ACNE There are bumps in the road to adulthood

There are things you can do to treat acne.
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
If you're a teen, chances are pretty good that you have some acne. Almost eight in 10 teens have acne, along with many adults.
Acne is so common that it's considered a normal part of puberty. But knowing that doesn't always make it easier when you're looking at a big pimple on your face in the mirror. Luckily, learning about acne and taking some simple steps can help you feel better about your face.
What is acne?
Acne is a condition of the skin that shows up as different types of bumps. These bumps can be blackheads, whiteheads, pimples and cysts.
The type of acne that a lot of teens get is called acne vulgaris. It usually shows up on the face, neck, shoulders, upper back and chest.
The hair follicles, or pores, in your skin contain sebaceous glands (also called oil glands). These glands make sebum, which is an oil that lubricates your hair and skin.
Teens get acne because of all the hormones that come with puberty. Most of the time, the sebaceous glands make the right amount of sebum. As a teen's body begins to mature and develop, hormones stimulate the sebaceous glands to make more sebum, and the glands may become overactive. Pores become clogged if there is too much sebum and too many dead skin cells. Bacteria can then get trapped inside the pores and multiply, causing swelling and redness -- the start of acne.
If a pore gets clogged up and closes but bulges out from the skin, you're left with a whitehead. If a pore gets clogged up but stays open, the top surface can darken and you're left with a blackhead. Sometimes the wall of the pore opens, allowing sebum, bacteria and dead skin cells to make their way under the skin -- and you're left with a small, red infection called a pimple. Clogged up pores that open up very deep in the skin can cause nodules, which are infected lumps or cysts that are bigger than pimples and can be painful.
For most people, acne goes away almost completely by the time they are out of their teens. If your parents had acne as teens, it's more likely that you will, too.
What can I do about acne?
To help prevent the oil buildup that can contribute to acne, wash your face twice a day with soap and warm water. Don't scrub your face hard with a washcloth -- acne can't be scrubbed away, and scrubbing may actually make it worse by irritating the skin and pores. Try cleansing your face as gently as you can.
If you wear makeup or sunscreen, make sure it's labeled "oil-free," "noncomedogenic" or "nonacnegenic." This means it won't clog your pores and contribute to acne. And when you are washing your face, be sure you take the time to remove all of your makeup.
There are many over-the-counter lotions and creams containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide available to help prevent acne and clear it up at the same time.
You can experiment with these to see which helps. Be sure to follow the instructions exactly -- don't use more than you're supposed to at one time (your skin may get too dried out and feel and look worse), and follow any directions to see if you're allergic to it first.
What if i get acne anyway?
Some teens who have acne can get help from a doctor or dermatologist (a doctor who specializes in skin problems), and treat the acne with prescription medicines. Depending on the person's acne, this might mean using prescription creams that prevent pimples from forming, taking antibiotics that kill the bacteria that help create pimples, or if the acne is severe, taking stronger medicines such as isotretinoin or even having minor surgery. Some teen girls find that birth control pills help to clear up their acne.
If you look in the mirror and see a pimple, don't touch it, squeeze it or pick at it. This might be hard to do -- it can be pretty tempting to try to get rid of it. But when you play around with pimples, you can cause even more inflammation by poking at them or opening them up.
Plus, the oil from your hands can't help.
More importantly, though, picking at pimples can leave tiny, permanent scars on your face.
Most importantly, remember that you're not the only one with acne. Looking around at your friends and classmates should be good reassurance that you're not alone.
XAdditional source: www.TeensHealth.org