Teens: A head start on skin care

 This will help avoid skin care problems caused by improper habits. It doesn’t take a lot of time, and it doesn’t have to cost a lot of money. Teen skin care differs from your mom’s skin care, so don’t rely on her facial cleansers which are most likely not meant for your skin type.
Healthy habits
Protect your skin: If there is one thing that you take from this article, this is it: use sun screen. We all know that sun screen protects your skin from this sun, and this obviously reduces your chance of skin cancer. Did you also know that this reduces your chance of signs of early ageing? Ninety percent of premature ageing is caused by the sun. Sure, it may not be something that you are thinking of when you’re in your teens, but you’ll be glad you did in 15 years.
Ditch the bar of soap you have in your shower: Find a facial cleanser that’s best for your skin type rather than your usual bath soap which may strip your skin of its natural oils. Clarins Gentle Beauty Soap is natural and certified organic by the Ecocert organisation. It contains 99 percent natural ingredients and cleanses face and body perfectly while preserving skin moisture balance. Make sure you wash your face in the morning and at night. It’s important to clean your face before you go to bed and you never want to sleep with any makeup on as this will contribute to clogged pores and skin problems.
Moisturise your face: The idea that those with oily skin don’t need a moisturiser is just plain false. What you do need is a light oil-free moisturiser to put on after you cleanse. Always moisturise after you wash and dry your face. If your skin is very oily, you may choose to just moisturise in the morning.
Acne issues
If acne is a problem for you, just know that you are not alone. At times it may seem like you are, but most of us have had our fair share of pimples. Here are some things that you may or may not have known about acne.
See if you have been fooled into believing that your acne is caused by one of the following five acne myths:
l Chocolate, pizza, chips: While acne is not just a problem for teens, teens do tend to consume a lot of the foods thought by many to cause acne. I’m happy to let you know that your acne is not caused by what you eat. While you don’t want to only eat fried or greasy foods, feel free to have that piece of pizza or occasional chocolate bar with the peace of mind that foods do not cause acne.
l You don’t wash your face enough: While it is important for everyone to take good care of their skin, and that includes washing it twice a day, those without acne may think that those with acne don’t wash their face enough. This is false thinking. Acne comes from far below the skin’s surface. Washing your face twice a day with a gentle cleanser is needed, but don’t go overboard with harsh exfoliators and scrubs. These will only spread bacteria causing future breakouts. Be glad to know that if you’re washing your face in the morning and before bed, you’re doing all the right steps.
l Acne is only a problem for teenagers: The fact of the matter is that most of the acne problems do affect teens and young adults, but adult acne is also a common occurrence. While those adults who deal with acne don’t have it nearly as bad as they did when they were teens, acne can still rear its ugly head at any time.
l Nothing will get rid of acne:
Your acne is treatable if you find the right products and medicines. I highly recommend a visit to a dermatologist so your skin can be evaluated. Why waste money on over the counter products that may or may not work for you. Go to the experts and let them decide what will work for your skin.
l Lying in the sun will make your acne go away: Not only is this false, it’s a sure fire way to start the ageing process early in life. Did you know that 90 percent of premature ageing is caused by unprotected sun exposure? Nicely tanned skin may hide redness from acne, but it doesn’t do anything to make your acne go away.
The truth
The truth is the exact cause of acne is unknown, but doctors believe it results from several related factors.
One important factor is rising hormone levels. These hormones increase in both boys and girls during puberty and can cause the sebaceous glands to enlarge and make more sebum. Another factor is heredity or genetics. Researchers believe that the tendency to develop acne can be inherited from parents. For example, studies have shown that many school-age boys with acne have a family history of the disorder.
Factors that can contribute to acne or make it worse
Several factors can contribute to the cause of acne or make it worse.
Changing hormonal levels in girls and women may cause a flare in their acne a certain times in their menstrual cycle. Hormonal changes related to pregnancy or starting or stopping birth control pills can also cause acne. Stress, particularly severe or prolonged emotional tension, can also aggravate the disorder.
In addition, certain drugs are known to cause acne. Greasy cosmetics may alter the cells of the follicles and make them stick together. Friction caused by leaning on or rubbing the skin or the pressure from bike helmets, backpacks, or tight collars can contribute to or worsen acne. Also, environmental irritants (such as pollution and high humidity), squeezing or picking at blemishes, and hard scrubbing of the skin can make acne worse.
Help is available
If your mom is anything like my mom, the idea of going to a dermatologist might have to come from you, but don’t let that stop you. There are many medical skin care options for teens who are suffering from acne.
While you can’t change your genes, you can do your best to take care of your skin so your acne eventually gets better.
And lastly, don’t feel shy about talking to your doctor to see if he or she can help. If you’re like most people, acne will be a fleeting memory for you.
Until then, there are many options available to help that will give you the confidence to know you look your best.

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