There is a condition of the skin that can affect many parts of the body called acne, which impacts many areas of the body. The most prevalent areas that are affected include the face, chest, back and neck.
When skin cells die off, they can mix with the oils of the skin to plug the pores. In mild cases of acne, these plugs appear as blackheads. In more severe case, the bacteria of the skin cause infection and the problem becomes worse.
Hormonal changes in the body can cause production of more oils in the skin. Acne, due to these hormonal changes is found in teens, women as they progress through their menstrual cycle or while they are pregnant, or when they start or stop birth control pills.
If the affected area becomes infected can leave permanent acne scarring. Facial scaring may affect a person’s self confidence.
There are many treatments recommended for acne. For teens, products containing benzyl peroxide are often effective at drying outbreaks and preventing more outbreaks from forming. Washing the face with a good antibacterial soap can also help to prevent further outbreaks of acne.
For adults, benzyl peroxide is sometimes too drying to the skin. Adults have better results with products that contain salicylic acid.
When you have an outbreak of acne, avoid touching, squeezing, scratching or picking at the skin which is already irritated. This increases the likelihood of infection and more scaring.
If you are using the preferred over the counter medication for your age group, but your problem is not clearing up, you may need a prescription for a mild antibiotic. When taken as directed, the antibiotic lowers the possibility of infection and the scaring that is associated with it.
While it is not always possible to prevent outbreaks of acne, there are steps that can be taken that will lessen the chances of permanent scaring. While these steps may seem like a hassle in an already busy teen’s life, in the long run this preventative care will be worthwhile for the rest of your life.