Top 10 Effective Methods That Prevent Teen Acne

Meta Description: Are you suffering from teen acne? Are pimples on your face hindering your everyday life and becoming frustrating? With so many tips available online, try out these ten effective methods to reduce your acne considerably.

 

Introduction

Teens often find it hard to deal with life. Also known as adolescence, teens not only go through physical changes but also mentally and socially.

 

There is one change that almost all teens, regardless of their gender, face during such a period – acne. It is nearly impossible to pass your adolescence without having any breakouts on your face. However, do remember that you are not the only one to experience it. According to a UC Davis Health report, 85 percent of teens suffer from acne.

 

Most teens also feel embarrassed and try out various remedies to clear it out. Moreover, acne can take a toll on a teen’s already sensitive self-esteem. A teen facing the problem of acne can have psychological effects ranging from anxiety, depression, and low self-worth.

 

The good news is that teen acne is treatable, and there are several treatments available. But, before we look into that, let us understand acne more in detail.

 

What Is Acne? What Causes It?

Acne is a broad term that describes clogged pores. It includes whiteheads and blackheads (non-inflammatory acne), pimples, cysts, and pustules (inflammatory acne). These occur due to a combination of bacteria, dead skin cells, and sebum, causing oily skin. Acne not only develops on the face but also on the chest and the back.

 

The influx of hormones during puberty stimulates the tiny oil glands, which produce oily sebum. In normal conditions, the sebum escapes without causing any breakouts. But when you get acne, your opening of the follicle gets blocked and prevents the sebum from breaking free. This blocked pore is called a whitehead.

 

Furthermore, when whiteheads get exposed to air, blackheads are formed. Red pimples occur when bacteria multiply within the plugged pore. And if they become filled with fluid and pus, it results in some of the most painful cysts, which may leave scars.

Try out these ten most effective ways for acne care:

 

1. Stop Picking Your Skin: Teens often assume that randomly touching the face does not result in acne. But picking your skin or touching it in any way can worsen your acne and trigger breakouts.

 

1. Don’t Pop Pimples: Don’t give in to the temptation to touch your face or pop your pimples randomly. While popping a pimple may seem the easy way to get rid of it, doing so can lead to several negative consequences.

 

When you try to pick on pimples, it can result in scarring and further increases inflammation. Moreover, you can develop permanent scars, which can appear bigger than the original pimple.

 

On the other hand, when you pop cysts or very deep pimples, you eventually push the bacteria further into your skin. It leads to more formation of acne.

 

1. Wash Your Face Twice a Day: You should include washing your face twice a day with a mild cleanser in your overall acne care plan. This technique, however simple, is very crucial.

 

Always wash your face daily, especially when you have acne-prone skin or oily skin. You can use gentle cleaner or facewash to wash your face when it gets oily or dirty. But excessive washing can make your skin dry, leading to more breakouts.

 

Dermatologists recommend washing your face when you wake up, before going to bed and when you have a sweaty face. After cleansing:

• Pat your face gently with a soft, clean towel.
• Do not rub your skin excessively as it can become irritated.
• Use warm water as it works effectively to clean the skin.

1. Try OTC Acne Treatments: The most common over-the-counter (OTC) treatments for acne are benzoyl peroxides and salicylic acid. These OTC medicines are non-prescription medicines that you can buy without a doctor’s prescription and are safe to use.

 

For severe breakouts, benzoyl peroxide is a more potent treatment. It helps dry up dead skin cells, kills acne-causing bacteria, and prevents the formation of excess sebum. Benzoyl peroxide works well for frequent inflammatory acne lesions. You can use a lotion or face wash that contains up to 10 percent of benzoyl peroxide for effective acne care.

 

On the other hand, you can find salicylic acid in different face washes, body washes, and astringents. Salicylic acid gets rid of dead skin cells, including whiteheads and blackheads. It eases inflammation and unclogs pores.

 

Retinoids are types of vitamin A derivate, which unplug pores and prevent oily skin. Many retinoids are available OTC, but you need to visit the dermatologist if you need stronger formulas. The first choice is a topical retinoid that comes in the form of gels and creams. This study suggests that retinoid and benzoyl acid, when used together, efficiently treats acne.

 

However, before trying any treatments, lookout for any side effects and immediately stop its usage if it worsens your acne.

1. Exfoliate At Least Once a Week: Exfoliation removes the dead skin cells and is beneficial for all skin types. For acne-prone skin, weekly exfoliation helps keep acne at bay. When you exfoliate, you keep the pores from becoming clogged with sebum or dead cells.

 

You can also consider using gentle exfoliator treatments containing salicylic acid. Remember to never over-exfoliate or vigorously rub the skin as it can cause damage.

1. Wash Things That Touch Your Skin: Pillowcases, hats, blankets, and other things, which touch the skin are at risk of triggering pimples. It is because they have dead cells, dirt, and bacteria that build upon their surfaces.

 

It would help if you washed whatever comes in contact with your acne-prone skin. If possible, change your sheets and pillowcases weekly.

1. Protect Skin with The Suitable Cream: The creams, gels, face washes, and soaps aimed at acne may not work for all. Since each person’s skin is different, the acne treatment also differs. Instead of choosing the most popular product for acne instinctively, one needs to examine its ingredients and check for customer reviews carefully.

 

Recently, one of the most promising products for treating acne is the Musely The Spot Cream. Manufactured by the skincare brand Musely, this company also offers online consultation. The brand focuses on a wide range of skincare products that help reduce acne, dark spots, and large pores and treat similar skin conditions.

 

This cream has pore shrinking abilities, which further prevent the breakout of pimples. Moreover, it fights off dark spots, fine lines, acne scars, and melasma and may be one of the best anti-wrinkle creams on the market. Here are the ingredients it uses:

 

• Hyaluronic acid – Improves the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines by moisturizing the skin and keeping it hydrated for a long time.
• Niacinamide – It is a standard anti-aging formula that reduces dark spots and has pore shrinking qualities.
• Hydroquinone – It evens out the skin tone and provides a youthful glow.
• Kojic acid – This acid has qualities that prevent skin from irritation.
• Octisalate – This active ingredient has UV protection effects.

 

1. Reduce Levels of Stress: Due to all the changes taking place during adolescence, this period may put a teen under stress. When a person is under stress, acnes take a longer time to heal than usual. The longer the pimples stay on the skin, the more severe acne can become.

 

Try to manage your stress levels and keep them under check to prevent acne from flaring up.

 

1. Wear Sunscreen: Sun exposure makes acne even worse. Sunscreen protects the skin from harmful rays and prevents acne caused by sunburns. The most common way to protect your skin is by wearing an acne moisturizer that acts as a sunscreen.

 

1. So, not only does this cream prevent large pores from forming, but it also successfully reduces post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and reveals an even skin tone. It revitalizes dead and dull skin and gives a healthy and youthful glow.

 

Final Thoughts

 

Although teen acne is treatable and mostly disappears once we enter adulthood, it will not happen instantly. It would be best to start treating your acne as soon as possible for better results. Develop healthy skincare habits and an equally healthy lifestyle to prevent acne breakouts from interfering in your life.

Author Bio:

Sophia Anthony is a freelance writer and blogger, covering health and fitness topics through visual representation. She is very passionate about general health and beauty. Apart from work she likes dancing and listening to music. You can also contact her on Facebook, and Instagram.