A Spot Of Bother: Teenage Acne Treatments That Could Work For You

Acne can set in with a vengeance as you hit puberty. Some lucky teens only have a mild pimple here and there, but other can have deep lesions that leave lasting scars. If you're suffering through severe teenage acne, there are some solutions available to you. You might talk with your doctor about some of the following treatment solutions. 

1. Beat blackheads with birth control.

It might seem strange to you, but some contraceptives actually can have an effect on your acne problem. Hormonal birth control pills can lessen acne in many cases. As you move through puberty, your body produces more androgens, male sex hormones (including testosterone) that are present in both girls and boys. Androgens can stimulate the hair follicles on the face, and in some people, this leads to more sebum and clogged pores. Hormonal birth control pills have a combination of female sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone) that help to balance out the elevated levels of androgen that lead to inflammatory acne. 

It's important to use pills that have a combination of estrogen and progesterone. The mini-pill, which contains only progesterone, can make a bad acne problem get worse instead of better. 

2. Bust out the benzoyl peroxide.

A daily regimen of low-dose benzoyl peroxide (BP) can do wonders for those who suffer with oily skin that is prone to breaking out. A low dose takes longer to maintain clear skin, but it is not as damaging as clinically strong products that cause the skin to redden or flake from the drying effect on strong treatment. Using a gentle BP cleanser with a BP gel as an after-shower lotion, along with a good-quality moisturizer to protect against dryness can yield good results. Remember to use BP gel on your face before getting dressed and to avoid getting it your clothes: it can bleach or cause discoloration. 

3. Unlock your beautiful skin with ultra-violet light.

Even though UV rays are labeled as cancerous to the skin, they can be a good treatment for severe acne. UV light helps to kill bacteria, and bacteria are what feed on the sebum in your pores and cause the infections leading to pimples and lesions. However, this does not mean your should hit the tanning bed or lay in the sun for hours. Instead, talk to your dermatologist about clinical UV light treatments. These can be so effective, you can expect to see about a 90% improvement in your acne after three appointments. Contact a business, such as Mile High OB GYN, for more information.