If you’re almost a teenager then the chance of you coming across acne is pretty high. Around 8 in 10 12-19 year old's will suffer from this ‘normal’ transition from child to adult. Sometimes it can even last through adulthood.
However, knowing this doesn’t make it any easier when you look into the mirror and see that huge pimple that’s appeared from nowhere! The good news is that learning about acne, your skin & taking some quick steps early on can really help you.
What Is Acne?
Acne is a condition that takes many forms on our face, neck, back & chest. The ‘bumps’ can be whiteheads, blackheads, red bumps/pimples, & even bumps that are filled with pus (known as pustules).
What causes these do I hear you ask?
Our skin is covered in tiny hair follicles or pores. Pores contain sebaceous glands (oil glands), that produce sebum. This sebum is great because it naturally oils your hair and skin! However, as a teenager your body can produce too much of this, or not enough. Sometimes your pores can get clogged up by the sebum, dead skin cells and germs (bacteria). This causes your acne.
Whitehead – this is where the pore has got clogged up with sebum and bulges out from the skin
Blackhead – this is where the pore gets clogged up but stays open (the top then gets black)
Pimple – this is where the walls of the pore are broken allowing sebum, dead skin and bacteria to get under the skin and forms an infection
Cysts – this is a deep clogged pore that has gotten really infected
Why are Teens so Prone to Acne?
As you go through puberty you have changes in your hormones. These hormones stimulate the sebaceous glands to make more sebum, and your glands can become too active. Hence when there is too much sebum, it clogs your pores and develops into acne.
Stress can also affect the amount of sebum produced. During your later teens you will be studying for exams and so stress along with puberty means there is a greater risk of acne.
What can I do about it?
To help prevent the oil build up wash your face once or twice a day with a good cleanser – don’t scrub your face as this will irritate the skin.
If you wear makeup, moisturiser or SPF products, make sure they are either oil free or noncomedogenic. Make sure you remove all your makeup properly each night.
If you use hairspray or gels, try to keep the products away from your face as they can clog pores.
Baseball caps and other hats can cause pimples along the hair line – try not to wear them if this is the case for you.
Wash your face if you have been sweating/exercising as this will help clean the pores.
Don’t pick, squeeze or pop your pimples! (I know you will be tempted)
For a complimentary consultation to assist with Acne or for tips on how to prevent your child from acne, contact me via 07704 99866
Comments