From Ages 15-19: Teenage Acne, Its Causes, Types and What to Do

Teenage acne is one of the most common skincare problems at the ages 15-19. At this age acne peaks for a lot of people, however, it often tends to go away after a while. For some girls teen acne starts to appear before they get their period. It can be very annoying and upsetting to many people and like anything else in life, learning more about it will you help you befriend it, take proper care of it and eventually resolve it.

So let's explain what causes teen acne, the different types of acne, acne treatments, home remedies for acne and what you can do to prevent it:

What causes acne?

A major cause of acne is the change in hormones we experience in our teenage years. The body releases more hormones, specifically the testosterone hormone that is found in both males and females. It is the reason behind a lot of teenage acne cases for girls and most young teens throughout that period.

The glands beneath our skin produce a large amount of oils to keep the skin hydrated, but the dead skin on the surface of our skin prevents them from coming out to the surface. So the oils stay congested under the skin and with the help of bacteria they come out in the form of acne and pimples. This not only happens on the face, but also in neck, shoulders and back areas.

Different types of acne

There are many different types of acne that appears between the ages of 15 and 19. In some cases it is easy to treat without the need to consult a doctor, but there are some serious types and cases of acne that are best consulted and treated by doctors, who can put you on the right track of how to treat it properly. You can begin to tell the type of acne you have by taking a closer look at how it looks and its shape, in order to identify if it's simple or serious and when you should seek the help of a doctor.

Whiteheads

Whiteheads can also be called pimples. This pimple has a white dot in the center and is generally easy to treat.

Blackheads

Blackheads clog the pores and accumulate on the skin. The best way to avoid them is to make sure your regularly cleanse your skin.

Papules

These are small pimples that are red and white. The almost always appear in large breakouts, not as an individual pimple and they are painful to touch. It is a difficult form of acne and is recommended to be treated by a doctor.

Pustules

Pustules are rosy and yellow. They also come in large amounts and are a difficult type of acne that should be treated by a doctor to avoid leaving any scars behind.

Cysts

Cysts are large in size and they are a form of acne that contains fluids. You should not touch them and resort to a doctor to treat them properly.

Daily habits to help prevent acne

1. You should not touch your acne or pop your pimples at all, because doing so will leave scars that are very very difficult to get rid of.

2. Make sure you wash your face twice a day using the right cleanser for your skin (consult a dermatologist).

3. Use soft and gentle towels on your face so that the friction doesn't irritate your acne or your skin.

4. Never sleep without taking your makeup off, because it will clog your pores and increase your acne.

5. Try to minimize or avoid putting on face makeup (foundation, concealer) if you have acne, so you can let your skin breathe, heal and to avoid breaking out.

6. Try to avoid food that can increase acne, like chocolate, dairy and caffeine.

Acne treatments

The treatments below are only for the minor cases of acne. For more difficult severe cases, you must seek the help of a doctor in order to treat them properly.

Cleansers and face washes for acne-prone skin

If you really want help minimize your acne and breakouts, finding the right cleanser is the best way to start. Give the La Roche-Posay Effaclar Medicated Gel Cleanser a look. It contains salicylic acid, which is good for acne prone skin and congested pored. There's also Skincode's S.O.S Oil Control Clarifying Wash, which contains ingredients that help reduce breakouts and promotes clear, healthy looking skin.

Skincare acne treatments

One of the things that help with acne is to apply acne treatment creams or serums. There's the Bioderma Sebium Global Cream, which helps eliminate pimples and blackheads. There's also the Neutrogena On-The-Spot Acne Treatment, which contains ingredients that help treat acne and soothe the redness caused by pimples.

Home remedies for acne

You can also help heal your acne with home remedies from your kitchen:

Lemon

Lemon is good for getting rid of bacteria, which is behind the appearance of acne.

Aloe Vera, Honey and Cucumber

These 3 are great at soothing the skin and reducing the redness caused by acne.

If you want to know more about acne and what can help soothe it, click here.

Throughout November, every Tuesday we'll be talking about skincare problems, facts and treatments for ages 15-19, so stay tuned.

Main Image Credits: Instagram @leila