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Acne/Pimples
Almost no one makes it to adulthood
without getting pimples or acne. You can hold out hope that you'll
be the first, but you're better off knowing how to deal with
pimples and doing your best to prevent them.
The increase in hormones running
through your body causes your skin to produce more oil than when
you were a kid. You need some oil to lubricate your skin and hair.
But when the oil glands in your skin become more active, it's
easier for your pores to get blocked with the extra oil. A blocked
pore causes blackheads and whiteheads. When a blocked pore becomes
infected with bacteria, you may get a pimple.
As you may already know, pimples can
come in various sizes and appear on many parts of your body. They
can be small, relatively painless bumps that only take a day or
two to go away or larger, painful cyst-like infections under the
skin surface. Pimples most often appear on the face, but they're
also common on the back, neck, chest, shoulders, and other areas
of the body. No matter where they appear or how big they are,
basically all pimples are infections.
The first thing you can do in order
to prevent or reduce pimples is to cut down on the amount of oil
that accumulates on your skin. The best way to do this is to
cleanse your face twice a day with a mild soap and water. Don't
scrub too hard, as this may cause irritation and contribute to
more oil being released from your skin.
Washing twice a day is enough for
most teens, but you may also want to cleanse your face:
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When
removing makeup at the end of the day. Avoid going to sleep with
your makeup on.
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After
exercising
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After being
in a greasy or dirty environment, such as working in a fast food
restaurant or cleaning a dusty room
Even with the best of skin care,
you're going to get some pimples during your teen years. There are
many over the counter medications that may help them clear up more
quickly. Pick at or pop your pimples. This can make them worse and
may cause scars or tiny pockmarks.
If your acne is really bad, your
pediatrician or dermatologist (skin doctor) can prescribe a
special cleanser or medication. Try to remember that acne usually
clears up and pimples become more manageable in your late teens.
Meanwhile, make sure you keep your face clean and keep some over
the counter pimple medication handy.
Things to know about acne and
preventing pimples:
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Eating
greasy food, chocolate, or any other specific foods does not cause
pimples. There are other reasons not to overeat those foods, but
the oil on your skin is produced by glands in your skin and not
affected by the foods you eat.
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If you wear
makeup, make sure it is water-based or oil-free.
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If your
hair is long enough to touch your face, shampoo it regularly. Oil
on your hair (and the products you use on it, like gel and
hairspray) can contribute to clogged facial pores.
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Since your
hands tend to accumulate dirt and bacteria, try to keep from
touching your face and resting your chin on your hands.
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Your
changing hormone levels may cause you to get more pimples just
before your period.
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Getting a
tan doesn't clear up acne. While a suntan may make pimples less
visible temporarily, ultimately the sun damages your skin even
more.
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