Acne

The teenage years are filled with excitement and many changes and opportunities. Unfortunately, for many these years include the development of acne.

Acne (pimples) results from over-activity of the oil glands at the base of hair follicles, especially on the face, back, chest, and shoulders. When these oil glands become plugged or irritated they become red and inflamed.

Causes of Acne

One factor in the development of acne is the increase in hormones that occurs naturally during the teen years. Higher hormone levels cause the oil glands to become over-active.

Another factor is family background or heredity. This plays a role in some teens having little trouble with acne and others developing severe acne.

Lastly, certain bacteria are normally present on the skin. The bacteria thrive on the excess oil produced by skin glands and cause infection in the glands - and acne.

Contrary to popular belief:

There is no proof that eating rich or fatty foods, soft drinks, chocolate, or other "junk" foods eaten by the average teen causes acne.
There is also no proof that dirt on the face is directly linked to the development of acne.
Impure thoughts or being a "bad" person has never been implicated as a cause of acne.

On the other hand, certain actions are known to make acne worse. Avoid:

Squeezing or "popping" pimples – this tends to force the oil deeper into the skin, which cause the development of deeper infected cysts
Excessive scrubbing or rubbing of the skin - this can include head bands, helmet straps, hats, hair in the face, and even the teens own hands used to support a cheek or chin

Hormonal changes such as those during a menstrual cycle can also increase acne.

Controlling Acne

Although there is no cure for acne, there are many things one can do to control it. First wash the face two or three times a day using a mild soap, followed by gentle patting of the skin to dry it.

There are over-the-counter medications that can help acne. Benzoyl peroxides are gels that can be applied to those areas that have an acne problem daily. It may take four to six weeks to work. If the acne persists after consistent careful cleansing of the skin and regular use of the benzoyl peroxides, see your doctor.

Medications can be prescribed that are even stronger. These include antibiotics, Retin-A, and Accutane. There are potential side effects to all of these medications and their use should be monitored by your doctor.

Last Updated: March 19, 2009