Acne Treatment and Pimple Products

Surveys of teenagers report that over 70 percent of them suffer from negative effects on their lives as a result of acne.

Acne affects an estimated 20 million teens, yet each of them wonders if he or she is the only person with the problem. This is because adolescence is a time of uncertainty and low confidence. Even without the effects of skin problems, most teens are still developing the self-esteem they will need to become happy, mentally healthy adults. Acne can make a teenager reclusive and depressed.

Teenage girls have an especially hard time. The teenage years are when boys and girls first become interested in each other, and the effects of acne blemishes on a young girl’s face can be excruciatingly embarrassing. While society shows her nonstop images of female and perfection and beauty, she sees nothing but imperfection every time she looks in the mirror.

A parent should be supportive and sympathetic to a teenager. Girls need to hear that they have positive qualities and that their parents love them. This creates self-esteem that will last a lifetime. If a teen suffers from pimples, then the parents owe it to her to find the right acne treatment, even if means seeing a medical professional.

Good parenting means educating yourself about the causes of acne. There are many myths about pimples that science has now proven aren’t true. Greasy foods and chocolate are no longer believed to play a large role. Cleanliness isn’t a major cause of pimples either. While proper skin cleansing is important, this is rarely a problem for beauty-obsessed teenage girls.

The facts are not as simple as the myths. Teenagers get pimples because their hormones work extreme changes on the oil glands in their skin. The surge of sex hormones called androgens make these glands secrete more oil. When the oil mixes with the normal cycle of skin cell death and regeneration, the skin’s pores get blocked. Normal bacteria that live on the skin feed on the dead skin cells and oil and make the skin flare up.

If the inflammation is only a moderate case, over-the-counter pimple products are sufficient for treatment. The active ingredients in these products include salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. These products can dry out the skin and should be followed up with a high quality moisturizer to avoid flaking and peeling of the skin.

For severe acne, don’t hesitate to take your teenage daughter to see a dermatologist. New acne products are being developed all the time that can be far more effective than over the counter acne medications for healing acne and cystic acne. A good skin doctor will consider the patient’s physical, emotional, and social well-being and will prescribe effective treatment. A medical specialist will also be aware of any related health problems that might effect a teenager’s complexion. Taking your teen to a doctor will show her that you take her problem seriously and are willing to do whatever it takes to help her solve it.