Teen Acne

With acne affecting 90% of teens it’s no wonder they feel like they are in a constant battle with their skin.  Acne always seems to pop up right before a big event; a school dance, the night of  a  big game or the 1st day of school. For some teens this can cause social anxiety, which may make them withdraw from their favorite activities.  As with many things the best defense is a good offense when it comes to skin care.

There are many reasons teens get acne. A few of them are diet, hormonal imbalances, and allergies to products and some medications can also cause breakouts.  More severe cases may be due to in part to candida, toxic bowel, thyroid dysfunction, as well adrenal disorders to name a few.

The main issue that all teens have in common is the production of hormones called androgens. Teens produce this hormone during puberty which directly affects the oil content they produce.  It can cause them to produce more and even thicker oil.  It cannot really stopped but it can be managed with education on how to battle it.

Proper daily home care will be your weapon and strategy of choice.  Cleansing your skin twice a day is crucial.  Using a cleanser with salicylic acid is best because very mild exfoliation is administered with each cleansing.  It is important  to avoid toners with an alcohol base since alcohol will strip and dry out the skin causing it to go into oil production over load.  Using a gel moisturizer opposed to a cream moisturizer (even oil free cream based) is a better plan since it is not as clogging and heavy on the pores.

The main secret weapon is going to be 1) a proper serum to treat the skin and 2) at home facials twice a week. Using a multivitamin serum to calm down and neutralize the skin is the first choice in seruming. For your at home facials you  will want to use a gentle detoxifying scrub to help slough off dead skin cells and excess surface oils, followed by a clay mask to absorb excess oil and temporarily shrink the pores.

Now you have the game plan to win the teen acne battle. To learn how and which products are right for your teen and jump start your battle plan to clear skin come see me at Vitality Unlimited Spa for individual assessment, training and/or teen acne facial treatments.

Sarah Mask
Internationally Certified Esthetician