Acne is a skin condition that may affect various parts of the body. Acne is most prevalent in the areas that include the face, neck, chest and shoulders.
Acne is caused when pores of the skin become plugged with dead skin cells that mix with the oils of the skin. There is also a bacterial that lives in the oils of the skin, which can aggravate the problem.
Hormonal changes in the body can cause production of more oils in the skin. Acne, due to these hormonal changes is found in teens, women as they progress through their menstrual cycle or while they are pregnant, or when they start or stop birth control pills.
If acne becomes infected, it can leave scaring. Facial scars from acne can affect a person for a lifetime.
You can find many treatments for acne. Some are based on scientific study, while others are simply old wives tales. Products that contain benzyl peroxide have been shown effective for many teens. An antibacterial cleanser can also help to remove dead skin cells and bacteria to prevent further outbreaks.
For adults, benzyl peroxide is sometimes too drying to the skin. Adults have better results with products that contain salicylic acid.
When you have an outbreak of acne, avoid touching, squeezing, scratching or picking at the skin which is already irritated. This increases the likelihood of infection and more scaring.
If you have tried the over the counter products and your acne is not getting better, see your doctor or dermatologist. They will know further treatment options that can help to keep the acne from becoming infected and causing more scaring.
While it is not always possible to prevent outbreaks of acne, there are steps that can be taken that will lessen the chances of permanent scaring. While these steps may seem like a hassle in an already busy teen's life, in the long run this preventative care will be worthwhile for the rest of your life.
