Acne is a common problem and the most affected population is teenagers. During adolescent years, almost every single teen will have at least one breakout of acne. Acne can range from mild to severe acne in which teens experience blackheads, whiteheads, and cystic acne, however the condition depends on the individual. In addition to facial acne, many teens will also experience body and back. Fortunately, many teenage acne treatments have been created to deal particularly with hormonal and adolescent acne.

Causes of Teenage Acne

During puberty, teenagers experience changes in their bodies as well as changes in hormone levels. Imbalanced hormones can create growth spurts, body hair, and overactive body glands. One of these glands, the sebaceous gland, produces sebum which is responsible for maintaining moisture in hair and skin. During adolescence these glands enlarge and produce more sebum under the influence of hormones. Higher levels of sebum and heightened activity in the glands create risks for the development of acne.

Acne starts with damage done to living cells within these sebum glands. Cells can be injured due to the force of sebum output, which is more common during periods of hormonal change. Hardened sebum as well as oil and dead skin cells within the follicle can also damage living cells. The body's immune system responds with an inflammatory reaction which irritates the skin and causes what we know as pimples. Another factor may be hereditary as it has been found that those whose parents suffered from teen acne, or currently suffer from adult acne, are at higher risk for developing teenage acne.

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. You should not treat teenage acne with unnecessarily strong medications and treatments. Oftentimes teenage acne naturally improves as hormones balance out. You should avoid harsh treatments that might damage skin cells long after the recovery of teenage acne. Stick with more organic types of acne treatment cream that can address biological causes of acne and treat them naturally.

Skin Friendly Diet

Diet may also play a role 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, healthy skin needs a healthy diet that includes the right vitamins and nutrients. Diet is important during adolescence as the body is growing and needs enough to do so healthily as well as maintain a strong immune system. Additionally, healthy, well balanced diets tend to lower stress and consequently lessen gland activity and the risk of acne.