Acne is painful – on the inside. We live in a culture where not
just youth, but beauty is worshipped. It’s everywhere and you
can’t escape it. The results of having acne can be emotionally
devastating for teenagers as they are extremely conscious of
their appearance and their image. Even though they feel they
suffer alone, they don’t. The fact is that approximately 85% of
the population in the United States has at some point suffered
with acne, and approximately 17 million people have acne. You
are far from alone.

Acne in teenagers is caused by the action of hormones on the
skin’s oil glands. During puberty both boys and girls have an
increase in the hormones called androgens. These hormones cause
sebaceous glands under the surface of the skin to enlarge. The
sebaceous glands in response produce excess oil. This excess oil
mixes with bacteria and dead skin on the skin’s surface and
blocks pores. Inside these pores the bacteria multiple and cause
inflammation.

Acne is usually genetic, so you may not be able to avoid it.
However there are things you should know, an things you can do
to help you deal with it.

There are many myths surrounding acne. The most well known one
is that chocolate and greasy foods cause breakouts. Over the
years dermatologists have discovered there is no evidence of
this claim. However, if you find you do break out more after
eating certain foods, avoid them. Although it may not have an
affect on your acne, eating a healthy diet complete with fruits
and vegetables is a good idea. Another myth is that acne is
caused by poor hygiene. This is not true at all. As mentioned
above acne is caused by overproduction of oil, period. Myth
three advises you to scrub your face several times a day.
Actually, over washing your skin can cause it to become more
inflamed. Also, if you use drying products to excess on you skin
your skin may rebel by producing more oil.

Whatever one of the literally hundreds of treatments you decide
to choose remember that acne takes time to disappear. Overnight
or miraculous results don’t happen. It takes six to eight weeks
to see results from treatment. Once acne has cleared continued
treatment will needed to prevent it from recurring.

If an acne treatment takes more than six to eight weeks to show
a significant difference it probably won’t work. Try something
else.

You really should see the advice of a dermatologist. With the
number of products on the market, how do you choose? What might
clear one person’s acne might not clear anothers. Your skin type
and lesion types must be taken into consideration. Before you
spend a bundle of money on an unknown treatment see a
dermatologist. He or she can plan an individualized program
based on your skin’s needs