25 May A guide to teenage acne treatments

If you have a teenager in your life who suffers with problem skin, discover how to choose the best teenage acne treatments, including natural remedies for acne.

Most of us suffered from acne and skin problems in our youth. In fact, according to the NHS, teenage acne affects around 95% of 11 to 30-year-olds.

There is a huge choice of pharmaceutical and natural teenage acne treatments, so it’s well worth taking time to understand which ones are best for your young person’s skin.

What is teenage acne?

Teenage acne generally manifests as oily skin and spots or pimples on the face, back and chest.

These annoying skin blemishes are caused by hair follicles – the tiny holes in our skin – becoming clogged with excess oil and dead skin cells.

Whether mild, moderate or severe, teenage skin problems can impact young people’s confidence, as well as being uncomfortable.  There is a wide choice of acne treatments for teenage skin that can help manage the symptoms, but it is well worth doing your research before deciding which one is likely to be best for you or your teenager.

In this brief guide, we’ll explore some of the most common treatments for teenage acne and explain what you need to be aware of before making your choice.

Over-the-counter treatments

There are many over-the-counter acne treatments for teen skin conditions that can be effective in treating mild to moderate acne. These include topical creams, gels, and lotions that contain ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and alpha-hydroxy acids. These ingredients work to unclog pores, reduce inflammation, and prevent the growth of acne-causing bacteria.

A pharmacist can advise on the best non-prescription treatment and explain how to use them. Your teenager will have to be patient though – it can take several weeks to see any improvement.

Many people find that these harsh chemicals can also cause dryness, itching or even exacerbate flare-ups for sensitive teen skin, so be ready to stop if this happens and take your son or daughter to the GP if you’re worried about any side effects.

Prescription treatments

For more severe cases of acne, you might consider prescription medications. These include topical or oral antibiotics, retinoids, or hormonal treatments. These pharmaceutical medications are designed to reduce inflammation, unclog pores, and regulate the production of oil in the skin.

It’s important to work closely with a GP or pharmacist when using prescription teenage acne medications, as they can have serious side effects such as making skin more sensitive to sunlight which can increase the risk of skin cancer. Some people also report eye problems as the drying effects can affect tear-ducts.

Again, patience is needed – often results will take several months to see.

Non-pharmaceutical treatments

There are also some non-pharmaceutical treatments for teenage acne symptoms, but again these can be very harsh for sensitive young skin, so you should only choose them with advice from a professional dermatologist or specialist and test carefully.

Common teenage acne treatments include:

Chemical peels – a chemical solution to remove the outer layer of skin and unclog pores
Comedone extraction – a small pen-shaped instrument that can be used to clean out blackheads and whiteheads
Photodynamic light therapy – specific wavelengths of light to reduce inflammation and kill bacteria in the skin

Natural remedies for teenage acne

HRI Teen Skin is a vegan multivitamin, plus specialist skin formulation and probiotic, specifically designed to help problem teen skin.

The easy-to-swallow vegan capsules contain a formulation of 26 premium nutrients, including grapeseed and berry extracts, as well as live cultures and zinc which fights inflammation and regulates oil production.

HRI Teen Skin also includes B vitamins which regulate hormone levels and aid energy release, as well as nutrients which help to balance blood sugar levels.

Why not order a 21 day supply today and see how HRI Teen Skin could help your teenager overcome teen skin issues the natural way.

Here’s what Yola, the Mum of one happy teenager told us on Amazon:

“My daughter says the remedy works and has really helped her skin improve over the time she’s been taking it. She started off taking just one tablet per day and after a few weeks she went up to 2 tablets per day, as recommended. Her skin does seem more clear these days, and my daughter seems more confident, so it’s been worth taking it!

Caring for teen skin naturally with healthy skin care

In addition to choosing any acne treatments suitable for teen skin, it’s essential for your teenager  to maintain healthy skin care habits to help prevent acne from worsening. A daily skincare routine should include:

• Cleansing gently no more than twice a day with a mild soap or cleanser
• Avoiding washing with very hot or cold water that can aggravate teen skin
• Removing makeup before bed
• Using oil-free or non-pore-clogging makeup, moisturisers and suncare products
• Resisting squeezing spots as this could lead to permanent scarring
• Showering as soon as possible after exercising as sweat can cause skin flare-ups and irritation
• Washing hair regularly, especially if it’s oily or tends to touch the face

Lifestyle changes to support clearer skin

Certain lifestyle changes can also help improve teen acne including:

• Making changes to their diet to avoid trigger foods – you can find out which foods support teen skin here.
• Drinking at least 2 litres of water each day to boost liver health and balance hormones
• Getting enough sleep each night (teenagers need at least 9 hours!)
• Managing stress through activities such as exercise, meditation or yoga, as spots can be a sign of stress.
• Avoiding smoking and alcohol

So why not try some of these natural remedies to help acne and teen skin problems before you resort to harsh chemicals or pharmaceuticals – your teenager’s skin will thank you for it!