpeding this process. Also, make sure your teen avoids moisturizers or other skin-care products that are thick or emollient as these almost always contain ingredients that can clog pores and cause eruptions.
• acne mechanica - Pressure or friction against certain areas of the face or body may cause blemishes to emerge.  With this form of acne, simple everyday behavior—resting the chin on hands, rubbing cheeks frequently, vigorously wiping the face with hands or a towel while sweating (as opposed to dabbing at the face with a towel), tight jeans (causing breakouts on thighs and buttocks), sports gear etc.—can result in breakouts. Helping your teen eliminate these behaviors or changing clothing fabrics (softer rather than tougher materials and less restricting fabrics) can go a long way to improving conditions.

Treating the Problem

Now that you’re aware of the basic types of acne lesions and blemishes and what can cause them to occur, let’s go over the necessary steps to take in order to get things under control from a skin-care perspective. For optimal results when fighting blemishes and acne, the three necessary steps are:

1. Reduce oil to eliminate the environment that acne-causing bacteria thrive in
2. Exfoliate the skin’s surface and within the pore to improve the shape and function of the pore
3. Disinfect the skin to eliminate acne-causing bacteria living inside the pore

It is critical to stress to your teen that compliance and consistency are key to any successful anti-acne routine. Keeping acne under control demands sticking to a reliable routine and not getting complacent once things begin to improve. Bottom line: Managing acne takes patience, persistence, and educated experimentation.