Best Acne Products for Teens
Author: Grace Sinclair
According to Benjamin Franklin, nothing is certain in life except death and taxes. The witty and insightful Founding Father could have also added acne to that list, since it is nearly ubiquitous in certain age groups. The most common skin disease on Earth, Acne vulgaris affects over 80 percent of teenagers. In most cases, acne is caused by an increase in testosterone during puberty, but it is not certainly sex specific. In fact, more girls suffer from acne breakouts than boys, even though they have much lower levels of testosterone.
Pimples or zits rarely result in medical issues, but they are most assuredly social ones. No matter how minor they may be these blemishes often cause embarrassment and occasionally even depression. Out of desperation to rid themselves of acne breakouts, many teenagers take extreme measures. Unfortunately, these measures are almost always incorrect and may even result in permanent scarring.
What not to do
Because it is so common, everyone seems to have a different trick or home remedy that supposedly cures acne. We have all also heard how certain foods, particularly chocolate, can make breakouts worse, even though there is little evidence to support this claim. However, there are several things we can say for certain will exacerbate an acne breakout.
For starters, do not squeeze or pick at a pimple! Popping them will not make the lesion vanish any sooner. In fact, it will almost certainly cause more damage to the skin, which means the zit will take longer to heal than if you had simply left it alone. On average, acne breakouts clear up naturally in 5 to 7 days.
Can the best acne products help?
Yes, they can…but only in moderation. The purpose of most acne medications is to dry up the oils in the skin that caused the outbreak in the first place. However, these lotions, pills, and creams can also over-dry your skin, which can cause increased irritation in people with sensitive skin. Scrubbing and exfoliants can also cause problems because softened, moisturized skin is more easily damaged. Applying the best acne products too often, no matter how mild they may be, can result in prolonged irritation or permanent acne scaring.
Proper management
The single most common ingredient in the best acne products is benzoyl peroxide. Effective on both minor and moderate acne breakouts, the solution has few side effects and can be safely used by people of all ages. Because it dries up the oils in the pimple, benzoyl peroxide can help expedite healing by a few hours or days. Available in lower concentrations in over-the-counter products, there are also prescription-strength medications that contain up to 10 percent benzoyl peroxide.
It is important to note that these acne products should not be used as dark spot removers or for other common skin issues. They are specifically designed to dry the skin and cannot erase earlier skin damage. In fact, they may actually make the problem worse if they are repeatedly applied to irritated areas that are sensitive to astringents like benzoyl peroxide.
About the Author
MyBetterSkinCare.com offers online shoppers access to a wide selection of the best acne products and dark spot removers that are normally only available through a licensed dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon. They include commercial name brands and sought-after designer ones. To browse our current catalogue, please visit us at http://www.mybetterskincare.com.