How to Tame Teenage Acne

As if being a teenager was not hard enough, teens frequently have to battle acne along with all the drama. It can be difficult to tame teenage acne, but fortunately there are several products, including acne home remedies that can help.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Keep your face clean. Thoroughly wash your face with a mild soap when you wake up in the morning and at night before you go to bed. A harsh soap may strip your face of oils and cause your oil producing glands to go into overdrive which will only lead to more acne. If you are a girl, make sure that you remove all of your make up before you go to sleep. Left over makeup will combine with the oil on your skin and clog up your pores. Also, try to keep your hands off of your face to prevent breakouts.

2. If keeping a clean face is not helping, go to your doctor or a dermatologist. They will be able to recommend the best acne skin care products for your skin type. Most over the counter products contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. He may recommend a prescription of antibiotics to kill the bacteria that can lead to breakouts or the acne fighting drug Accutane. If you are a girl and are put on Accutane, your doctor will also prescribe birth control pills because Accutane has been known to cause birth defects.

3. Be sure to ask your doctor if you can try an acne home remedy to supplement her recommendations. One you could try is a honey mask. Put some raw, preferably organic, honey on your face and leave it on for 10 to 15 minutes. Rise off with warm water. Honey has natural antibiotic properties and it will moisturize your face. Tea tree oil and lavender essential oil can be used as an acne remedy. Dab a drop of one of the oils onto a cotton swab and then apply directly to the blemish. Both tea tree oil and lavender essential oil have acne healing properties. They can be found at health food stores. Never take the oils internally as they could be toxic.

4. Don't become frustrated if your acne does not clear up right away. Teenage acne can be difficult to tame. Follow your doctor's instructions carefully and give the treatment time. It could take several weeks to a few months for the acne to clear up completely.

5. In the mean time, take your vitamins. Vitamins A, B, C, D, and E will keep you healthy and improve your skin. Most of these can be found in an ordinary multivitamin.