- Why do boys and girls develop acne during adolescence?
- How long does puberty and acne last?
- Transitional age: acne on the face, how to get rid of them?
- Daily skin care routine
- Can I prevent acne as a teenager?
According to statistics, more than 85% of teenagers have a common skin problem associated with acne, which is marked by symptoms of clogged pores (whiteheads and redheads), painful purulent pimples, and sometimes severe deep lumps on the face, neck, shoulders, chest, back and shoulders If your mom or dad had acne, the chances of acne recurring are quite high. But today there are already a lot of different ways to prevent and treat acne to maintain healthy skin with minimal consequences from acne, preventing acne scarring What causes acne?
However, to begin the process of treating acne, you first need to understand what acne is in general, you need to know how your skin works and what processes in it can cause acne to appear. The pores in your skin contain sebaceous ducts and pores. When you As you go through puberty, there is an increase in sex hormones called androgens. Excess hormones cause your sebaceous glands to become overactive, which also increases the production of too much oil or sebum. When there is too much sebum in the skin, the pores or hair follicles become blocked. An increase in oil also leads to bacterial overgrowth and skin inflammation called acne or simply pimples.
Causes of appearance in adolescents
Before you start getting your skin in order, it is important to find out why acne appears on your face and how long this period lasts.
All parents face the challenges of transitioning their precious child into adulthood.
This is no longer the kid with whom you can easily come to an agreement. This is a person who has his own problems, his own opinion, and his character changes.
A complete restructuring occurs in the body, for which shock doses of androgen hormones, in particular testosterone, are released into the blood.
It is he who is to blame for increased sweating, the appearance of hair on the body, a breaking voice in boys, as well as increased work of the sebaceous glands.
So much fatty secretion is produced that the face is constantly shiny, and the skin cannot quickly get rid of it. The fat acquires a thick consistency and gets stuck in the pores, forming dense plugs in the ducts - comedones.
The top layer of the epidermis does not have time to exfoliate in time, and dead scales create an additional obstacle to the removal of excess fat.
The bacteria living on the surface of the integument are activated and, once in the comedonal cavity, begin to multiply vigorously, causing inflammation and forming purulent contents.
Additional factors can aggravate the problem:
- avitaminosis;
- stress;
- frequent shaving;
- poor nutrition;
- lack of skin care;
- heredity;
- exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
Most often, acne occurs in the T-zone of the face (on the forehead, nose and chin), since there are a large number of sebaceous glands located there.
Sometimes, neither parents nor children know what to do with them, and until how many years this will continue.
Types of skin rashes
During adolescence, teenage acne can occur in both girls and boys. The rash may not be significant, but unfortunately this is rare. When the rash is associated with a malfunction of the internal organs, you should quickly run to the doctor.
Several stages of the disease:
- The appearance of blackheads on the face, exceeding the number of 10 pieces.
- Intensified rash in the amount of up to 40 units, and, moreover, with suppuration. They may cause pain.
- After pimples and pus burst, a deep scar remains.
- Looking at photos of acne in teenagers, you can notice an increase in the area of inflammation with multiple rashes. Lesions can affect fairly large areas of skin, including the back and chest.
How to get rid of acne during adolescence
Acne is not only a problem with the appearance of the skin.
In fact, this is a serious disease that requires consultation with a specialist.
It occurs in several forms:
- mild, when there are up to 6 pimples on the skin, clogged pores;
- medium, when there are multiple inflamed elements on the face, back, shoulders, décolleté or neck;
- severe if the integument is covered not only with papules, but also with deep purulent nodes, often united by fistulous tracts into conglomerates. Pimples appear all over the body, even on the legs or arms.
How to get rid of acne in adolescence with severe acne should be decided by a dermatologist or certified cosmetologist.
Photo: after diagnosis, the specialist will select the optimal method for removing the inflamed element
After a thorough diagnosis, he will develop an individual treatment plan, both systemic and local.
You should not neglect this advice, because in place of acne, age spots, atrophic scars and deep scars may remain, which will significantly spoil the child’s quality of life in the future. But if there are only a few pimples on the skin, then you can treat them at home.
For one day
Unfortunately, there are no ways to remove acne in one day.
This is a complex and lengthy process, including a whole range of activities both in the salon and at home.
It is important not only to get rid of rashes, but also to prevent their occurrence in the future.
But if the pimple is already ripe, then you can squeeze it out.
Photo: a ripe pimple can be removed by yourself
This is evidenced by the absence of redness and pain. At the top there should be an almost dried white head.
When removing it, you should follow the safety rules:
- first you need to wash your hands, treat your fingers and pimple with an antiseptic (Chlorhexidine, Miramistin);
- then, using sterile wipes, press on both sides at the base of the pimple so that the white contents come out. You should not do this with your nails, so as not to damage the surrounding tissues;
- The wound must be re-disinfected.
Video: “Acne during adolescence: how to get rid of it”
At home
First of all, it is important to establish nutrition.
After all, fatty, refined foods, sweets and fast food additionally pollute and poison the entire body. The skin already suffers from hormonal imbalances, and low-quality products further aggravate its condition.
Photo: harmful foods should be removed from the diet
You should completely exclude your favorite chips, crackers, sweet soda and chocolate, processed foods, fatty creams and ice cream.
Excessive sugar consumption creates a breeding ground for microbes on the skin.
Cow's milk contains hormones that are already in abundance in the growing body. In half of the cases, this is enough to improve the condition of the skin and do without medications.
You need to focus on the following product groups:
Photo: it is necessary to enrich the diet with fresh vegetables and fruits
- fresh fruits and vegetables, dried fruits. They contain a lot of vitamins A, C, E, which increase the body's defenses and resistance to infection;
- sea fish and lean meat (veal, turkey, rabbit, chicken). Do not forget that the body needs protein for growth and development;
- fermented milk (yogurt, kefir). It will cleanse the intestines of toxins and normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract;
- flaxseed and oil. Returns the skin a radiant appearance and healthy color;
Photo: drinking clean water in sufficient quantities helps cleanse the body of toxins
- clean water. This will allow you to quickly remove harmful substances from the body, which will cleanse the pores and prevent the skin from drying out.
Pharmacy drugs
Teenagers are very shy if questions relate to skin problems. Therefore, they may not always decide to ask their parents what is the best way to apply rashes.
Photo: pharmacy products to combat acne
There are several effective means:
- salicylic acid, but not in pure form, but in lotions. It not only disinfects the surface of the integument, but also dissolves keratinized skin scales and sebaceous plugs. A good series of cosmetics based on the substance is Klerasil;
- if the rashes are purulent, then bacteria should be fought. Syntomycin ointment, which is applied pointwise, will help with this. Antibacterial lotion “Zinerit” destroys germs. It also contains zinc, which dries out acne;
- You can buy the absorbent drug “Polysorb” at the pharmacy. It detoxifies when taken orally and is also used to cleanse pores of impurities. The product is diluted with water and applied as a mask, and washed off after 15–20 minutes. There are many similar sorbents - “Lactofiltrum”, activated carbon, “Polyphepan”, “Enterosgel” and others;
- Taking vitamin C (ascorbic acid) will help you cope with rashes faster.
Folk remedies
Traditional methods are effective if used as part of complex therapy.
They are mainly aimed at cleansing and nourishing the integument, are safe, and do not cause adverse reactions.
The most effective of them are the following.
- Wipe with water and apple cider vinegar (in proportions 3:1) to reduce the area of rashes and prevent them from spreading to healthy areas of the skin. This is also a good way to get rid of age spots.
- A kefir mask applied for 15–20 minutes to clean skin will prevent the proliferation of pathogenic microflora.
Photo: a mask with egg whites will help clear the skin of blackheads
- A mask made from beaten egg whites, 3 drops of hydrogen peroxide 3%, 3 drops of lemon juice will cleanse the pores. The mixture is spread on the face and left for 20 minutes, then washed off with cool water.
Photo: ice cubes with chamomile will relieve inflammation and pain
Individual intolerance to cosmetics
The hygiene of a modern person is inextricably linked with the use of cosmetics. Over the years, chemical enterprises develop and produce new and improved products. Cosmetics based on natural ingredients are now popular. But, despite this, there is an individual reaction to the components, expressed in skin rashes. Wen on the body appears after the first use of the product. Red spots appear on any part of the skin, so they become not only cosmetic defects, but also cause physical discomfort. This rash is accompanied by itching and peeling.
Doctors recommend immediately abandoning the problematic drug, and also prescribe antihistamines and ointments.
Doctors warn that bacterial infections are spread by using shared hygiene products, especially sponges, brushes, and so on. If they are not properly cared for, a favorable nutrient environment is created for microbes, and hence a lot of acne. Therefore, you need to change items for applying cosmetics in a timely manner, process and store them correctly. In addition, you should never use other people’s tools and devices.
You can't use other people's cosmetics
What not to do
If you have acne, it is strictly prohibited:
- wash with hot water and steam the skin. This will increase blood circulation, which will transfer the infection to healthy areas. Bacteria can enter the bloodstream and cause infection.
- rub the rash with a washcloth , which also contributes to the spread of the rash.
- You can’t pierce pimples with a needle, squeeze them out, or pick them off. This inevitably damages the tissue, leaving noticeable marks that are not easy to get rid of.
- There is no need to take antibiotics internally without a doctor's prescription. This can cause allergies, dysbacteriosis and lead to an increase in the number of rashes.
Photo: mechanical facial cleansing is best done in a beauty salon
Mechanical cleaning can be done by a cosmetologist.
- The doctor knows how to properly extract sebum and pus without damaging the gland ducts and skin.
- He strictly follows the rules of disinfection and also uses special tools.
In addition, in the salon you can take courses in ultrasonic or vacuum cleaning, peeling, ozone therapy and other healing procedures.
Skin care features
During adolescence, the skin needs especially careful care.
- You need to wash your face twice a day – immediately after waking up in the morning and in the evening before bed. In the hot season, you can do this 3-5 times a day, the main thing is to cleanse the skin of excess fat in a timely manner.
Photo: after washing the face, wipe it with tonic without alcohol
- Then the face, neck and shoulders should be wiped with alcohol-free tonic. It is undesirable to use alcohol lotions; they burn the skin severely. You can treat your face with salicylic acid products 2-3 times a week. But it is better to do this locally, paying special attention to inflamed areas.
- Finally, apply moisturizer.
Prevention
Teenagers before the age of 18 begin to become acquainted with alcoholic beverages and smoke a cigarette for the first time. Despite the fact that all this is prohibited by law.
Parents need to tell their child about the harmful effects of bad habits on skin condition:
- the breakdown products of ethyl alcohol poison the entire body, forcing the integument to intensively get rid of them. To do this, they produce even more fat in order to remove the poison faster. As a result, the number of rashes increases. In addition, alcohol greatly dehydrates, which can cause hyperkeratosis - increased formation of the stratum corneum. But this is one of the main reasons for clogged pores and the appearance of blackheads;
- Cigarette smoke is also not harmless. Scientists have long established that it slows down tissue regeneration processes. For people who smoke, even minor wounds and scratches take twice as long to heal.
When the disease has finally been cured, you should not relax and think that now your skin will always be clear and free of acne.
After all, on average, until the age of 20, hormonal imbalances will still continue.
That's why it's better to stick to preventative measures than to treat acne again.
Photo: It’s better to wash your face with products designed for problem skin types
- Eat a healthy and balanced diet, ask your doctor to prescribe a vitamin complex.
- Lead an active lifestyle, engage in moderate physical activity, and spend more time in the fresh air.
- Select caring and decorative cosmetics according to your skin type.
- Try not to touch your face with dirty hands to avoid spreading the infection.
- For washing, it is better to use special gels with an antibacterial effect. It is not advisable to use soap, as it dries out the skin greatly.
- Wet wipes, which you should always carry with you, especially in hot weather, will help remove excess fat.
- Girls have a habit of powdering their face throughout the day. So, it is completely wrong to apply any concealer to cosmetics and dirty skin. First, the surface must be completely cleaned (wash, wipe with tonic, apply moisturizer). Also, you should not go to bed without first removing your decorative cosmetics.
It is very important to maintain good personal hygiene and be patient.
The age at which the rash goes away varies from person to person. But in most cases, all symptoms should disappear by age 20.
If this does not happen, then the cause of acne is hidden inside the body and may be associated with the presence of serious diseases, metabolic disorders, and excessive activity of the subcutaneous demodex mite.
In this case, you should not delay going to the doctor, who will help solve the problem correctly.
Poor diet and acne
The results of many years of observations show that many people develop acne due to dietary errors. These include:
- bakery products;
- smoked meats;
- pickles;
- fried foods;
- carbonated drinks with high sugar content;
- chocolate;
- fast food.
Eating these dishes disrupts the intestinal microflora, causing an imbalance, which causes intestinal function to suffer. All this contributes to the penetration of toxins into the blood, which primarily affects the condition of the skin.
Changing the patient's diet will help normalize the body's functioning. For some of them, the skin clears up already in the first days after replacing chips in the menu with home-cooked potato wedges, lemonade with freshly squeezed juice, and so on.
