Author: Julia, Middle School student writer

Your skin is one of the most visible parts of your body. Lately, you have probably been concentrating even more on this aspect of your body than you did before. Maybe you even noticed acne on your face. Don't worry; this is completely normal; it happens to almost everybody. Some people get more acne than others if it runs in their family (genetics).

Preteens and teens are prone to acne because puberty causes your level of testosterone to rise. This in turn causes your body to produce more oil, which can mix with dirt, bacteria and dead skin cells to clog the pores in your skin. The dirt or oil gets trapped and forms a blackhead, whitehead or pimple.

• Whiteheads and Blackheads
• Pimples
• Your Parents and Your Face
• The T-zone
• How to Prevent and Clear Up Acne
• Soaps and Creams
• Sunscreen

Whiteheads and Blackheads

• The oil glands on your face form sebum, an oily substance.
  
  
• When sebum blocks your pores underneath your skin, whiteheads are formed.
  
  
• Blackheads are basically the same as whiteheads, except that the substance clogging your pores has pushed through to the outside of your skin.

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Pimples

• Pimples start off as whiteheads, but when dirt, bacteria, and yeast in your skin combine with whiteheads, pimples are formed. Pimples get red and swollen when your body's immune system reacts against the bacteria trapped in your pores, causing inflammation.

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Your Parents and Your Face

Your parents are probably telling you that you shouldn't pick your face. Here's why:

• Picking can lead to infections that can be serious.
  
  
• Picking can also lead to scarring, which may stay on your face forever.
  
  
• Pimples will go away faster than scars and infections.

So your parents are RIGHT: do NOT pick your face!
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The T-zone

• Your t-zone is across your forehead and down your nose and chin.
  
  
• This is where you are most prone to get acne, so you need to take special care of this part of your face.

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How to Prevent and Clear Up Acne

It is important to wash your face daily (even twice a day) to prevent pimples. This will prevent dirt from getting into your pores and keep your face clean. There are also medicines made to dry out acne and clear up your skin, but washing your face is just as important as treatment with creams.

In addition:

• Use a moisturizer after washing your face (or your body will perceive that your skin is to dry and send extra oil).
  
  
• Try acne-clearing creams if washing is ineffective. At the drugstore, you can find many creams that you can buy "over the counter," or without a prescription from your doctor.
  
  
• Wash after exercising to get sweat off your face.
  
  
• If acne doesn't clear up using over-the-counter creams and washing, talk to your parents about seeing a doctor (a skin doctor is called a dermatologist).

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Soaps and Creams

Before you use any acne cream, remember to talk to your parents and have them ask your pediatrician if it's alright to use the medicine.

• It is important to pick the right kind of soap for your skin.
  
  
• Use a soap that is not acidic and does not contain oil.
  
  
• There are specific soaps meant to treat acne, but some of these may be too strong for your skin.
  
  
• Creams can clear up acne but they also dry up your skin.
  
  
• Creams that contain benzoyl peroxide have different strengths. The higher the percent of benzoyl peroxide, the stronger the medicine, and the more it will dry up your skin. Start with a cream with a low percent, and if it doesn't work, try one with a higher percent. These creams will not moisturize your skin, So remember to use a cream and a moisturizer.
  
  
• Always follow the directions on the package.

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Sunscreen

All year long, but especially during the summer, it is very important to use sunscreen. Even if you will only be outside for a short period of time, you should still cover up. When it's cloudy out, the sun's rays can still harm you.

You should wear sunscreen all the time, whether it is cloudy or sunny, or if you'll only be outside for a little while. This way, you are protecting yourself from getting skin cancer.

• The higher the SPF on a sunscreen, the stronger it is, and the better protection it provides.
  
  
• If you are worried about sunscreen giving you acne, which it can, use an oil-free kind, especially for your face.
  
  
• Don't forget to reapply sunscreen every couple of hours, and especially after you swim or sweat.
  
  
• There are two kinds of rays, UVA and UVB rays:
  • UVA rays are harmful to your body because they can lead to skin cancer and aging of your skin.
    
  • UVB rays are the kind that cause sunburn.

So remember: even though you cannot control acne or the sun, you can treat and prevent skin problems and keep your skin healthy.

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References

Reid, Nancy. "Should I see my doctor for acne?" HealthWise Knowledge Base. Accessed June 2004.

University Health Services Tan Center. University of California at Berkeley. "Sun Safety." Accessed June 2004.


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