5 Myths About Teenage Acne
More commonly called “acne,” skin blemishes are practically a rite of passage through the teenage years.
In previous decades when less was known about acne treatment, many teens had to simply suffer through their skin’s painful blemishes.
But today, dermatology, the science of skin care, has systematically debunked almost every myth about why teens get acne.
These myths have been replaced with helpful truths that can ease the discomfort and pain that acne often causes.
Types of Acne
There are four main categories of acne. These four categories can be present in both teens and adults.
Whiteheads: Whiteheads are the least severe type of acne breakout. Whiteheads are caused when old skin cells or oil clogs the pores just below the skin’s surface.
Blackheads: Blackheads get their name from their small-black-dot appearance. These black dots are actually clogged pores.
Pustules: Also called papules or nodules, pustules feel hard to the touch. Often the skin around the pustules also becomes red and inflamed.
Cysts: Cysts are the deepest and most painful type of acne. Cysts occur when the pores become clogged with oil and pus.
Why Teens Get Skin Breakouts
No longer a child, but not yet an adult, teenagers are in a period of transition. During the teenage years, both girls and boys are subject to rapid, unpredictable hormonal fluctuations.
These fluctuations can cause emotional, mental and physical changes that are as uncomfortable for the teen as they are for their family and friends.
Luckily, modern skin treatments and even acne home treatment solutions can now effectively ease the discomfort.
Myth #1: Puberty Causes Acne
Puberty itself does not cause acne. Hormones that increase during the growing-up years can cause acne.
However, different people produce different amounts of these hormones, called androgens, during the teenage years and also into adulthood. Androgens clog pores.
Clogged pores produce acne. Because of variances in different individuals’ levels of androgen production, some people are just more prone to developing skin blemishes than others. In this way, genetics combined with an increase in androgens is what actually causes acne.
Myth #2: Acne Will Go Away In Adulthood
As most adults have discovered, acne can continue to occur long past the high school prom.Acne outbreaks become more frequent during the teenage years, and girls tend to experience acne earlier in the teenage years than boys do.
But many people will continue to have periodic acne outbreaks well into their adult years.
Myth #3: There Is a One-Size-Fits-All Solution to Acne
Because everyone produces varying amounts of androgens, and because acne can occur all over the body (including face, neck, chest and back), solutions must also vary according to the type of acne outbreak.
For milder cases, topical over-the-counter solutions are often sufficient. For more severe or persistent outbreaks, it may be necessary to see a dermatologist.
Myth #4: Certain Foods Cause Acne Outbreaks
Food does not cause acne. However, androgens and harsh skin treatments can cause acne. The more stress a person is feeling, the more prone the person will be to developing acne.
As well, if the person picks at their blemishes, this skin irritation can cause more oil to rush to the skin’s surface, clogging pores and producing more acne.
Myth #5: Improper Skin Cleansing Routines Cause Acne
Cleansing the skin daily is always a good idea. But if the skin care routine involves harsh scrubbing, picking at blemishes or using oily products on skin, these agents can cause pore clogging which can lead to acne.
No single issue, such as a skin care regimen, can ever be held responsible for causing acne. Rather, acne is the result of a combination of factors such as skin irritation, overproduction of androgens, clogged pores and stress.
Debunking these five common acne myths can help you or your teen get effective treatment more quickly.
