Teen age acne is very common. At the start of teen years the oil glands produce more sebum. The excess oil and the dead skin cells mix to plug the hair follicles. Adding to this, the bacteria living on the skin infect the hair follicles and cause irritation in the skin. The blockage of hair follicles results in whitehead if the hair follicles are deep in the skin. If the hair follicles are near the surface of the skin, the plugging causes blackhead. The acne can swell and become reddish if the wall of hair follicle breaks. Usually pimples occur this way. If this condition occurs for a hair follicle situated deep in the skin, cysts and nodules can form. Acne can occur in boys and girls as well. It could be frequent and severe in boys as oil production in them is higher when compared to girls. Occurrence of acne stops normally by the age of 25, but it can affect adults above 25 years also.
Teen age acne can be controlled with prescription medicines and also over-the-counter (OTC) medicines. The most common OTC medications are benzoyl peroxide and salycilic acid. They are very effective in treating acne. These two medications are available in the form of lotions, gels, pads, soaps and creams. They work by killing the bacteria and drying up the oil. However, these medications can cause some side effects such as redness, burning or irritation. If you experience sustained side effects you should bring it to the attention of your doctor. The course of treatment for acne is usually lengthy and you cannot expect overnight success. It may even take two months to notice improvement on your skin. You can seek alternative if OTC medicines do not help you that much.
The alternative is prescription medicines. When the OTC medicines do not produce desired results in you, you should visit your doctor for prescription. Your doctor may prescribe retinoid in the form of gel or cream. As in the case of tretinoin and adapalene, retinoid is applied on the skin once a day. You should not get retinoid near your eyes, nose or mouth. Retinoid increases the risk of sunburn. Pregnant women should consult their doctor before starting retinoid. Severe cystic acne can be treated with isotretinoin. The precautions mentioned for retinoid are applicable to isotretinoin also. Cystic acne can cause scars. Do not squeeze or pop the acne. Do not scrub your skin. However, scars also can be treated.
Besides treating the acne in teen ages, taking preventing measures is equally important, as occurrence of acne can affect the quality of your life. Do not use oil-based make-up. Avoid stress conditions. Do not use astringent natural soaps. If you are a woman you are prone to acne just before start of the menstrual cycle. Keep your skin clean during these days. Do not squeeze or pop the blemishes. Do not scrub your skin. Sexual activity, masturbation, eating chocolate and exposure to dirt are not supposed to cause acne. Maintain a hygienic lifestyle and avoid eating fatty foods. Have enough sleep every day. Avoid prolonged exposure to sun. These preventive measures will definitely control occurrence of acne in the teen ages.