How to combat Teen Acne!
If you are a teenager/preteen or you have a teen that is starting to get acne/pimples, you are not alone! First of all lets talk about what acne is and how you get it.
Acne 101
Acne is a chronic skin condition that can occur in people of all ages. Most commonly it is thought to be a teenage problem but that isn’t always the case. It occurs when pores become clogged and start to become inflamed or infected. A bacteria called P. acnes is the most common bacteria to cause it. It can also be caused by fluctuations in hormones. When hormone levels change, sebum(oil) production increases which leads to dead skin cells and bacteria being trapped in the pores. Because of this it is super important to keep your skin clean as well as use a product that enhances cell turnover!
Types of Acne
Whiteheads - hair follicles that become clogged beneath the skin surface and produce a bump that is white
Blackheads - hair follicles that are plugged that reach the surface and open up. Exposure to the sun causes the sebum present to turn dark
Papules - Inflamed lesions that are usually pink and are more sore when touched
Pustules - papules that are filled with pus
Nodules - deeper lesions that are painful and can get quite large
Cystic Acne - deeper lesions that are pus filled and look like cysts under the skin
Starter Routine to Manage Teen Acne
-Use a gentle cleanser to clean your face. You can also use a cleanser with an active ingredient in it to target the type of acne you have. Salicylic Acid is usually better for targeting blackheads while benzoyl peroxide is great for targeting pustules and white heads. You can also use a sulfur based cleanser to target acne.
-It is important that you use a moisturizer in the AM and the PM. This can be any gentle or non-comodogenic moisturizer. One of my favorites is the Cerave AM which already contains a sunscreen. This helps your teen cut down on steps! For the nighttime, Cerave PM is recommended as it contains hyaluronic acid and is super moisturizing!
- Make sure that you use a daily sunscreen in the morning with at least a 30 SPF!
-At night after cleansing, use an over the counter retinol such as Differin to enhance cell turnover. The main ingredient, adapalene, works deep in the skin to treat acne and prevent new acne from forming. It also helps even out your natural skin’s tone and texture!
AM and PM steps
AM:
Gentle Cleanser or cleanser with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide
Moisturizer
Sunscreen
PM:
Gentle Cleanser
Differin Gel
Moisturizer
I hope this is helpful! Remember this is just a starter guide! You or your teen may need targeted treatments based on individual needs! If you want individualized recommendations you can click here for a skincare consult. As always, talk with your doctor or dermatologist before starting any new treatments!
-xoxo
hallie