Nearly every teenager will suffer from acne. Hence, you are not alone if you’re on a surfing expedition for skin care solutions and acne treatments. Obviously acne breakouts and their remedies vary greatly.
The occasional face acne, including the random zit or even breakouts related to monthly hormone changes, can often be treated with topical acne treatments.
Topical acne teen treatments remove the dead skin cells that cause occasional facial breakouts, such as those on the upper lip, cheeks, chin and forehead. They also dry zits and counter swelling. When more serious outbreaks occur, including cysts and nodules on the face, back and chest, more stringent medications are sometimes needed.
Acne treatments for the occasional breakout usually contain benzyl peroxide or retin-A.
Over The Counter Topical Products
Benzoyl peroxide products are available without prescriptions and include ProActiv, Clearasil, Oxy-10, Fostex, Neutrogena, Clear by Design, and Persagel.
ProActive Solution remains the most popular of these treatments, in spite of side effects such as dryness and irritation to skin. ProActive Solution was the first topical medication to function on “combination therapy,” meaning it combines the use of exfoliation plus benzoyl peroxide, plus a non-comedogenic moisturizer to reduce drying of the skin. Combination therapy has since become accepted as an industry standard.
All topical treatments can be applied directly to the affected area. Over-the-counter medications do not treat acne at the sources; they only treat the symptom. Hence, if problems with acne are beyond the occasional breakout, teenagers should see a physician, where more solutions are available.
Retin-A Prescription Products
Retin-A is the base ingredient in accutane, and accutane has become very popular for a host of treatments including acne. Retin-a speeds healing to clogged pores and prevents new ones from forming. All retin-A products must be a by a doctor. Commonly used retin-a products include Retinoin, Adapalene, and Tazarotene. Accutane products have side effects, however, and those taking prescriptions should have their liver levels checked before using, and women who are pregnant should not use the products at all.
Changes in Diet?
Causes of teen acne vary, but diet is often a suspected culprit. Many teens notice that their acne worsens after eating junk food, but the link continues to elude the medical community. It is believed that ingestions of sugar trigger hormone changes in the body, and in fact these hormones trigger acne. Hence, doctors do suggest avoiding sugar overload and consuming great quantities of junk food (for other reasons as well).
Among the most highly suspected acne-causing beverages are fruit juices and energy drinks, both if which can contain massive quantities of sugar (which bring on .the energy charge), and energy drinks also contain caffeine, which gives charges to the energy level but also, in some people, a charge to the skin.
Doctors also prescribe antibiotics to treat teen acne, including tetracycline and erythromyacin and minocycline. These antibiotics reduce bacteria and inflammation caused by the substances in white blood cells that irritate the skin. If topical treatments are not working for your teen acne challenges, doctors can help, either with the aforementioned treatments or minor surgical procedures.