How to Cure Teen Acne

A Practical Acne Solution for Teenagers

Oct 17, 2009 Honey Denson

Teem acne can be difficult to tame, but with a little time and effort, you can have the clear skin that you desire.

Almost all teenagers will have to deal with some form of acne. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, "acne is not caused by dirt, but by testosterone." It causes the sebaceous glands of the skin to enlarge and produce oil. That, combined with dirt, can clog the pores and lead to breakouts. Teen acne can be difficult to live with and there are several things that you can do to help cure it.

Keep Your Face Clean

While the acne is not caused by dirt, dirt can mix with the excess oil on your face, which can lead to breakouts. It is important to use a mild face cleanser and follow up with a moisturizer that contains a sunscreen to protect your skin from potential damage. If you over wash your face or use a harsh soap, you can strip your skin, which will lead to an excess of oil production that will make your acne worse. You can try one of the many acne skin care products, but if it makes your face red or dried out, it is too harsh for your skin and you should stop using it immediately and try another acne solution. Also, avoid touching your face too much with your hands. This can lead to more breakouts.

Take Your Vitamins and Minerals

In her book, Prescriptions for Nutritional Healing, Phyllis Balch recommends several vitamins and minerals to use as acne remedies.

vitamin C
vitamin E
potassium
garlic

Vitamin C is a natural immune booster and it can help to reduce the inflammation of blemishes. Foods that contain vitamin C include oranges, potatoes, broccoli, and kiwi. Vitamin E is a natural antioxidant that helps with healing. Foods that contain vitamin E include almonds, sunflower seeds, spinach, broccoli, soybeans, and peanut butter. You can get more of these vitamins by eating foods that contain them or in a supplement.

There is some evidence that a potassium deficiency can lead to acne breakouts, so try eating foods high in potassium such as bananas, milk, spinach, strawberries, watermelon, and carrots. Garlic is a natural antibiotic and it will give your immune system a boost. If you chose to take any of these as a supplement, be sure to follow the package's directions.

Use an Acne Home Remedy

Prescriptions for Nutritional Healing also has some home remedies for acne that you can try. Tea tree oil has shown some promise as an acne solution. It can be found in many stores in the supplement section or it can be ordered online. You use it as a spot treatment. Take a cotton ball and put a few drops of tea tree oil on it and then apply directly to the blemish. Tea tree oil does not smell good, but many people have reported success with its use.

Lavender essential oil is another good spot treatment. Use it the same way as you would the tea tree oil. This essential oil has also been shown to calm the nerves and help people sleep, so this might be a good treatment to use at night.

Be sure never to ingest any essential oil. These are very concentrated oils and it could be toxic to your system if taken orally.

Visit Your Doctor

If all else fails, take a trip to your regular doctor or to a dermatologist. They can usually help you to find specific acne skin care products that will be tailored to your skin type. It is possible that you might need to use a prescription such as an antibiotic or the drug Accutane. If your doctor gives you a specific skin care routine with certain acne skin care products, be sure to follow her instructions completely unless you experience a bad reaction to the products. Know that it can take several weeks or even months to totally clear up your skin. If you give up on the routine too soon, it will not work and your acne could return.

References:

The American Academy of Dermatology

Balch, Phyllis. Prescription for Nutritional Healing. New York: Avery, 2006

The copyright of the article How to Cure Teen Acne in General Medicine is owned by Honey Denson. Permission to republish How to Cure Teen Acne in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Living with teen acne can be difficult