Different Acne Treatments

Posted by admin on September 13, 2008

There is a lot of pressure to look good all throughout life. You can see this everywhere you look, and sadly, many of the expectations are unrealistic at best. Though most feel this through most of their lives, one of the worst times is through the teenage years when superficial things are more important than anything else. Teens are finding out who they are, and they can see who they are as something that is tied to how they look. This is why acne during the teen years can be devastating. When this is a problem, finding the right acne treatments is going to be a top priority.

What type of acne treatment someone might want to use will depend greatly on how bad the acne problem really is for each person. Some people just have a few blemishes to worry about, and others have acne so bad it produces scarring that can last for the rest of their lives. Acne is often a result of hormonal changes, and has nothing to do with what someone eats, though many believe that myth. When a teenager hits puberty, the severity of their acne problems will come into focus. Some get lucky and need no acne treatments, but the rest are not quite as fortunate.

Acne treatments for those with just a few blemishes or pimples to deal with are going to be rather easy. There are many great face washes out there that can keep the skin clean. This might not stop all pimples from forming, but it can help keeping many away. What is important is to use it twice a day. This can be a problem for some teens, as they forget to do it after a while. Repeated breakouts may inspire them to keep up the routine, but sometimes parents have to remind them to keep their acne treatments up each day.

Excess oil in the skin is a major culprit. This doesn’t mean that avoiding fat altogether is the answer. There are good and bad fats. Fats should comprise about 20% of your total intake of calories each day. Generally, animal fats and trans fats are the ones you want to avoid. Olive oil is the best and is also healthy for your cardiovascular system.

Now, to keep outbreaks to a minimum, lets take a look at those good  vitamins for acne. Vitamins A, C, E and zinc should be in good supply in your daily diet. This means lots of fruits and veggies. Include lots of salads. A variety of greens, fresh parsley, all of the citrus fruits and red, orange or yellow vegetables are all high in vitamins A and C. Avocados are loaded with vitamin E. The ready to drink vegetable juices supply many of these vitamins. If you don’t care for the taste, try a squirt of lemon juice or one of the spicy versions, ice cold, as this beverage is so beneficial to the health of your skin.

When you make a salad, which makes an excellent lunch or dinner, make it a chef’s style with healthy additions like sliced chicken breast or salad shrimp. Vary your selection of dark green, leafy vegetables in your salads so you don’t get bored with this meal. Spinach, mesclun or spring mixes are good choices. Dice in a sweet red or orange bell pepper for a good dose of beta-carotene, the most beneficial form of vitamin A. Organic, locally grown fruits and vegetables also contain more of these nutrients than veggies that have been picked in an under ripe state and shipped hundreds of miles. Look for salad dressings made with olive or soy oil.

Teens need these vitamins for acne treatments in greater abundance than adults. Talk to your doctor to see if vitamin supplements are a good addition to your healthy eating program. Remember too, that caffeine washes all these vitamins, particularly vitamin C, out of your system before you can absorb them.

The most helpful vitamins for acne conditions are found in abundance at the produce counter.  All the more reason to make sure you encourage your teens to eat their vegetables.

For those with more severe problems, acne treatments may have to come from a doctor. Some of these treatments for acne are going to be prescriptions, and are going to be very powerful. A doctor will decide if the child needs this strong of an acne treatment or not. In some cases, over the counter remedies can work, even when it seems nothing has helped thus far. Parents may have to monitor prescription treatments for acne to be sure teens are using them correctly and that the other children in the house are not getting into them.