Teenage can be the most difficult time of a person’s life. Teenagers are always in short of time for their favorite activities, leave alone those that are related to personal grooming. Most of this age is spent in school, with books and in examination halls, and there is never enough time to take care of your skin. But the irony is that this is the time when most of the skin related problems occur. The most prevalent among these is acne.

What causes teen acne? – The main cause of acne is the bacteria that gets piled up on the skin pores. This blocks the pores and causes skin inflammations. The hormones that are active during teenage stimulate the skin’s oil glands and thus make the skin more oily. Such skin is more prone to acne.

Types of acne:

• Pimples – are tiny infected points on the skin that is mostly filled with puss.
• Blackheads – are caused by the follicles getting clogged with sebum. It is called blackhead because it becomes black as a result of oxidization.
• Whiteheads – are also caused by follicles getting filled with sebum. It is not oxidized and hence white in color.

Food and Acne – Always give preference to fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet. Avoid junk food that are high in oil and fat. Fast foods and processed foods may contain toxins and hence need to be avoided or at least minimized.

What you can do about your acne problem – There are a range of acne treatments like creams, oral pills, acne lotions and other products. Teenagers can use these and other over-the-counter acne treatments. You can bring out the oil from the skin pores by engaging in fitness related activities and then wash the oil off with soap and water. But don’t scrub your skin, this can only make the condition worse. Be as gentle as possible.

If your acne problem continues even after going for these simple steps, you can visit a dermatologist who will study your skin type and give you suitable prescription medicines.