Teens & Skincare

Some teens are just blessed with good skin, and when you ask them what they do to their skin their reply is nothing. That is not the norm. Adolescence is the prime time for acne and whether the breakouts are mild or persistent, good skin care is the beginning for everyone. The first thing that all adolescents need to do is to wash their face twice a day. You do not need fancy skin potions or lotions either, the drugstore has more than enough choices to begin a good cleansing program. Using a mild soap- free cleanser may be enough to begin with , something like Purpose, Basis, Aquanil or Neutrogena. If the skin is more oily and acne prone try a cleanser that contains glycolic or salicylic acid , products like Neutrogena Acne wash, or Clean and Clear, you will need to read labels to look at the ingredients. These provide gentle exfoliation of the skin surface. Wash with a soft cloth but don't scrub or buff, just wash. After washing your face in the morning, always apply a gentle non-comedogenic moisturizer WITH sunscreen. This will not cause acne, but will prevent sun damage that we all get on a daily basis. This is not the same as applying sunscreen for a day at the beach or lake. Again, I like Oil of Olay complete, or Neutrogena but there are many others out there, so find your favorite. At bedtime, after washing your face, if skin seems to be getting break outs begin using a 5% benzoyl peroxide lotion (you only need a dime size amount for the whole face) applied after your face has completely dried from the washing. If it is applied to a wet or damp face it may cause redness. Benzoyl peroxide products come in several strengths and may be titrated up in strength as tolerated. If this regimen is not working well it is probably time for a visit to the doctor to discuss some prescription products. More on that another day. That's your daily dose. We'll chat tomorrow. Send your question to Dr. Sue!