Acne is a common problem and the most affected population is teenagers. Almost every teen will unfortunately suffer at least one breakout during their adolescent years. The condition of acne depends on the individual and can range from mild to severe acne in which teens experience blackheads, whiteheads, and sometimes cystic acne. Also common among teens is body or back acne that can affect the back, chest, and shoulders. Luckily there are a number of teenage acne treatments developed specifically for teen acne due to hormonal changes.

Causes of Teenage Acne

Teenage puberty is marked by great changes in hormone levels. These hormones can cause a myriad of effects, such as growth spurts, moodiness, body hair, as well as the heightened activity of various body glands. One type of gland, called the sebaceous gland, is responsible for producing sebum, an oily secretion that helps keep hair and skin moisturized. Adolescent hormones cause these glands to expand and produce higher levels of sebum. Higher levels of sebum and heightened activity in the glands create risks for the development of acne.

Acne is due to injury to healthy cells within these sebum glands. Cells within the glands can be injured by the force of sebum output which is common considering the heightened gland activity during adolescence. Further damage can be done by the hardening of sebum, or the mixture of oil and dead skin cells within the follicles. The body's immune response is inflammatory which inflames and reddens the skin and can cause what we know as pimples. Acne may also have hereditary factors meaning that if your parent had teen acne or still suffers from adult acne, you will be at higher risk for acne during your teen years.

Teenage Acne Treatment

The variety of teenage acne treatments include topical acne creams, digestible medications, daily use soaps and cleansers, as well as a number of natural skin care alternatives. Unfortunately there is no answer to acne and skin care products always depend on the individual and how their skin responds to the treatment. However, what is important for everyone is to be aware of the factors that cause acne so you can work to treat those and stop acne before it starts. Severe medications are not necessary in treating teenage acne. In most cases acne conditions will get better on their own with the decrease in adolescent hormonal imbalances. You should avoid harsh treatments that might damage skin cells long after the recovery of teenage acne. Instead, an organic acne treatment cream is a better choice if you can find one that effectively addresses the root causes of acne and can treat them naturally.

Skin Friendly Diet

A smart diet can also aid in acne recovery. However, chocolate and oily foods do not cause acne as some might believe. The foods you eat will not lessen hormones imbalances nor sebum output. Nevertheless, your skin will be healthier if you make sure you eat right and get all the vitamins and nutrients your body needs. During adolescence, especially, diet is vital as the body needs to be strong enough to grow as well as maintain a strong immune system. Also, it is shown that those with healthy diets are less stressed and therefore less at risk for overactive glands and acne.