Teen Acne
Teen acne is the most common form of acne. Puberty leaves up to 80% of teens with teen acne.
The teenage years, while a time of wonderful discovery and learning, is also the period when acne strikes at its worst. According to statistics, majority of teens will experience one form of breakout or another. In fact, as much as 40% of young people in their mid-teens will experience acne in a severe form. How bad? Think bad enough to require serious treatment or risk wearing an inflamed face for an extended period of time.
During the adolescent years, androgen levels blow up leading to increased sebum production in both sexes. If you are experiencing severe teen acne breakouts, your sebaceous glands are probably extra-sensitive to the androgens, pumping out too much sebum in the process. When the excess oil ends up blocking your pores, acne emerges as the likely result.
Acne Vulgaris In Teens
Acne in teens is commonly referred to as acne vulgaris. Vulgaris is a Latin word meaning "common". Of course, when you're under attack from a severe breakout, referring to it as "common" feels like a cruel joke trivializing your ordeal.
But acne really is common, especially when you consider that up to 90% of people passing through their teenage years will fall victim to the skin affliction. Teen acne is an almost expected occurrence for anyone going through adolescence. Early breakouts usually begin at some point between the ages of 10 to 13 and can persist all through the end of your teenage years.
Teen Acne - Teenage Skin
Teenage skin has two important qualities that factor greatly in the whole issue of teen acne. First, teens frequently exhibit oilier skin. While the excessive oiliness does factor into the reasons for having teen acne, it also ensures that the skin is less sensitive to strong treatments. Most teens, as a result, can use many of the available acne products with little concern for harsh side effects. Secondly, adolescents tend to exhibit better natural skin healing. This helps ensure that acne breakouts, whether inflamed or not, do not lead to bad scarring.
If your skin exhibits worse behavior than normal - such as deep acne scarring and large pimple nodules - you may want to consult a dermatologist as soon as you can. Knowledgeable skin doctors can help reduce inflammation, ease painful lesions and help you minimize further scarring.
Whether you experience acne or not, remember that you will only be a teenager once. It is an eventful time that is likely to see you through some of the most memorable moments of your life. Teen acne, in all its troublesome forms, can do nothing to stop it.