Teenage Acne

One bears not only physical scarring, but the emotional scarring is apparent to anyone who has talked to a teen with acne problems. Many teenagers feel that they would sell their soul to clear their acne, because it is sore & painful, makes them feel very self-conscious, can lead to long-term scarring and chronic depression. It’s a very serious health condition – a study published in 2010 showed that suicidal ideation occurs 2-3x more frequently in teenagers with acne.

Acne isn’t caused by being dirty, and there’s so much more to it than just hormones. Let’s take an in-depth look at the acne that strikes 80-90% of teenagers in Western Society.

It does (mostly) start with hormones

During the ages of 10-13 most teenagers experience a surge in hormones. This can be both welcomed and feared at the same time. Basically, these hormonal changes can increase sebum production. When we have excess oil in the opening of our skin pores, this can form a plug and there’s a cascading effect where oil-loving bacteria will multiply which increases the inflammation in the pore and causes infection.

Diet related causes

Everyone has heard that chocolate causes pimples. Let me break this down. Chocolate itself doesn’t cause pimples, but research shows that both the intake of dairy and sugar can increase acne, both of which are contained in chocolate. Sugar isn’t a cause of the problem but it certainly can exacerbate it by the insulin-related effect. High glycaemic index foods will cause the pancreas to secrete a large amount of insulin, which will also increase levels of insulin-like growth factor. Insulin-like growth factor can increase oil production, thus making existing acne much worse. Teenagers with acne should consider a low-GI diet and absolutely avoid refined sugars in drinks & food. 

Nutritional deficiencies

Deficiency of Pantothenic Acid (aka Vitamin B5) in the skin results in the accumulation of oils and fatty acids that can cause acne, and B5 is also importantly involved in the production of sex hormones, therefore internal and external treatment with B5 has seen amazing benefits for all sufferers of acne, especially teenagers. Almost every pathway in the body requires Zinc to work properly, especially when it comes to hormones. SkinB5 has designed a perfectly balanced formula with Vitamin B5, Zinc and other essential acne-fighting nutrients to treat the cause from the within.

Cleansing the face

Washing the face with harsh cleansers isn’t the answer, and can, in fact, make the problem worse. The skin has a fine balance of sebum, and when it is stripped away by harsh cleaners, the body will only work harder to make more. The best type of cleanser to use is a gentle cleanser that will work to unclog the pores, clean away the dead skin and remove excess oil – foaming cleansers do this very well, such as SkinB5’s Acne Control Cleansing Mousse. Acne can be very sore, so the last thing any acne sufferer wants is to have to scrub at the skin.

Teenage acne doesn’t have to be ‘just the thing you have to go through’ –thankfully there is a lot that can be done to reduce and eliminate breakouts!

Haley is a passionate Naturopath & nutrition expert, writer, and mum of 2 young children, with years of experience in the industry. She is a known as a real ‘nutrition nerd’ and follows the latest natural health research. As a Paleo and raw food enthusiast, she coaches people in healthy living, beauty and positive mindset. Haley has personally experienced the benefits of the SkinB5 natural acne treatment system and is happy to offer her guidance to help others regain clear skin. Follow her blog at www.aliveinwonderland.com & link with her on facebook at www.facebook.com/aliveinwonderlandhealth