Teenage years are always angst ridden and confusing for everyone. It is not just the mind that is undergoing changes but the body too.
These changes reflect on the skin as well. Sometimes it is these physical changes that cause more anxiety to the teenager than anything else. And understandably so. From out-of-the-blue breakouts to body odour, to unwanted body and facial hair, the problems are many. Teenagers are particularly prone to acne because levels of hormones (known as androgens) increase at puberty. These hormones cause an increase in the size of the sebaceous glands and the amount of oil they produce. Says skincare expert Dr Jamuna Pai, "You cannot get rid of it once and for all, but yes you can surely keep it under check and prevent the recurrence." She gives practical tips on dealing with issues that particularly afflict teenagers.
These simple tips will help in keeping the skin healthy and glowing:
- Clean your skin with a gentle cleanser each night before bedtime. Look for cleansing products with gentle exfoliants like sea salt which help to loosen the blackheads. Cleansers containing salicylic, alpha hydroxy or lactic acid aid in dissolving dirt and oil, thus unclogging the pores.
- Taking supplements of vitamin A or Zinc, under the guidance of your physician, is a good idea to help control the sebum production and thereby lessen the occurrence of blackheads.
- It is essential to follow a good skin care routine (irrespective of age) including cleansing and moisturising and the use of a good sunscreen daily.
- Eat a healthy and balanced diet and follow a good exercise routine, drink adequate water and find time for rest and relaxation as well.
Tips to bear in mind when dealing with acne:
These changes reflect on the skin as well. Sometimes it is these physical changes that cause more anxiety to the teenager than anything else. And understandably so. From out-of-the-blue breakouts to body odour, to unwanted body and facial hair, the problems are many. Teenagers are particularly prone to acne because levels of hormones (known as androgens) increase at puberty. These hormones cause an increase in the size of the sebaceous glands and the amount of oil they produce. Says skincare expert Dr Jamuna Pai, "You cannot get rid of it once and for all, but yes you can surely keep it under check and prevent the recurrence." She gives practical tips on dealing with issues that particularly afflict teenagers.
These simple tips will help in keeping the skin healthy and glowing:
- Clean your skin with a gentle cleanser each night before bedtime. Look for cleansing products with gentle exfoliants like sea salt which help to loosen the blackheads. Cleansers containing salicylic, alpha hydroxy or lactic acid aid in dissolving dirt and oil, thus unclogging the pores.
- Taking supplements of vitamin A or Zinc, under the guidance of your physician, is a good idea to help control the sebum production and thereby lessen the occurrence of blackheads.
- It is essential to follow a good skin care routine (irrespective of age) including cleansing and moisturising and the use of a good sunscreen daily.
- Eat a healthy and balanced diet and follow a good exercise routine, drink adequate water and find time for rest and relaxation as well.
Tips to bear in mind when dealing with acne:
Do
- Use sunscreen religiously, twice in a day, irrespective of the season or whether you're indoors or outdoors
- Keep your skin clean, by rinsing your face more often with cold water
- Drink more water and eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables
Don't
- Use anything harsh on the skin
- Squeeze the blackhead or pimple
- Exfoliate with harsh granular scrubs
- Buy over the counter products without guidance
- Wax hair from areas like face, chest and back
- Use excess of topical creams (less is more)
- Use rough towel to dry the face
Acne and acne scars
Once the active acne heals, it could leave a red or hyperpigmented mark on the skin as a result of the inflammatory changes in the dermal layer. This is actually not a scar, but rather a post-inflammatory change. The redness or hyperpigmentation is seen as the skin goes through its natural healing and remodelling process, which takes approximately 6-8 weeks. So patience is key when it comes to letting your skin regain its natural balance and glow. Kojic acid (a natural skin lightener derived from mushroom extract), arbutin (aka bearberry extract), and even vitamin C (ascorbic acid) are the ingredients you should look for in over-the-counter skin brightening creams. The topical skincare creams and medications can improve mild scarring, but most acne scars are best treated with a combination of peels and skin resurfacing treatments.
The best way to prevent post-inflammatory changes caused by acne is to prevent acne lesions from occurring. This is done by understanding the factors that cause acne, example polycystic ovaries and using the appropriate treatments for the different acne types as advised by a well-qualified physician.
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