Acne is a very difficult aspect of being a teenager. It's hard to feel confident about doing out with friends or going on dates when your face has blemishes. You don't have to just live with it though; there are ways to prevent and treat acne.
Acne is the term for blackheads, whiteheads and pimples that occur on the face, neck, back and chest. Many people believe that acne is caused by eating greasy foods, chocolate, lots of soda, or having dirty skin. However, this is not true as it is mostly caused by oil glands that become overactive during puberty because of hormone stimulation these. The severity of the acne will depend on the hormonal reaction. Acne can also be caused by vitamin deficiency. Adults can get acne from these same causes.
The number one prevention of acne is to wash your face. Washing your face will get rid of oil buildup and dead skin, which can clog your pores and cause acne. Gently wash your face twice a day using a mild soap. Do not scrub hard. You need to be sure you wash your face after sweating a lot. Sweating can clog your pores. Be sure you don't overwash your face though. Overwashing can dry out your skin and irritate acne you already have, making the situation worse. If you have acne on your back or chest, try not to wear tight clothes because the clothes will rub against the acne and make it worse.
Over the counter treatments can help acne for many people. Just try different products and see what works best for you. Some products might not work at all, so don't get upset if one product doesn't work. Eating nutritious foods can also help to prevent acne. Your skin needs vitamins to be healthy.
When you get a pimple, it is best if you do not pop it or squeeze it. It can be very tempting to just pop it but this can push the infected materials deeper into the skin and cause more redness, swelling and even scarring.
If you get acne, you must remember that it does take time to go away. Many products will promise fast or overnight results to capture the attention of buyers. However, acne does not go away overnight. Don't believe these products that make false promises. You also have to be aware that what works for one person doesn't necessarily work for another. Don't get discouraged just because a product your friend used cleared their acne but didn't work on you. There are many skin types that can affect whether or not a product works on you.
If nothing seems to be working for you, you may need to go to a dermatologist. Dermatologists will take into account all of the factors that are affecting your acne and come up with an appropriate treatment for you. They will create an individual plan for you based on your skin, lifestyle and age. There are so many things today that can get rid of acne that almost every case can be resolved.
Acne can be very upsetting to some people. If the acne is severe, it can even permanently scar your skin. You must be sure you do everything you can to treat and prevent your acne so that you don't get unsightly scars. The best thing you can do to prevent scarring is to treat the acne early. Don't wait to treat it.
Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Acne