Breaking Out: Acne Problems and Teenagers Skin care gets a little more complicated as a person gets older. Many people suffer from acne problems at a time of life when they are most concerned about their appearance.
Facing the Problem Covering the face in different foams, cleansers, and powders becomes a routine because teens often have to deal with more skin problems during their puberty years than they ever will again.
The bad news is that acne does not end when a person enters adulthood. It can still be a part of growing up. There is some good news, however, as there are a number of ways to deal with skin problems during this crucial period in a teenager’s life.
Puberty, Hormones, and Acne Acne can appear as pimples, whiteheads, blackheads, cysts, papules, pustules or nodules. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, it is the most common skin disorder in the country, affecting 40 to 50 million individuals, mostly teenagers. These skin problems occur at the tiny pores associated with the hair follicles on the face, back, and chest. The hormonal changes in a person’s body produce oily sebum in the small oil (sebaceous) glands around the hair follicles.
When the opening of the follicles gets blocked, it prevents the sebum from escaping normally, which then results to whiteheads. When the whiteheads are exposed to the air, it turns into blackheads. Pimples occur when bacteria multiplies within the clogged pores, which causes irritation. If these pimples fill up with pus and fluid, cysts can develop.
Not Just a Teenage Problem 85 percent of teens are estimated to suffer from acne problems, with girls developing theirs at around age 11 and a couple of years later for boys. Acne can last throughout an individual’s teenage years and last well into their early 20s. Adults, however, can still suffer from acne problems. Many women notice that this skin problem worsens just before menstruation and eases up during pregnancy.
While this problem depends mostly on the body’s hormones, lifestyle is also an important factor. A person’s diet, environment, habits, activities, and even their skin care regimen (or lack thereof) can all have effects on how a person’s body responds to skin problems. The teenage years are a crucial time for developing a positive social identity. It’s a time when appearance is closely intertwined with self-esteem. With a lot of treatment options available, taking care of the skin should no longer be a big problem. Resources: http://www.healthybeautycircle.com/neutrogena/ http://www.aad.org/media-resources/stats-and-facts/conditions/acne http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/teen-acne13/teenage-acne