Banish Teen Breakouts: Navigating the Struggles of Youthful Skin

Oct 15, 2024

7 min read

Acne is a common skin condition that people of all ages suffer from, however it tends to be more common in teenagers. For many teenagers, having acne can lead to not only physical but also emotional challenges. Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States, affecting up to 50 million Americans annually. Understanding acne by root causes and how to manage the problem can benefit teens in many ways. Many myths about acne can misguide teens into using products that worsen the situation. Most people often think of acne as one singular problem, but acne is really a collection of various types, each with its own causes, characteristics, and treatments. The following blog dives into the truth about acne and ways this commonly misunderstood problem can be resolved.

What is Acne?

Acne is an inflammatory disorder of the skin that many people deal with during their day-to-day life. This inflammation occurs when hair follicles under the skin become clogged and dead skin cells plug the pores. The blockage in the pores lead to outbreaks of lesions, commonly called pimples or zits. Most often, the outbreaks occur on the face, but can also appear on the back, chest, and shoulders. Acne is not considered abnormal, approximately 85 percent of people between the ages of 12 and 24 experience at least minor acne.

What Causes and Triggers Acne?

There are many factors that can impact acne and its severity; however, the five main causes are excess oil (sebum) production, hair follicles being clogged by oil and dead skin cells, bacteria, inflammation, and genetics. Fully eliminating acne can be extremely difficult due to factors we cannot control, however there are certain things that can trigger acne.

Hormonal changes: Androgens are sex hormones that increase in males and females during puberty and cause the sebaccous glands to enlarge and make more sebum. Sebum is an oily substance that protects your skin from drying out, however an excess of sebum can cause oily skin and acne.
Medications: Certain medications contain corticosteroids, testosterone or lithium that are said to negatively impact acne. Medications containing these are considered to impact the body's immune system, causing outbreaks due to bacteria in the skin.
Stress: Although stress cannot cause acne, stress can make acne much worse. Stress, anxiety, and can also worsen acne by triggering the production of cytokines, tiny proteins that increase inflammation, including inflammation of the area around the sebaccous glands.
Diet: Foods high in carbohydrates will worsen acne because it enters the bloodstream quickly, increasing blood sugar. The body will create more insulin to bring blood sugar down, which affects other hormones that can produce oil production in the skin.
Picking: A very common habit among teens is popping or squeezing a pimple. This won't get rid of the problem but can make the situation much worse. Squeezing can push bacteria and pus from our fingers deeper into the skin, which causes more swelling and redness. Squeezing also can lead to scabs and leave you with permanent scars.
Makeup/Products: Some makeup, along with many skin and hair care products, contain oil or other ingredients that can cause gene breakouts. Many people use makeup and products to cover up acne, but in reality, it clogs the pores even more. This will keep the skin from healing and make the problem worse.
Sweat: Acne from sweating is very common, especially if the body is not cleaned afterward. This is because the sweat, dirt, oil, and bacteria will clog the pores. Showering and washing off the sweat are the best ways to prevent this acne from becoming worse.

Symptoms and Types of Acne

There are many symptoms and types of acne that people suffer from. All types of acne form in a variety of ways and have different effects on our skin's health. Understanding the different kinds of acne is crucial for effective management and treatment.

Whiteheads (symptom): Whiteheads are closed pores filled with bacteria that are commonly found on the face, neck, back and chest. There are a variety of causes, including too much oil on the skin and hair follicle irritation. Whiteheads commonly affect adolescents, but they can occur at any age.
Blackheads (symptom): Blackheads are open pores that are commonly found on the face. neck, back and chest. The root cause of blackheads is too much oil on the skin and hair follicle irritation. Blackheads commonly affect adolescents, but they can occur at any age.
Papules (symptom): Papules are inflamed lesions that usually appear as small, pink bumps on the skin. They can be tender to the touch and are commonly found on the face.
Pimples (symptom): Pimples are papules topped by white or yellow pus-filled lesions that may be red at the base. They are most commonly found on the face, back, and shoulders.
Nodules (symptom): Large, painful solid lesions that are lodged deep within the skin.
Fungal Acne/Pityropozu Folliculitis (type): Fungal acne occurs when yeast builds up in the hair follicles. These can be itchy and inflamed.
Cystic (type): Cystic acne causes deep, pus-filled pimples and nodules. These are known to cause scars.
Hormonal Acne (type): Hormonal acne affects teens and adults who have an overproduction of sebum that clogs their pores.
Nodular Acne (type): Nodular acne is a severe form of acne that causes pimples on the surface of the skin, and tender, nodular lumps under your skin.

Why is Acne so Common in Teens?

Overall, the impacts of hormones, genetics, diet, stress, and skin care habits makes acne a large issue for many teenagers. Environmental factors, like pollution, can also contribute to acne by causing skin irritation. Teens are often less consistent with their skin care routines, which can lead to breakouts. The emotional impact of acne can create a cycle of stress, leading to more breakouts. Acne in teenagers should not be a huge concern because of how common it is. Several large studies have reported a prevalence of adolescent acne ranging from 81 to 95 percent in young men and 79 to 82 percent in young women. A study done by Contemporary Pediatrics shows that approximately 85 percent of teenagers are affected by acne at some point; up to 20 percent may develop facial scarring, which is severe and permanent.

Physical and Mental Impacts From Acne

There are many negative side effects to having acne as a teenager. Mentally and physically people suffer from this condition, and it can impact them greatly. It is important to know that the side effects from acne aren’t necessarily abnormal.

Physical Impacts: Acne is painful and irritating to the skin, which can cause long-term impacts

Pain: Acne can be extremely irritating and painful because the body is trying to get rid of the bacteria and pus that doesn't belong there. The redness, swelling, and inflammation causes the pain. The body knows that the dead skin, oil, and bacteria are supposed to be in the hair follicle, so as the body tries to push it out, there is more sensitivity in that area. If you try to pop the pimple, the progress of getting the buildup out is reversed.
Scarring: Acne scars are marks left behind after the acne itself has gone away. This is mostly caused if the area with extreme inflammation goes too deep or the acne is picked at. Skin needs to be handled gently so that it can thrive and stay healthy. When skin is damaged, it tries to rebuild itself with collagen. However, if the damage is too severe, the body can't create enough collagen to create normal skin again. Picking at acne will slow the healing process and could possibly cause an infection.

Mental Impacts: Acne leads to psychological distress, lower self-esteem, anxiety, and depression.

Self-Consciousness: Regarding appearance, the current social standards produced by fake things on social media can increase insecurity in teens making them feel unattractive, embarrassed, or self-conscious. In some recent studies, 8% to 26% of patients with acne have been reported to suffer from at least mild depressive symptoms.

How to Manage Acne

It may seem frustrating and impossible to prevent acne, but there are many ways to help prevent this problem. Dermatologists have spent years researching acne and have proved these methods useful for keeping healthy and clear skin.

Keep your skin clean: Gently wash your face twice per day and after sweating. Choose a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser and apply it with fingertips. This is because scrubbing with washcloths, sponges, and other tools can irritate your skin. Cleaning skin reduces in inflammation and kills bacteria associated with acne formation.
Choose the right skin care: Use gentle skin care products and ones that say "alcohol-free" on the label. Avoid products that can irritate your skin, including astringents, toners, and exfoliants. These products can dry your skin and make acne appear worse.
Shampoo regularly: The oil from your hair can cause acne on the forehead. If you have oily hair, shampoo more often than you do now and keep your hair away from your face.
Stick to your treatment: Trying new acne treatments too often can irritate your skin and cause breakouts. Give your treatment time to work. It may take several weeks to few months before you see a difference.
Keep yours hands off: Touching your face and picking at acne can cause it to flare up. This irritation can cause permeant scarring and dark spots.
Have a healthy diet: Keep a food diary to determine if a specific food triggers acne breakouts. Eating an overall healthy diet is always good advice, and it may also help your skin stay clear. The Journal of American Academy of Dermatology suggests that consuming less sugars and carbohydrates results in decreased breakouts.
Use products for the face: Certain products like lotion and sunscreen are made for the body, which are thicker and can clog pores. It is important to use products that are made for the face because they are thinner, making them less likely to clog pores.

Stop The Stigma- Authors Opinion

I have suffered from acne, and I have friends that suffer from acne. As teenagers, having acne is extremely common and not something to be ashamed of. Acne can be caused by various factors like hormones, genetics, and stress that you can't control! There are many effective treatments available, and seeking help from a dermatologist can make a positive impact. Everyone has their own struggles, and acne is just one of them.

Sources:

"Acne." National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 21 June 2024 https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/acne/basics/symptoms-causes

"Blackheads: What They Look like, Treatment & Prevention." Cleveland Clinic, 1 May 2024, https://mw.elevelandelinic.ore/health/diseases/27038-hlackheads

Mayo Clinic Staff. "Acne." Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research,

20 July 2024, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/acne/symptoms-causes/syc-20368047#:~:text=Acne%20typically%20appears%20on%20your,and%20darken%2C%20causing%20a%20blackhead

Keshav Patel, MS4, and MD Bernard A Cohen. "Acne Vulgaris in Teenagers." Contemporary Pediatrics, Contemporary Pediatrics, 3 June 2024

https://www.contemporarypediatrics.com/view/acne-vulgaris-in-teenagers

"10 Skin Care Habits That Can Worsen Acne." American Academy of Dermatology, https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne/skin-care/habits-stop#:~:text=Some%20makeup%2C%20along%20with%20many,won't%20clog%20pores.%E2%80%9D

Behnam, Bebnaz,. "Psychological Impairments in the Patients with Acne." Indian Journal of Dermatology, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Jan. 2013, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3555368/#:~:text=In%20some%20recent%20studies%2C%208,be%20related%20to%20depressive%20symptoms.