Skin Care For Teenagers

By Author: Marshall Littman
Total Articles: 19
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Most teens want to learn how to properly take care of their skin in an effort to reduce acne, the most common skin complaint among teenagers. While it is true that maintaining good skin health is important to keep skin looking young for as long as possible, healthy skin can also have other health benefits.

Clear skin is one benefit of healthy skin. While the scientific community seems torn on whether or not diet plays a factor in the development of acne, every doctor knows that a number of factors contribute to acne. The skin is more than a barrier to keep harmful organisms out of the body; it is also a complex waste removal system. In fact, a pimple is just one example of how the body removes substances that it cannot process. The increase of acne during the teenage years is a result of the different hormones working overtime to keep the body growing through adolescence, when the body works overtime; it produces more waste that must be removed.

Constantly picking, peeling, pinching, or squeezing acne can lead to permanent scaring of the skin. Instead, proper hygiene and use of skin care products can help ...
... manage acne. There are topical over the counter medications such as benzoyl peroxide that are quite effective in treating mild to moderate acne and prescription medications that your physician can recommend and prescribe for more severe acne.

Another type of skin issue that can cause major health problems is skin cancer. Skin cancer is developed over time after regular and prolonged exposure to the sun's ultra violet (UV) rays. Take note that it is not just the exposure to the light of the sun that causes skin damage; it is the exposure to the UV rays that can break down the skin's ability to protect the body. Excessive exposure to artificial sources of UV rays, like those produced by tanning beds, can cause the same damage to the skin over time as the sun. The result of excessive UV exposure is often skin cancer, which can affect any part of the body. In most cases, a person who develops skin cancer will require surgery to remove the cancerous skin from the body.

Teens, especially those who are active in outdoor activities, can help reduce their chances of developing skin cancer by taking advantage of sun block, wearing hats and clothing that covers as much skin as possible, and areas that offer plenty of shade. These steps can also slow signs of aging.

Dr. Marshall J. Littman is a San Diego Pediatrician who has been in practice for 35 years. He is also a member of Children's Physicians Medical Group.