Acne Tips
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It is very important that teenagers and their parents know that the care that
they give to their skin cannot stop pimples from coming completely, and that if
the acne is very bad, skin care is not likely to make any difference. There is
also a lot of mis-information about skin care.
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Washing the face should only be done once or twice a day, with
a mild soap. The skin should not be scrubbed.
Washing hair: the forehead can be oilier than other parts of
the face, and have more pimples. The hair just above the forehead is also often
oily. Oily hair probably does not cause acne on the forehead to be worse.
Washing the hair often (such as daily) can make the hair look better, but may
have no effect on the acne. If their forehead has a lot of acne, teenagers will
want to cover it with their hair. This probably will not make the acne worse,
and might be helpful in improving the way they feel about their face.
Pimples should not be squeezed, as this can damage the lining
of the pore and the sebum and bacteria can get into the skin around the pimple,
causing more inflammation (redness, swelling and pus). However most teenagers
cannot resist trying to squeeze out pus or a blackhead. If they have to, make
sure they know that they should have clean hands, and only squeeze very gently.
If the pus or blackhead does not come out easily, it is not ready to come out.
Exposing the face to a little sunlight, not enough to cause
any skin damage, may help a little.
Avoiding cosmetics and sunscreens which are oil based might be
worth trying.
There are many products for sale 'over the counter' at
pharmacies, or in supermarkets, which are claimed to reduce or get rid of acne.
Some of these may help. Many of them work by increasing the speed of production
of cells lining the ducts and cells of the skin of the face. This can unblock
the pores, or make them less likely to block.
Cheap products may be as helpful as more expensive ones. Some
make the skin more sensitive to sunlight, so sun screen should also be used. If
the product causes the skin to become very red or sore, stop using the product.
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