Recently, I was asked about skin care advice for teenagers because my existing acne information is not as extensive enough so I will address this very term and post a more detailed article on the subject of skin care tips and advice for teenagers including information on Hygiene, nutrition, vitamins and exercise.
Skin problems are the curse of adolescence and many teenagers struggle with acne due to their changing hormones.
Firstly, before jumping into the advice aspect of skin care, we must mention what exactly causes pimples or zits in Teens. A pimple starts when the pores in the skin become clogged with a type of oil called sebum, which naturally lubricates the hair and skin. Acne is very common during puberty when hormones go into overdrive, causing the skin to overproduce this oily substance called sebum. When bacteria feeds on this sebum, you get inflammation. The resulting blemish is the body's attempt to fight off the invasive bacteria. Because many oil-producing glands are on the forehead, nose, and chin, this area which is named the T-zone is where a teenager is most prone to pimples or zits. Skin problems are the curse of adolescence and many teenagers struggle with acne due to their changing hormones. Here is some skin care advice to help teenagers achieve some positive results with their skin.
Skin Care Advice for Teenagers
Acne at any level should be taken very seriously, especially by teens. Moderate to severe scarring can become problematic in teenagers when left untreated. In turn, the scars left behind from untreated acne can cause some emotional pain in many social situations. Face Washing Advice Avoiding regular bars of soap - Don\'t use soap. It's for feet and underarms and other body parts. Cleanse with a cleaner specially formulated for your special skin type. You should use a face cleanser, rather than a bar of soap to wash your face. Soap can over dry the surface of your skin and cause it to feel oily in just a few hours. Bar soap and many foaming cleansers have high pH balances with harsh ingredients that strip the water out of the skin, creating layers of dead, dry skin cell buildup. Choose gel cleansers that avoid the harsh ingredient Sodium Laureth Sulfate. These are better choices than over-the-counter soap products, as they won't rob the skin of much needed water. After cleansing, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends applying an over-the-counter non-prescription lotion containing benzoyl peroxide.
- :: Face wash at bedtime - After a long day, oil, sweat, dirt, and bacteria have built up on the skin, which can make clogged pores and breakouts worse. washing your face at bedtime with a good gel cleanser will make the world of difference. During the night, your skin remains active, even while you rest, and you should wash again in the morning to start with a clean clear face.
- :: Use Facial Scrubs - Regular use of a scrub helps deep clean your skin and makes your complexion look brighter and clearer. If your skin is breaking out, be very careful using a scrub, because the grains can irritate the blemishes and make them worse. The scrub contains grains that do the work. Gently apply the scrub to your damp skin and gently rinse off. The scrub also helps fight blackheads and tighten pores.
- :: Nutrition Advice Change your nutrition habits - Learning the basics about healthy eating will help you form a lifetime of good habits and may even protect you from acne. In general, try to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, fish, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products. Limit your consumption of sugary snacks, sodas and high fat fast-foods. Drink lots of water (aim for eight glasses a day) and don't skip meals.
- :: Avoid Spicy & Greasy Foods - It is best to avoid sweets and coffee and all caffeinated & carbonated drinks, greasy and spicy foods, Refined sugars, which are empty calories, that gives you a quick boost and then an emotional low. Also try to avoid yeast-rich products that can also lead to hormonal imbalance. They all deplete the body of minerals & force toxins to the skins surface in the form of pimples & acne and aren\'t good for your overall health, or your face.
- :: Avoid Dairy Products - Many people have heard that greasy foods and chocolate cause breakouts. Although the chocolate part is a common myth, when breakouts are cyst-like in the chin and jaw area, most often this is related to too many dairy products in your diet. Try eliminating cheese, milk, ice cream, and frozen yogurt, and watch your skin clear up!
- :: Limit your intake of acidic foods and juices - If your breakouts most often occur on your cheeks, it may be from too many acidic foods in your diet. The acidity from orange juice, oranges, tomatoes and spaghetti sauce may be the culprit!
- :: Good food promotes good skin - Eat well, rest, exercise, and drink lots of fluids. Eating vegetables is an essential part of true beauty, eat Fresh Fruit & Veggies, specifically those containing potassium i.e. bananas, watercress, dried fruit & green peppers. Wholegrain & fiber rich foods, which help to evacuate toxins in the body.
- :: Drink plenty of fluids - water, juices, lemonade, herbal tea, etc. They flush away toxins and impurities. Hydrated skin looks great on the face and everywhere else! Vitamins They must never be seen as a substitute for a good diet, but rather as health enhancing. Nutrition experts recommend increasing fatty acids (1 tablespoon of vegetable oil every day) and increasing intake of niacin, vitamin C and vitamin A.
- :: Exercise Healthy skin is beautiful skin - and that only happens with overall health. So get moving. Turn off the TV, Log off of the computer, try to spend at least 30 minutes a day working up a good sweat. It will help your body stay strong and healthy by burning off the bad stuff and quickly restoring the good. The payoff is shiny hair and glowing skin! In the least, some form of exercise should be taken daily, even if it is as walk around the block a couple of times. A few deep breaths every morning and evening to oxygenate the lungs is also very beneficial.
Don't forget, sweat and oil transfer bacteria from pore to pore - practically fertilizing acne, so clean up with a shower after any strenuous activity.
Acne Care Advice
:: Don't pick or squeeze pimples. That only leads to scarring, and the pus can infect other areas of your skin. It's tempting, but here's why you shouldn't: Popping pimples can push infected material further into the skin, leading to more swelling and redness, and even scarring. If you notice a pimple coming before a big event, a dermatologist can often treat it for you with less risk of scarring or infection.
:: Trouble in the T-zone? A hairstyle may help hide those zits across your forehead, but it works against clearing them up too. When possible - in the evening, use a head band or scarf to pull your hair out of the way so that area can get air.
:: Keep your hands off! Touching your face can spread the bacteria that cause pores to become inflamed and irritated. To keep bacteria at bay, wash your hands before applying anything to your face, such as treatment creams or makeup. Don't use your hands to prop up your head when studying. Your hands come in contact with surfaces full of bacteria and chemicals - door knobs, telephones, railings, etc. Keep your hands off your complexion; it's working hard enough to beat what it meets on its own! and keep your bangs off your face, Keep hair clean and out of your face to prevent additional dirt and oil from clogging your pores and don't use leave-in conditioners or styling products if you are prone to hairline acne.
:: Avoid using chemicals. Antibiotics, chemical peels, harsh scrubs and most commercial preparations contain ingredients that may temporarily help your face, but take their toll on other body organs and functions. And, these products often over dry your skin, and it reacts by producing excessive oil. Wear no makeup whenever possible. It helps your skin to breathe.
:: Take care when choosing beauty cosmetics: Cosmetics like foundation, blush and moisturizer should be oil-free. Choose cosmedic products that do not promote the formation of blemishes or cause blocked pores. Ask a qualified sales person which skin products would be best for your skin type and remove your makeup before you go to sleep. When buying makeup, make sure you choose brands that say "noncomedogenic" or "nonacnegenic" on the label.
:: Protect your skin from the sun. It may seem like a tan masks acne, but it's only temporary. A tan can cause the body to produce extra sebum, which may worsen your acne, not improve it. Tanning also causes damage to skin that will eventually lead to wrinkles and increase your risk of skin cancer. Sunlight helps our bodies create vitamin D. So follow these tips when you're outdoors to help manage sun exposure: Use a minimum of SPF 15 sunscreen, each and every day. Even if you're not going out in the sun - protect from reflection and lights. A tan may be fashionable. But, this is the only face you have. A face glowing with healthy skin is more fashionable in the long run! Avoid UV exposure. Sun affects your skin long before you actually see the damage, and when you do, it's irreversible. Use your sun smarts and always wear sunscreen.
NOTE: Dermatologists encourage parents to seek medical treatment for teenagers with mild to severe acne and warn against taking the "wait and see" approach. Avoiding treatment can make acne worse and may increase the chance for permanent acne scarring.