The Trials and Tribulations of Teenage Acne

Teenage acne is one of the things that can make already trying teenage years even harder. Perhaps one of the most frustrating aspects about teenage acne is that nobody is sure, what causes it. Even worse, there doesn't seem to be any sure-fire cure to tackle it. The hard facts are that during the teenage years, some people will be blessed with clear skin and others will have to struggle with unsightly acne that can sometimes take its toll on one's self confidence.

At an age when physical appearance starts to become more important, it is easy to be carried away by products that claim to cure teenage acne overnight. Before handing over your money, remember that nothing has been proven to cure teenage acne 100%. The best way to take care of this problem is to first understand what it is.

An Oily Issue

While the exact cause of acne is still unknown, it is known that during puberty, the sebaceous or oil glands sometimes work overtime, secreting extra oil that often clog the hair follicles. An addition of little bacteria causes acne. Teenage acne can appear in different ways; for some people it appears as tiny pimples while others get blackheads, whiteheads, or zits. 

Acne affects both boys and girls and it has been noted that certain factors can trigger acne attacks. This can range from the onset of menstrual cycles in girls to even just stress or a change in diet. 

Prevention Is Better Than Cure

For most people, teenage acne will clear up, once the jolts of puberty have settled. But until then, there are a number of steps you can take to make sure your acne attacks aren't unbearable. First, remember that, it is not dirt that causes acne; therefore, washing your face too much is not going to help. In fact, in some cases excess washing has been known to aggravate acne.

If you notice that your face tends to be oily, make sure you wipe off the extra oil on a regular basis. This will reduce the chances of oil clogging your pores. If your oily skin is too much for you to handle, you can use products like Benzoyl Peroxide or Retinoid. However, be advised that these products dry your pores depending on the strength of treatment. Therefore, along with treating teenage acne, this could lead to other problems like skin dryness, rashes or a change in skin color.

Remember that what goes in your mouth is bound to show up on your face. If your diet mainly consists of junk foods, you can bet that it's going to show up as acne on your face. Cutting out junk food is probably one of the best ways to tackle teenage acne. You can also stay away from foods that are high in refined sugars or carbohydrates. In addition, avoiding foods with trans-fatty acids is a good idea to prevent teenage acne.

If you feel like snacking, eat fresh fruits and vegetables, as these will not only help clear up your skin, they are nutritious too. Drink about 6 to 8 glasses of water a day, as this will help flush out the toxins from your body. When it comes to skin care products and soaps, opting for natural skin care products is a good way to prevent acne. While teenage acne might not be curable, it certainly is something that you can control with good eating habits and common sense.