Oh! You look so beautiful and your suit is gorgeous, but what happened to your skin?

This is a familiar scene at parties and campuses, and the recipient teen of this barb is seen squirming and wincing helplessly.

Don’t worry; it is not your fault at all. Don’t feel guilty about the fact that you have acne. You are not alone in this world; in fact about 90% of adolescents have acne – it affects teens of every size and shape, in every country from America to Zimbabwe.

At the onset of puberty, the body begins to produce male hormones called androgens. They are a natural part of development for both boys and girls, but boys tend to produce more of them and therefore tend to have more severe breakouts.

But androgens cause your oil glands to work overtime. They produce extra oil, which can clump together with the dead skin cells on the top layer of your skin. When this sticky mixture finds its way into your pores, it traps oil and bacteria inside. The follicle becomes swollen and your body’s natural defense system, white blood cells, rush to the area to clean up the mess. This results in Acne.

How to combat Acne?
Remember the adage “Prevention is better than cure.” Yes it is true even for your Acne.

Keep it clean. Since teenagers produce more oil, it’s important to wash twice a day with warm water and a mild cleanser. But don’t over wash.

Skip harsh scrubs. It’s okay to exfoliate, but be sure to use a gentle formula with small, smooth grains.

Say no to alcohol. If you use a toner, avoid products with high concentrations of isopropyl alcohol, or common rubbing alcohol. Alcohol strips the top layer of your skin, causing your glands to produce more oil. It may result in dry, flaky skin – and possibly more blemishes.

Don’t squeeze, touch your face, or pick. Squeezing or picking your blemishes with fingernails, pins or anything else can force bacteria deeper into the skin. This can cause greater inflammation and infection, increasing the chances that your pimple will leave a permanent scar.

Choose products wisely. If you wear make-up, be sure it’s oil-free and that it won’t clog your pores and make your breakouts worse.

Stay away from harsh sunlight. Small amounts of sun exposure may improve acne for a few days. But suntans (and burns) also make you shed your dead skin cells faster, so in the long run, you’ll end up with more clogged pores. And that means more acne. It is better to use a sunscreen free from oil.

There are some products that are known to cure acne.

Benzoyl peroxide, Proactiv R Solution, Salicylic Acid, Tretinoin (Retin-A), some antibiotics, oral contraceptives, anti-Androgens, Isotretinoin

CAUTION: If your acne gets worse or lasts more than a couple of weeks, see a dermatologist.