Anyone who has acne understands how difficult it can be to heal their skin. However, while treating existing pimples, you can prevent new ones from emerging, thus interrupting the frequently vicious breakout cycle. Although spots can appear everywhere on the skin, they are most commonly found on the face.
While the skin microbiome is diverse, researchers have identified a bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes, appropriately named due to its ability to induce acne breakouts. When this bacteria converts sebum (the oil present naturally on our skin) to fatty acids, it produces inflammation.
While there is no 100% failsafe method for permanently curing acne, you can minimize breakouts and help maintain your skin as healthy as possible. The following are some methods for eradicating teenage acne.
What causes acne?
Breakouts can be triggered by hormones, particularly androgen, which boosts the production of sebum. Skin irritation, including acne, can also be caused by genetics, food, excessive skin products, and environmental factors (such as pollution).
Other causes include:
- Adolescence, pregnancy, and the menstrual cycle are also common causes
- Existing pimples by squeezing or picking
- Excessive cleaning or rubbing of the skin pressure from caps, helmets, and backpack straps
- Cosmetics with a high humidity content, such as oil-based products and certain pharmaceuticals
How to prevent teenage acne?
The following are the tips that you need to follow to prevent teenage acne:
- Maintain a clean face.
Whether you have acne or not, it is critical to wash your face twice daily to remove pollutants, dead skin cells, and excess oil from the surface of your skin. Cleansing more than twice every day is not always beneficial; it may cause more damage than good. Warm, not hot, water and a gentle facial cleanser are recommended. Using a strong soap (such as deodorant body soap) might aggravate already sensitive skin.
Avoid using a washcloth, an exfoliating glove, or a loofah to scrape your skin vigorously (a coarse-textured sponge). Wash it gently with a very delicate cloth or with your hands. Always rinse thoroughly and pat your face dry with a clean cloth. (Put the towel in the laundry basket; dirty towels are a breeding ground for bacteria.) Additionally, only use the washcloth once.
2. Cleanse your face properly
It helps avoid pimples, and it is critical to cleanse your skin regularly of excess oil, grime, and sweat. Excessive washing of the face, on the other hand, may exacerbate acne.
Here are tips for cleansing your face:
- Dampen it with warm, not hot, water.
- Use your fingertips, not a washcloth.
- Gently apply a light cleanser in a circular motion.
- Thoroughly rinse and pat dry.
3. Recognize your skin type
Knowing your skin type is generally beneficial because it enables you to determine which products to use and which to avoid. You can evaluate your skin type using the following characteristics (although you can also contact a dermatologist if you’re still unsure):
- Dry: Your skin frequently feels flaky and constricting.
- Oily: By the end of the day, your skin will appear shiny.
- Combination: You have patches of dry skin and sections of oily skin (your oily skin is typically concentrated in the T-zone – your forehead, nose, and chin).
- Sensitive: Your skin is prone to irritation and redness.
While oily skin types are more prone to acne, anyone can develop pimples regardless of their skin type. Having information about your skin type on hand can assist you in selecting the appropriate acne regimen to help your skin clear up. If your skin is sensitive and acneic, utilizing a high concentration of acne-fighting actives such as a salicylic acid wash, a salicylic acid exfoliating toner, and a retinol cream may be too much for your skin, resulting in more breakouts owing to a broken skin barrier. If your skin is oilier, utilizing a moisturizer designed for dry skin may be excessively occlusive, resulting in clogged pores.
4. Moisturize
Moisturizers aid in the skin’s hydration. Even if you have acne, moisturizer is critical because when your skin becomes too dry, it produces oil (sebum) to compensate – and an overabundance of sebum results in pimples.
On the other hand, many moisturizers contain oil, synthetic fragrance, or other substances that might irritate the skin and result in pimples. Before choosing a moisturizer, always read the ingredient list to ensure it is fragrance-free and non-comedogenic—the fewer components in a product for acne-prone or sensitive skin, the better.
5. Use O-T-C products
Over-the-counter (OTC) acne remedies can aid in the healing process or even prevent pimples from occurring in the first place. These OTC remedies can occasionally produce redness, irritation, and dryness if used excessively; therefore, following the manufacturer’s directions is critical. What you should know about the most often used active substances in over-the-counter acne treatments:
- Peroxide of benzoyl. Because it eliminates acne-causing bacteria, benzoyl peroxide is most effective for inflammatory acne, such as cysts and red pimples.
- Sodium salicylate. This substance is suitable for treating blackheads and whiteheads because it can clear pores and reduce irritation.
- Sulfur. Sulfur is a natural component that is frequently softer than the two ingredients discussed above. It can dry off dead skin cells and unclog pores, as well as absorb excess sebum.
If you’re unsure which over-the-counter acne treatment is best for your skin type or specific skin objectives. It may be worthwhile to consult a dermatologist for an expert opinion.
A dermatologist can make a professional suggestion about which product to use and advise you on any potential interactions. For example, combining a beta hydroxy acid (such as salicylic acid) with retinol might result in redness and severe dryness, so it is recommended to avoid mixing these chemicals.
6. Limit your use of make-up
It’s tempting to conceal pimples with cosmetics. This, however, may block pores and result in breakouts.
It can be challenging to eliminate make-up from your everyday regimen. If you prefer to continue using products, you should choose a non-comedogenic and fragrance-free foundation or concealer to avoid aggravating your skin further. When you’re through wearing make-up, be careful to gently wash it off, especially before going to bed at night.
Along with reducing your make-up, you should be cautious of any other products used near your face, particularly hair styling products. Hair spray, dry shampoo, and texturizing treatments all can irritate the skin and create breakouts. Additionally, look for products that are oil-free and non-comedogenic.
7. Avoid foods that can trigger teenage acne.
Your food may also play a role in the development of acne. Processed meals, dairy products, alcohol, and refined sugars are all frequently cited as contributing to skin problems. Eliminating these things from your diet may help alleviate your outbreaks.
If decrease does not appear to be helping your acne flare-ups, you can attempt an exclusion diet to help pinpoint the source. Typically, an elimination diet involves abstaining from gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, fast food, and alcohol for 23 days. This may seem excessive, but after 23 days, you can begin reintroducing these foods to your diet one at a time, noting any changes in your skin. This enables you to determine whether any of these meals are simple acne triggers for you.
Before embarking on any new diet, you should consult your physician to ensure that you take an adequate quantity of calories and nutrients each day.
Talking to a dermatologist can help you with your acne problems. If you’re looking for a derma clinic that will help you with your teenage acne woes, let the expert esthetician from Love Glow Studio handle the job for you! Love Glow Studio offers acne facials that will help cleanse your skin from your teenage acne. Book an appointment now and say goodbye to your teenage acne.
