By Samuel Murray

Teenage acne. Nothing worse can happen at a worse time. A teenager is already at an age where he or she is very self conscious about his or her image. Although acne is definitely seen on the outside, the affects it has on the inside can be very hurtful. Acne can lower a teen's self esteem. It can make an otherwise outgoing child become a shy and introverted teenager. It's a fact that at least 20 million teenagers suffer from acne.

The earlier that acne is treated the better it will be. Once acne has started to go away the treatment needs to be continued. The type of treatment for acne is dependent on the severity of the acne. There are hundreds of different treatments available today.

Light to moderate cases of acne, that which include blackheads, whiteheads and papules, can usually be treated successfully with over the counter preparations. Most of these cleansers and scrubs and spot treatments contain salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. These generally work well. When washing your face do not scrub your skin. Don't use a washcloth. Scrubbing the skin can irritate acne and make it look and feel worse. Never pick or scratch the acne. This can cause scarring. Some of the over the counter preparations are extremely drying on the skin. Make sure you follow the manufacturers instructions for use. Over drying the skin isn't good as the skin may rebel against being over dry by producing more oil.

More severe cases of acne that include cysts and nodules may need the help of a dermatologist. A dermatologist will evaluate many different things such as age, lifestyle and co-existing conditions. The dermatologist may suggest a combination of two or three different therapies to be used at the same time.

A healthy diet may help your skin to improve, and it certainly is a wonderful lifestyle change. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Eat a diet high in fiber. Avoid refined sugar, hydrogenated oils and saturated fats. Drink at least six glasses of water a day.

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