During adolescence, your bodies go through rapid hormonal changes that may affect your skin. Many teenagers experience skin issues like oily skin, acne, and body odor as they transition from being children into adulthood. When left unattended, these issues may affect one’s self-confidence and self-esteem so it’s important to use safe products like Dr Jart. Thus, it’s important to develop skin care habits for overall health and general well-being.
Hormonal Changes and Other Factors
During puberty, a teenager’s body goes through hormonal changes as he or she develops secondary sex characteristics that mark adulthood, such as developing Adam’s apple and facial hair for guys, and developing breasts and experiencing menstruation for girls. Hormones like androgen may cause the skin to become more oily and prone to pimples and acne.
Androgens are primarily male hormones and that is why guys tend to have oilier skin than girls, but high androgen levels may also cause acne breakouts in women. Androgen signals the sebaceous glands to produce sebum which may cause acne breakouts when not managed with an effective skin care routine and healthy lifestyle. Applying too much makeup, eating junk food, and not having enough sleep also contribute to skin breakouts.
Here are skin care tips for teens:
- Consistent cleansing and skincare routine
Washing your face consistently every morning and before bedtime is very important if you have oily, acne-prone skin. Regularly cleansing your face removes dirt, oil, makeup, pollution, and other impurities that may lodge your pores and lead to breakouts.
Choose a gentle cleanser that helps control excess oil production and eliminates bacteria that lead to breakouts without overly drying your skin, because if your skin is too dry, your sebaceous glands go into overdrive to make up for the loss of your skin’s natural oil, since your skin produces sebum to naturally moisturize and maintain pH levels.
Salicylic acid may help control excess oil production and penetrate pores to remove deep-seated dirt and sebum that causes blackheads and pimples. However, make sure it is not too drying as salicylic acid may be too harsh for some people. Facial washes with tea tree oil, chamomile, and aloe are also good for soothing redness and skin irritation and killing bacteria that cause acne.
An ideal cleansing routine for oily and acne-prone skin is proper cleansing with facial cleanser every day and night, followed by toning. Don’t forget also to moisturize your skin to prevent your skin from overcompensating stripped natural oils. Choose a lightweight moisturizer that is not heavy or greasy. Also, exfoliating your skin with a gentle exfoliator will help slough off dead skin cells, unclog pores, and promote skin cell renewal for a clearer, brighter complexion.
- Always remove makeup
Always remove your makeup before going to bed, and never sleep with your makeup on. Many cosmetic products contain comedogenic and toxic ingredients that may cause pimples and damage your skin. Also, refrain from sharing makeup with your friends and other people, since the bacteria trapped in their cosmetics may transfer to your face and cause breakouts.
- Keep dirty hands off your face
Avoid touching your face with your hands because bacteria can easily transfer on your face. Always wash your hands before touching your face and use a tissue when you have to.
- Sweating and dirty clothes
Teenagers who play sports and live active lifestyles may forget to properly clean off sweat and dirty clothes, which may cause back and chest pimples. Always take a shower after working out and wash your clothes properly to eliminate pimple-causing germs.
- Avoid putting toothpaste on pimples
Some teenagers get really bad advice about controlling breakouts, such as putting toothpaste on a zit. Avoid doing this and see a dermatologist instead.
- Wear sunscreen
Wearing sunscreen is important to prevent UVA and UVB rays from damaging your skin. Never skip on applying sunscreen before going out. Apply sunscreen after properly cleansing, toning, and moisturizing your face, and choose sunscreens with 35+ SPF. Don’t forget to reapply as needed, especially after sweating, swimming, or staying out in the sun too long.
- Eat a healthy diet
Avoid eating junk food and eat a healthy diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, and healthy protein for a brighter complexion. Drink lots of water as well.
- Get enough sleep
Lack of sleep prevents your body from properly repairing itself. Prioritize getting 7-8 hours of sleep every night to wake up feeling refreshed and radiant.
Teenage life should be fun, but building healthy skin care habits is important to keep your precious skin youthful and healthy into your adulthood. A consistent skin care regimen, nutritious diet, and healthy lifestyle are great investments to start in your teens that pay off in the future.
