Finding treatments that work for teen acne can be frustrating. Almost every teen gets pimples, and nearly as many spend loads of time and money trying to get them to go away. It seems everyone has advice for you: scrub your face until it shines, stay away from chocolate and french fries, never touch your face because dirty hands cause breakouts. But you can have an ultra-healthy diet and squeaky-clean skin, and still have teen acne.
Does this mean you have to wait for acne to go away on its own? Luckily, no! There are teen acne treatment options available that will give you real results.
Over-the-Counter Acne Treatments
When you start noticing breakouts, the first place you may run is the skin care aisle at your local drug store. There are plenty of over-the-counter acne products to choose from. Maybe even too many. With all those choices, is it any wonder you're overwhelmed?
First, look for an acne treatment cleanser. The brand name isn't too important, as long as it contains either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Both of these are proven acne-fighting ingredients that help keep pores clear and stop breakouts before they start.
As long as the cleanser isn't making your skin too dry, you can also add medicated pads or lotion to your skin care routine. Again, make sure these products contain either salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.
What about body acne? Breakouts on the body can be treated with a body wash containing (you guessed it!) benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.
Also, be sure to shower as soon as you can after you've exercised because sweat can irritate body acne. Friction from tight clothing, backpack straps, and athletic pads and equipment can also trigger a form of acne called acne mechanica.
Prescription Acne Treatments
If your acne is more persistent, or if you get very deep, inflamed nodules or painful cysts, you'll need a prescription treatment. If OTC products aren't working, don't bounce from product to product looking for a solution. You'll save yourself a lot of money and frustration by seeing a doctor.
Some topical prescription medications that are often prescribed to treat teen acne include:
retinoids such as Retin-A, Retin-A Micro, Differin, and Tazorac
topical antibiotics
ombination treatments like BenzaClin, Benzamycin, or Ziana
Sometimes systemic medications are needed to effectively treat acne. They are often used along with topical treatments. Systemic medications for acne include Accutane (isotretinoin) and oral antibiotics. You, your parents, and your doctor will decide if these treatments are right for you.
Like all medications, these treatments do have side effects. Make sure you fully understand these side effects are before you start taking your medication.
If you have questions, don't be afraid to ask your doctor! No question is too silly, and your doctor will be glad to know you're taking your treatment seriously.
Clear Skin Takes Time
It may take a few tries to find the right treatment that is most effective for your skin. This can be frustrating, but try not to let it discourage you. Just remember that each medication you try will ultimately bring you closer to clear skin.
Also, don't get disappointed if you're still noticing new breakouts forming even after you've begun treatment. Pimples won't immediately stop appearing and your acne may get a little bit worse before the medicine starts to take full effect. What you'll most likely find is that over time your breakouts will become smaller, less red, and will heal more quickly. It is a gradual process, not overnight clearing. Although it doesn't seem fair, some acne treatments actually make breakouts worse before getting better.
And as tempting as it, don't buy in to those advertisements that promise clear skin in just days. If you're expecting results that quickly, you're setting yourself up for disappointment. It takes time for your skin to heal. Give it at least eight weeks before expecting significant results.
Above all else, be patient! No matter what product or medication you use, it takes time to work. You won't get clear skin overnight, but with consistent treatment and a little time, you will get the results you're looking for.
What to Know About the Link Between Acne and Diet
Hi,
this is Dr. Debra Jaliman, a board-certified dermatologist in New York
City and author of the book Skin Rules: Trade Secrets from a Top New
York Dermatologist here to talk about the link between acne and diet for
About.com.
Foods with a High Glycemic Index Can Cause Acne
Many
people ask me about the link between their diet and acne and there are
many things I've learned along the way that definitely make acne worse.
For example, if you have a lot of junk food, and what do I mean by that?
Foods that have a high glycemic index. So for example, let's say you
have a lot of pizza, donuts, chocolates: foods that are very high in
sugar and very high in simple carbohydrates. We find that those foods
make acne much worse and there are a lot of studies to show that.
Dairy Can Cause Acne
The
other foods that make acne a lot worse are dairy foods. We used to
think it was the dairy because of the high hormone levels from the cows.
So we suggested to patients that they use organic dairy. But even using
that didn't make a difference and it actually is a lot of the milk
products and the dairy. So what you may want to do if you have acne is
to try a diet that's low in dairy and low in high glycemic foods.
What Foods Should You Eat with
Acne?
So
what kind of foods would you eat. We suggest to patients to eat foods
high in fruits, vegetables, lean meat, lean proteins, nuts, and complex
carbohydrates. So instead of having white bread for example, you would
have whole wheat bread. Instead of having white rice, you would have
brown rice and you would look for complex carbohydrates. That seems to
make a big difference in my patients with acne. And this isn't to say
that you don't have to treat the acne from either the topical standpoint
or treat it internally sometimes.
But
we find that when people change their diet, it has an incredibly
positive effect on the acne. Now we know that if you have a diet high in
potato chips, lots of junk food, that it really makes a difference in
terms of breaking the skin out. So if you can eliminate a lot of thes
junk foods: pizza, potato chips, french fries, high fatty foods, high
glcemic foods, you will find that your skin will appreciably improve.
By learning the real facts about acne info, you can get rid of your problem skin much quicker.
Did you know that over 17 million people in the US are afflicted with acne? It's true, acne is the single most common skin disease in America! Despite this fact, there are still a lot of misleading ideas and myths about acne info all over the internet.
If you want help for acne, you need to know the actual truth about this condition. This website is dedicated to all the real facts about acne and acne skin care. All of this information has been confirmed by top dermatologists and skin care experts alike.
What is Acne?
A lot of people simply see acne as dirty skin with zits and pimples. But acne by definition is actually a much more intricate and complex disorder than that. You can't be expected to fix your skin if you don't have all the details about the condition, right? So what is acne really? Click the link to read the real scientific facts about acne skin issues so that you can heal your skin faster and easier.
Types of Acne
In order to improve your complexion, it is also essential to know what type of acne skin you are struggling with. There are two main types of acne : Non-inflammatory acne and Inflammatory acne. Within these two types, acne can take on several different forms and can affect anywhere on your body. If you want to treat your acne skin with quicker results, you need to know which acne type you are dealing with so that you can choose the best acne treatment options for your case.
Acne Myths
Despite how common and widespread acne skin issues are, there are still many acne myths and misconceptions about the skin disorder. A lot of what people have heard or learned about acne turns out to be simply untrue! There are acne myths related to foods, sun, sex, products... you name it! It's a good idea to become aware of these myths so that you can better understand what really causes acne.
Acne Prone Skin Care
There are 6 essential tips for acne prone skin care that can help reduce blemishes and improve your skin’s appearance. Depending on your level of acne and your overall skin type, you may need to play with these 6 steps a little to find the right combination of products that work for you. But you should use these 6 main steps as a guideline for whatever specific acne skin care regimen you choose.
What Causes Acne?
People often ask "What causes acne?". And it's important to learn the facts if you want to improve your skin. It's common to wonder "Are there certain foods that cause acne?", "Is acne a result of stress?". Well, doctors believe acne is a result of several related factors.
One single acne cause has not yet been determined; however, below is a list of the Main Contributors to acne skin. Concentrating on these factors will help you to improve your complexion significantly.
1) Hormones and Acne
When doctors are asked about what causes acne, their first response is usually hormones. Hormones are one of the biggest contributors to acne skin. Click the link above to read a more in-depth description of hormones and acne.
2) Makeup and Skin Care Products
Greasy cosmetics and skin care products are often one of the key elements involved in what causes acne. If you suspect that makeup or skin care products are contributing to your acne skin, then it is important to learn about makeup for acne prone skin.
Products that are labeled as noncomedogenic or non-acnegenic are preferable because they are less likely to clog pores. The link above provides more information on makeup for acne prone skin, including product reviews, natural makeup, and lists of the best makeup products available.
3) Stress and Acne
While stress doesn't directly cause acne, it has been proven to aggravate it. Acne skin can get progressively worse especially during periods of prolonged or intense emotional tension. However, there are many proven stress-reduction and relaxation techniques that have been shown to help. Click the link above for more information on stress and acne, as well as free relaxation tools.
4) Diet and Acne
In searching for answers about what causes acne, it is very common for people to wonder "Are there certain foods that cause acne?" . The answer is - yes and no. Although it has not yet been 100% scientifically proven that diet affects acne, there is still an ongoing debate among experts about acne causing foods. There are definitely certain foods that are more difficult on the digestive system, especially if a person struggles with food sensitivities.
Your acne could absolutely be aggravated by the foods you are eating, and thus avoiding certain foods can lead to a drastic improvement in acne skin. Click the link above to learn about the specific foods that are most often associated with aggravating acne and how to fix your complexion by avoiding them.
5) Pimple Popping
Although it is tempting, touching your face or picking at skin often results in more acne. Squeezing pimples can push bacteria deeper into the skin cells and can cause the bacteria to spread underneath the skin. As a result, more breakouts can occur as well as worse types of acne - such as nodules and cysts.
It's important not to touch your skin if you are prone to acne; however, certain people struggle with compulsive skin picking which is an OCD related disorder that is very difficult to stop.
6) Washing your face - too often or too aggressively
Some people think acne is a result of poor hygiene or dirty skin and can be fixed by simply washing the face more often. However, this is actually one of the many acne myths that exist, and it is not really a factor in what causes acne at all. Washing your face too often or too intensely can actually irritate the skin and stimulate oil glands, resulting in worse acne. It is best to gently wash your face 2 times a day with a mild cleanser, and then follow with your preferred acne treatment.
7) Climate and Pollution
Pollution and extreme weather conditions have been shown to aggravate acne skin issues. Intense humidity can cause the moisture in the follicle cells to swell up, resulting in worse breakouts. And additionally, a very dry climate can cause the sebum inside the follicle walls to thicken, again leading to worse acne. If you are experiencing acne and live in an area with extreme weather conditions or high pollution, your problematic skin may be a result of the environment.
8) Sweat and Friction
When sweat gets trapped by clothing or a lot of makeup, this can create a breeding ground for bacteria. When exercising or doing any sweat-producing activity, it is best to wear loose-fitting clothing and to wear as little makeup as possible. Any friction caused by leaning, rubbing skin, or the pressure of tight clothes/backpacks etc. can result in irritation and thereby contribute to what causes acne.
9) Drugs
It has been proven that certain prescription drugs can cause and/or aggravate acne. These drugs include lithium, barbiturates, and steroids for muscle building that contain androgens. Additionally, some people have reported worse breakouts due to medications such as adderall and ritalin, which can increase anxiety and stress levels and thus affect the skin.
10) Genetics
Acne does have a genetic component. Chances are that if one or both of your parents experienced acne at some point in their lives, you are more likely to have acne skin issues.
Foods That Cause Acne
Are there certain foods that cause acne? This is an ongoing debate amongst skin care experts and dermatologists, but I say yes!
There is plenty of proof that food and acne are connected.
If you think about it, why is it that people in some indigenous societies (who have not yet been exposed to a Western diet) do not experience acne skin conditions whatsoever across the entire population? This contrasts greatly to the huge prevalence of acne in the U.S.
And in some areas of the world where the Western diet is being introduced, these people are now getting acne! Clearly this shows a link between diet and acne.
While there is no scientific evidence that there are foods that directly cause acne, there have been studies showing that certain foods can indirectly make acne skin conditions worse by influencing other factors in the body.
For instance, the foods we consume directly affect our body's insulin levels. Insulin is the master hormone that influences all other hormones including androgens (male hormones). Higher androgen levels result in more oil secretion, which can lead to worse acne. So, it follows that foods that cause insulin spikes may ultimately make acne worse.
So let's cut to the chase...
What are the foods that cause acne?
While diet might not be the specific cause for acne skin, there are certain foods that have been identified as more problematic than others when it comes to breakouts.
For people looking for ways to reduce their acne, eliminating any possible acne causing foods can often help improve their complexions dramatically.
Foods to Avoid
1) Dairy :
If there is just one food you remove from your diet in order to reduce acne, make it dairy products! Dairy products are considered to be one of the main foods that cause acne.
Dairy products (including cow's milk, cheese, cream, and yogurt) can aggravate acne for a number of reasons:
Many people are lactose intolerant without realizing it and even a mild intolerance can result in acne.
Dairy products are also acid-forming in the body. Our bodies need to be slightly alkaline and over-acidity can lead to acne. Read more about alkaline foods vs. acidic foods.
Consuming dairy, especially non-organic dairy products, can increase the levels of hormones in the body because there are hormones in milk. An increase in hormone production often results in increased sebum secretion, clogged pores, and more acne.
Try to avoid products that list any of the following ingredients: lactose, milk proteins, whey powder, and dried skimmed milk powder.
The best alternatives to dairy products are nut and seed milks, like hemp and almond milk. Soy milk is also an option, but it contains estrogen which is not good in large amounts either.
2) "Bad" fats :
Saturated fats and Trans fats.
Saturated fat is found in animal products, many dairy products, and tropical oils such as coconut and palm kernel oils. Too much saturated fat is hard for the body to break down and can contribute to high cholesterol and heart disease. Not to mention clogged pores.
Trans fat should be avoided at all costs! Trans fats are found in processed and packaged foods such as chips, donuts, cookies, and many other snacks as a way to extend their shelf life. All of these are potential foods that cause acne skin conditions. Trans fats can lower HDL (good cholesterol) and increase LDL (bad cholesterol) and they're the worst type of fat for your health. So stay away from processed and packaged foods as much as possible if you are trying to avoid foods that cause acne.
*Side Note*: Monosaturated and polyunsaturated fats are the good fats and you want them in your diet. They help attract moisture into cells and keep skin lubricated. Foods such as olive oil, avocados, nuts, seeds, and fish all contain these good fats.
3) Refined carbohydrates and sugars :
Eating refined carbohydrates and sugar (white rice, pasta, white flour, sweets, etc) leads to surges in insulin levels. As a result, more androgens (male hormones) will be produced, which then encourage the skin to excrete large amounts of oil. The end result can be clogged pores and zits.
Unfortunately, sugar is found in many foods. It can also go by the names: high-fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, maltose, and dextrose. If you simply can't conceive of a life without sugar - I know I couldn't! :) - then try to use raw sugar instead of refined sugar. You could also try real maple syrup, honey, agave nectar, or brown rice syrup as substitutes for sugar (all of which have less drastic effects on insulin levels).
Most importantly, try to avoid processed foods and simple carbohydrates, like sucrose (table sugar), fructose, and lactose (milk sugar).
4) Fatty meats :
Fatty meats such as beef and pork should be avoided as much as possible if you want clear, glowing skin. Cooked animal protein is difficult to digest and often takes several days to get through the digestive system. During this time, it putrefies and creates toxins in the body. These toxins can manifest in acne.
Similar to dairy products, meat is acid-forming in the body and non-organic meats often contain synthetic hormones.
If you like eating meat, the best options are organic poultry (chicken, turkey, etc.) and organic fish. In terms of protein substitutes - foods like tofu, nuts, seeds, chickpeas, etc. are great options.
5) Excess Salt :
Salt, or sodium, is a necessary part of our diet because it retains fluid in the body's cells, among other things. If you have too little sodium in your diet, you can become dehydrated, BUT, too much sodium can cause you to retain fluid - leading to bloating, weight gain, and possible kidney damage.
According to the American Heart Association, we should only consume about 2.5 grams (about a teaspoon) of sodium per day! This is way less than the average American consumes on a daily basis.
Salt is also rich in iodine which has been linked to acne. If you use iodized salt, consider switching to alternate products such as celtic sea salt which you can find at gourmet or health food stores. Celtic sea salt can also help increase your energy. Himalayan pink salt is also an option. Drinking Himalayan pink salt mixed with water in the morning can help normalize cortisol levels (a hormone associated with stress and lower-stomach weight gain).
6) Caffeine :
Although caffeine is more commonly found in drinks than in food, I still decided to include it in this list of foods that cause acne because it really can make acne skin conditions worse. Caffeine stimulates hormone production, which, as described earlier, can lead to overproduction of sebum and ultimately clogged pores and zits. Caffeine can also increase some people's anxiety and stress levels which can also aggravate acne.
It may seem like an overwhelming task to avoid all of the potential foods that cause acne, but the truth is that it's not necessary to completely eliminate these foods from your diet in order to see improvements in your complexion.
You may find that reducing just one of the foods listed above (even just a little bit) can help clear your acne skin dramatically. Additionally, after a few days of not eating these foods, your cravings for them will diminish and they'll be easier to resist.
Also, when discussing the link between food and acne, I should point out that, in addition to foods that cause acne, there are also many foods that can help improve acne. For a list of these foods, you can read my article on foods for clear skin.
And since a big part of acne is inflammation (acne is actually defined as an inflammatory disease), incorporating certain anti inflammatory foods into your diet can also help to greatly improve and clear your complexion.
7 Effective Tips To Keep Acne Under Control
People are always on the lookout for ways to deal with the disturbing problem of acne. Here are some simple and effective tips to help you keep acne under control.
Tip 1: Don’t pick, press or rub the pimples. It is often hard to resist, but rubbing or picking actually increases the production of sebum and ruptures the membranes under the skin. Consequently, the infection and sebum spreads and causes more pimples. Furthermore, you risk the chances of leaving scars on the face.
Tip 2: Drink plenty of water. Eight glasses of water a day can actually help keep acne away. This is because water flushes out waste material from the body, as well as helps to heal and prevent acne flare-ups.
Tip 3: Avoid eating foods that can worsen acne. Food allergies can cause serious acne flare-ups. Recent studies have shown that acne can also be caused due to seafood which contains relatively high levels of iodine.
7 effective tips for acne control
Other foods you might consider avoiding include foods that contain too much sugar, high fat dairy products, red meat, deep-fried food, etc. Include green vegetables, juices and foods that are rich in zinc in your diet to help alleviate acne flare-ups.
Tip 4: Steer clear of oily skincare products. Avoid products such as intense oil-based moisturizers, lotions, beauty creams and face cleansers.
Tip 5: Try to remain as stress free as possible. Research has shown that stress not only triggers acne flare-ups, but also worsens the overall condition of the skin.
Tip 6: Get enough fresh air and sunlight. Sunlight stimulates the production of Vitamin D which is an essential vitamin for healthy skin. However, be careful not to get sunburned as heavily tanned or sunburned skin does not exfoliate quickly, and this can lead to blocked pores.
Tip 7: Try not to wear makeup as far as possible. Makeup can clog the pores, in turn causing blackheads and pimples. However, in case you have to wear makeup, use water-based products and wash it off before going to sleep.
You can also use topical anti-bacterial creams like Azelex to treat mild and moderate acne formation. Azelex (Azelaic Acid) belongs to a class of medications called Dicarboxylic Acids. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria on the skin as well as reducing the amount of a keratin, a substance that causes acne. However, before deciding to use Azelex, consult a dermatologist.
These are some simple tips to keep acne flare-ups under control. Although acne is an annoying and unpleasant skin disorder, it can be avoided or kept under control with the help of these tips and proper skincare.