Acne affects many people just as they hit their teens. It’s such a common skin condition; acne usually begins in puberty and around 85 per cent of people between the ages of 12 and 24 will experience some form of it.
There’s no cure for acne but even serious cases can be managed. If your teen is experiencing serious and prolonged breakouts of spots and acne, see your doctor for advice. There are medicines that may relieve the symptoms and we know that acne can be a distressing condition at a time when appearance feels like everything.
What causes acne?
Changes in hormones can lead to increased sebum production, which is often made worse by using the wrong skincare products. Using over the counter products with a drying action can do more than just dry out the excess sebum – they take moisture out of the skin, causing it to make even MORE sebum.
When choosing acne skincare products, let me advice you on which products will suit your skin. Over the counter drugstore washes and lotions can be harsh and aren’t suitable for all skin types.
Inflammation can also lead to acne. For teens who play a lot of sports, sweat can be the number one culprit of an ance breakout. Poor diet, too much sugar, wheat, gluten and carbs are another culprit. Diet DOES matter, regardless of what others have said. Other things that might irritate the skin include overdoing the cover-up cosmetics which can cause pores to become clogged.
So what can I do to get clearer skin? There are a few sure fire ways to reduce acne. Even if you don’t suffer from major breakouts, learning o take care of your skin will be something that keeps it healthy for life.
1. Wash your face twice a day.
Wash with lukewarm water and a gentle non-soap cleanser. Use fingertips, a soft microfiber cloth or THE AMAZING TAMBA ULTRASONIC tool! Keep the water warm and not hot because very hot water can actually make acne worse.
2. Use acne skincare products regularly
Let's find a suitable acne treatment product. Often these can be used on JUST problem areas. Typically I recommend products that contain mandelic, salicylic or glycolic acid.
3. Apply moisturizer.
Yes, even acne skin needs a moisturizer! Here's where we will choose oil free, non-acnegenic or non-comedogenic. (That goes for makeup and sunscreen, too.)
4. Remember hair gets greasy too
Keep your hair clean and off your face. Aim to wash hair daily and after exercise, and also keep any sports helmets or caps clean to avoid transferring oil to their face. Avoid getting overspray from hair products on the skin.
5. EAT RIGHT! Choose a diet rich with vegetables and protein. Avoid sugary, starchy and high carb foods. Avoid dairy, another major culprit for exacerbating acne. Drink water! Aim for half of your body's weight in ounces per day! 6. Don’t pick!
No matter how tempting it is to squeeze spots and blackheads, doing so just spreads bacteria which makes more spots develop. If you've developed pustular acne, come in for a treatment with extractions. For most cases of mild acne, a good skincare routine will keep their skin in good condition and stop the acne from getting worse.
At Bel Viso Skin Studio, we have a lot of weapons in our arsenal to help you win the battle against acne!