Why are teens prone to acne? An estimated 85% of teenagers have a skin concern, the vast majority stemming from acne. The answer as to why teens experience acne is multi-factorial however the common root cause is the flood of hormones that occur during puberty.

Oil glands in the skin are responsive to sex hormones, which start to surge early in the teenage years. These glands are also called sebaceous glands.

Androgens stimulate the sebaceous glands to produce oil. Androgens are also known as testosterone-like hormones. This is why teenage boys are more prone to acne lesions that teenage girls, since boys produce more testosterone.

The flood of androgens stimulating sex-hormone naïve sebaceous glands is responsible for bothersome acne in the teenage years. Excess oil clogs pores, creating an ideal environment for the type of bacteria that causes acne. As the skin and body adapts to puberty, fortunately most teens will grow out of this awkward stage.

There are different types of acne to be aware of. Your individual type of acne will help determine the types of treatments you need.

Types Of Acne

Comedonal Acne: Blackheads and whiteheads. Blackheads happen when the pore is open and the contents become oxidized due to exposure to air, turning black. Whiteheads are closed pores.

Inflammatory Acne: Pustules and Papules. Papules are solid, inflamed bumps on the skin. Papules have a yellow-white head. Papules are similar to whiteheads, but larger. Papules tend to evolve into pustules.

Nodular Acne: Nodules are deep, firm bumps under the skin surface.

Cystic Acne: Similar to nodules in that cysts are deep under the skin, however cysts are softer.

Some acne will persist beyond the teenage years. For more on adult acne, see our blog on adult acne (insert link). This type of acne tends to involve more than the skin adjusting to the flood of hormones during puberty and can point to chronic hormonal imbalance, food sensitivities, suboptimal skincare practices, and much more.

If you are a teen or have a teenager dealing with acne, here are some tips to see better results dermatologically:

Tip 1: Do Not Touch the Acne

Teenagers tend to have a short-sighted view of solutions to problems, which fortunately tends to evolve into understanding that patience and persistence pays off as they mature. The most logical solution to acne might seem to pop acne lesions. What teens need to know is that while this might make that embarrassing pimple or pustule disappear, the consequence is a spreading of bacteria and potential scarring.

Spreading of the bacteria that contributes to acne lesions can make the problem worse, and unfortunately scarring can be difficult to resolve even years later.

As tempting as it may be, do not agitate the acne lesions. It’s best to leave extractions to a professional.

Tip 2: Stick With A Program

If a particular product or skincare regimen isn’t working after a few days, teens tend to move on to the next new thing. Whether it be something that worked for a friend or the latest skincare brand, the urgency to resolve the acne can be so overwhelming that it becomes hard to stay consistent.

Switching up skincare ingredients too often and without professional guidance increases the chances that a teen might be exposing their skin to ingredients that are not a good fit for their skin.

Skin takes 28 to 42 days to completely turn over. Skincare takes patience, consistency, and persistence. The magic bullet doesn’t exist, so give your skincare regimen some time to judge if it’s working for you!

Tip 3: Take Care of Your Mental Health

Stress can increase acne lesions by causing more androgens to be released into the blood stream, further triggering more oil release from sebaceous glands.

For many teens, dealing with acne can start to feel like your entire identity. You may be noticing thoughts that people are noticing or judging you based on your acne.

Perspective can be hard to grasp when you are in the thick of unwanted changes to your body. The reality is that 5 to 10 years from now, nobody will be thinking or talking about you in reference to your acne. Focus on yourself, your goals, your passions, and your friendships. These are all the things that people will remember you for.

Maintaining a sense of perspective is an important skill to develop in life. When you notice spiraling feelings about your acne that won’t stop, stop and divert your attention to something else. Call a friend, engage in a hobby, write a list of things you are grateful for or like about yourself.