Practical Acne Treatments For Girls

Girls go through many physical and psychological changes during puberty. These changes include body composition, fat distribution, menstruation, growth spurts, body and facial hair growth, body odor and skin changes. The body physically changes as the fat tissue increases in the hips, thighs, and breasts producing the typical hourglass shape of females. With all these changes going on, what effect does acne have on girls during puberty?

During puberty girls experience an increased likelihood and severity of acne from the increased oil secretions in the skin. Puberty is often a difficult time and acne only adds to the difficulty. During puberty girls usually experience increased irritability, mood swings, and feelings of low self esteem. Even girls who have been very sure of themselves may suffer from low self esteem when puberty sets in. These changes may be even more severe in the girl also suffers from acne.

A honey face mask can be used to help clear up acne breakouts and other skin problems. Simply mix together a paste of honey, milk, plain yogurt, and lemon juice, apply to the face, and let it sit for about 20 minutes. Many people swear by the honey face mask as an acne treatment.

The negative changes in girls during puberty are made even worse if acne is a problem. You can help deal with the changes when you know how to lessen the problems of acne.

A good wash if you suffer from serious acne is a mild solution of salt water. Salt water will clean the oils and dirt off of your skin in the same way a cleanser would, but without the detrimental drying effects of many commercials cleansers that are intended for acne treatment.

Practical Acne Treatments For Girls...

Egg whites can be a great cheap replacement for acne treatment. You can use raw egg white as a mask to cleanse your entire face, or use just a dab to reduce swelling and redness on a single blemish. Be sure to use a regular cleanser first, to remove oils and dirt.

Proper skin care is the first step in treating acne. The face should be gently washed with a facial cleanser. There are many skin care products on the market that may help with acne. To kill the bacteria that cause acne the cleanser should contain salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide or sulfur. Gentle cleansing is an important factor when dealing with acne. A common mistake is to clean the face too often and with harsh cleansers. Careful cleaning of the face twice a day is the best way to go.

A paste of cinnamon and honey can be beneficial as an acne treatment. Combine ground cinnamon with a dab of honey to form a paste and apply it to the acne. Cinnamon is a natural antiseptic and honey is a natural antibiotic. Together they can relieve and cure a breakout.

There are some cosmetics that can be detrimental if you are trying to control acne so it is important to use non-comedogenic products. Non-comedogenic products are less likely to cause acne, blackheads or block the pores of the skin. Today there are many non-comedogenic products available, such as makeup, lip stick, moisturizers, and even acne medicated makeup.

One thing that can ensure acne stays away is that you are not trying an acne treatment long enough. Many people are incredibly impatient and expect immediate results. There are no magic cures for acne, so once you start a treatment, give it ample time to work. If you do give it a while and see no improvement, then move on or ask your dermatologist.

The changes experienced during puberty can take a mental and physical toll on girls. The onset of acne certainly makes these changes even harder to deal with. It is a good idea to visit with a dermatologist if the acne can not be controlled with over-the-counter medications. A dermatologist will understand the changes that are associated with acne and will be able to offer advice and treatment programs. It's also important to be understanding and offer support to girls as they go through the difficult time of puberty.

Teenage Acne

Teenage acne. Nothing worse can happen at a worse time. A teenager is already at an age where he or she is very self conscious about his or her image. Although acne is definitely seen on the outside, the affects it has on the inside can be very hurtful. Acne can lower a teen's self esteem. It can make an otherwise outgoing child become a shy and introverted teenager. It's a fact that at least 20 million teenagers suffer from acne.

The earlier that acne is treated the better it will be. Once acne has started to go away the treatment needs to be continued. The type of treatment for acne is dependent on the severity of the acne. There are hundreds of different treatments available today.

Prevent acne and dull skin by washing your face each night before you go to bed. Use a gentle cleanser to remove dirt, oil and makeup before turning in for the night. This allows your skin to breathe, repairing itself and healing damage so that when you wake up it will look refreshed and revitalized.

Light to moderate cases of acne, that which include blackheads, whiteheads and papules, can usually be treated successfully with over the counter preparations. Most of these cleansers and scrubs and spot treatments contain salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. These generally work well. When washing your face do not scrub your skin. Don't use a washcloth. Scrubbing the skin can irritate acne and make it look and feel worse. Never pick or scratch the acne. This can cause scarring. Some of the over the counter preparations are extremely drying on the skin. Make sure you follow the manufacturers instructions for use. Over drying the skin isn't good as the skin may rebel against being over dry by producing more oil.

Tretinoin, a topical retinoid, is a popular medication used to treat comedonal acne, blackheads and whiteheads. It is the acid form of vitamin A and works by increasing skin cell turnover and clearing blocked pores. The medication is available in cream or gel from under the following brand names: Stieva-A, Aberela, Atralin, Airol, Retin-A, Avita, Refissa and Renova.

More severe cases of acne that include cysts and nodules may need the help of a dermatologist. A dermatologist will evaluate many different things such as age, lifestyle and co-existing conditions. The dermatologist may suggest a combination of two or three different therapies to be used at the same time.

An individual who is battling acne should never go to bed with makeup on. Even a small amount of makeup can clog your pores, harbor bacteria and leave your skin in need of extra exfoliation. Washing your makeup off on a nightly basis will keep your skin healthy, fresh and clean.

Vitamin A is one of the best vitamins that you can take in the form of a supplement for acne. This vitamin helps to expedite the formation of tissues and can aid in killing internal bacteria, to free up your skin. Take a dose of vitamin A to improve your functionality internally.

A healthy diet may help your skin to improve, and it certainly is a wonderful lifestyle change. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Eat a diet high in fiber. Avoid refined sugar, hydrogenated oils and saturated fats. Drink at least six glasses of water a day.