Teen Skin: Understanding your skin and how to treat it

Congested, Oily, sensitive and irritated. 

Your skin is just one more thing that changes when you go through puberty. Congestion often starts in your teen years as your body’s oil glands become more active. A few different skin problems part of teen skin include: whiteheads, blackheads, milia, papule, pustules, nodules and cysts.

Spots are caused by build up of dead skin cells, excess oil, and bacteria. When excess oil and skin cells clump together, they can form a plug in the pore. Normally the bacteria live harmlessly with the skin but when trapped inside the pore, they can multiply and cause spots. This then results in the redness and pain that is typically associated with breakouts.

Its important to understand and know what spots you are dealing with, here’s a breakdown below:

whiteheads

• Occur just like blackheads but don't oxidize (turn dark in colour)
• These usually go away on their own but can also grow into more severe forms of acne if they become infected or inflamed.

blackheads

• Are open bumps that turn black, not because of dirt, but because the oil, dead skin cells and bacteria inside the follicle mix and oxidize, like an apple that has been sliced open. 
• Some blackheads resolve themselves or are easily extracted. Others linger and can grow into more severe forms of acne if they become infected or inflamed.

milia

• Happen when dead skin cells and/or sebum become trapped by skin that grows over them.
• Tiny, hard white bumps that cannot be extracted.

papules

• Red, raised bumps that occur after a closed follicle is deprived of too much oxygen.

pustules

• Pus-filled bumps that occur when an infection is present in the follicle.
• When the follicle swells too much with excessive skin cells, sebum and bacteria, causing the follicle wall to rupture beneath the skin. 

nodules

• Develop when an infection spreads to neighbouring follicles.
• Nodules look like multiple papules and pustules clustered together, or large bumpy areas.

cysts

• Form when the infection lingers long enough within the dermis for the body to quarantine it within a membrane.
• Because of this quarantine, nothing gets in or out of a cyst, including topical acne products.

The Dermalogica Clear Start range has been specifically 

It's important to remember NOT to pick and squeeze spots - as tempting as it may be. Picking and squeezing spots can sometimes cause scarring and pigmentation.

Book a free skin consultation with one of skin experts now - Salisbury 01722 346324, Winchester 01962 798555