Encouraging teenagers to look after their skin.

One thing teenagers shouldn’t have to worry about is the state of their skin. However their routine and lifestyle coupled with any anxiety or stress they may be feeling can combine to cause breakouts and acne.

Becky has been really lucky as a teenager and probably had a handful of spots in her whole 19 years but Ellie on the other hand isn't so lucky. She doesn't suffer badly with her skin but there is sometimes enough to notice.

 

Fast food, late nights, stress from a heavy workload and a shift in sleeping pattern can all play havoc and lead to a massive skin freak out. Getting kids to stick to a skincare routine is their best defence. Student life doesn’t lend itself to pampering and spending hours in front of the mirror but usually just a few minutes in the morning and night to cleanse, treat and hydrate the skin can make all the difference. It’s all about getting into a skincare routine.

Alongside being consistent here is some more advice for teenagers on how to care for their skin:

Be smart.

Spotty skin is inflamed and irritated so you need to treat it gently to calm it down. Don’t be tempted to try and rub the problem away: harsh treatments, scrubs, chemical peels and benzoyl peroxide may promise quick results but most of the time these products will do more harm than good.

Stress less.

When we’re stressed our body releases a hormone called cortisol which ramps up a group of hormones called androgens (which contribute to growth and reproduction in men and women). These hormone surges will adversely affect your skin and overall health so do what you can to minimise stress.  Set some boundaries, manage your time carefully, take quiet time away from the crowd and ask for help if you need it. 

Feed your face.

Minimise foods that cause stress hormones to flare up such as excess coffee, alcohol, sugar and dairy foods. The average student diet will include all these things so try and balance them out by eating leafy greens, brightly coloured fruit and veg and drinking plenty of water whenever you can.

Tackle the cause.

Hormones are often blamed for acne and breakouts and with good reason as surges in testosterone and oestrogen can lead to increased oil production that clogs the skin’s pores. There’s not much you can do about hormone upheaval. But you can tackle two other primary causes of breakouts and acne namely: bacteria on the skin and excess sebum (the oily substance from the sebaceous glands). Use an antibacterial face wash and treatment gel to help clear your skin and keep it clear while choosing a non-comedogenic moisturiser is a smart move as these formulations won’t clog your skin.

Keep consistent.

Once your skin clears up, don’t resort to your old habits or switch back to cheaper or less effective skincare products.  Consistency is key to keeping a clear skin. Student budgets and erratic shopping patterns can easily derail your best intentions.

Did you suffer with your skin as a teenager, do your children now?