Understanding Teenage Acne

If you've spent any time learning about teenage acne products, then you likely already know how many of them are out there. Each product makes claims to be the end-all of cures, and yet, only some of them seem to help even to a small degree. When you further research acne itself, it isn't just products that vary; there are also many different ideas about the causes and effects of this common teen affliction.

The simple truth of it is that, without a clear understanding of what acne is and what causes it, it can be difficult to find an effective teenage acne treatment. Worse than that, without an effective method of reducing acne, the psychological effects can be quite devastating; the emotional and social impact that a bad case of acne in your teen years can leave you with a complex that follows you far into your adult life.

To begin to understand the problem let's look at what acne is, what causes it, and then we will move on to some simple ways that you can reduce acne in your teen years.

What is Acne?

Acne is a skin condition that is caused by over-production of oil in the skin by the skins oil glands. Plugged pores, blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, and even cysts can be the result of when the oil from these glands gets trapped in oil-ducts beneath the skin. Cases of acne can range from mild, where only a few pimples or blackheads form on the face, to much more severe cases, in which sores cover the entire face, neck, back and shoulders.

Although most prevalent in teens acne can affect anyone. The problem usually starts in the teen years when a child reaches puberty (commonly between 10 and 13), and it commonly last for five to ten years. Teenage acne normally goes away during the early twenties, but not always. Even as an adult you can suffer from this condition.

When it comes to information about acne, there are many conflicting resources, and ideas. To really get a start in preventing teenage acne, a basic knowledge of its real causes is required.

What are the causes of Teenage Acne?

The causes of acne are sometimes argued, but research into the subject gives us an understanding. Let's first talk about what doesn't cause acne. This will help to get rid of some common myths surrounding acne.

Diet does not cause acne: Eating greasy foods, potato chips, or chocolate bars will not give you acne. Some studies link diet to aggravating acne, but what you eat will not cause it in the first place.

A healthy sex drive does not cause can: Another common misconception is that sex causes acne. This simply isn't true. Birth control pills may trigger, or aggravate acne in women, but even then it's not the root cause of the issue.

Exercising will not cause acne: You've likely heard it said that if you sweat, you might get zits. Again this isn't true. Exercising will not make your face start to pop out all over, and it is an important part of your overall health that you do exercise.

Dirt does not cause acne: A dusty or dirty face will not cause acne. Although keeping clean is important, washing your face every 10 minutes will not prevent or even help with your acne. Washing too much may even cause further skin irritation. Poor hygiene may aggravate your acne, but again it is not the root cause.

The real cause of teenage acne is in the oil glands in your skin, in your hormones. In your teenage years hormones such as, testosterone and other androgenic hormones kick into high gear. This usually happens around the same time that a child hits puberty. These hormones trigger the oil glands (the sebaceous gland) in your skin to produce more of a substance known as sebum.

When functioning properly, sebum's job is to transport dead skin cells and bacteria to the surface of the skin. With the increase in production, however, your body produces too much sebum and it clogs your pores. These clogged pores then lead to blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, and even cysts that can get infected below the skin.

With an understanding of how acne starts, it's time look at how to reduce teenage acne.

The Simple Way to Reduce Teenage Acne

The simple fact is that you can't control your body's hormones. You can, however, control the health of your skin. By ensuring that you keep your skin healthy, you increase the chance of everything functioning properly, thus reducing the chances that you will suffer from acne.
 

Studies have shown that the best way to treat teenage acne is to keep your skin healthy. The right treatment along with avoiding the things that aggravate acne is the best cure. There are skin care products intended for acne prevention and reduction, such as our own teenage acne treatment, that can effectively reduce the severity and duration of breakout. These types of treatments are all-natural and aren't harsh on your skin.

Now that you know a little more about acne, you will be better able to control it; and you will be able to choose products that actually work in your pursuit of clear skin.

Johanna Curtis is a licensed skin care professional (esthetician), who works with parents and teens in their struggles with teenage acne. She is the creator of teenage-acne.net  [http://teenage-acne.net/teenage-acne-treatment.html] ; a community-based site, created to support those with acne problems. Johanna suggests the non-damaging topical treatment, Acnezine, as a first step in teenage acne treatment [http://teenage-acne.net/teenage-acne-treatment.html]

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