Moderate to Severe Acne Treatment Kit for Teens
By Neutralyze's Co-Founder, Jon Klein
Acne is a common skin problem among teenagers. It affects up to 50 million Americans and around 85% of teenagers. While it’s not considered as a health risk, moderate to severe acne can have social and psychological impacts on an individual. The effects are especially evident among teens who are still finding their identity, forming relationships, and looking for validation through peer acceptance. Acne can affect a teenager’s self-esteem and body image. It can hinder their social interactions, daily activities, and academic performance.
While acne does have some serious physical and mental repercussions, there are a number of treatments available that can help address moderate to severe acne in teens.
What Causes Teen Acne
Teen acne can be caused by various factors, the most common of which are hormones and genetics, as well as overly productive sebaceous glands and bacteria. Hormonal changes and stress can also exacerbate acne.
When a person hits puberty, they undergo hormonal changes brought about by an increase in androgens. Excess hormones cause the skin’s oil glands to become overactive. When these oil glands become overactive and enlarged, they produce a lot of sebum that can clog your pores or hair follicles. Clogged pores can host bacteria, which might cause swelling or redness and eventually turn into full-fledged acne.
Acne commonly appears on the face, but they can also appear on other areas, like the chest, back, and upper arms.
There are four types of acne:
These are clogged pores covered by a thin layer of skin that bulge and look like white dots.
Blackheads, like whiteheads, are also clogged pores that look like bumps. However, blackheads are discolored, not because of dirt but due to factors like bacteria, oxidation, and even dead skin cells.
These are red and swollen lesions that result from the inflammation of the tissue around the clogged follicles.
Cysts are characterized by lumps that form beneath the skin’s surface. These are often filled with pus.
Your skincare habits can also worsen your acne.
Switching to a new acne treatment approach on a regular basis can actually worsen your acne. For a regimen to work effectively, it needs time and consistency. Give a product around six to eight weeks before switching to a new one if you don’t see any improvement.
When choosing cosmetic or skincare products, check to see if they are labeled as “non-comedogenic”, “oil-free”, or “non-acnegenic” so as not to clog your pores. This also applies to hair care products, which can come into contact with your face. Also make it a point to regularly clean your makeup brushes at least once a week.
Avoid popping your pimples, as this may cause the further spread of bacteria on your skin. This can also lead to skin damage or scarring.
Everyone gets tired after a long day, but taking the extra time to remove your makeup before going to sleep really pays off. Sleeping with your makeup on can clog your pores, which can lead to breakouts.
Skin care can do wonders when done correctly. However, avoid washing your face too frequently or scrubbing it too much, as these can irritate your skin. They can also dry your skin, making it prone to irritation and, therefore, to acne.
Popular Acne Myths, Debunked
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular acne myths that have been dispelled. It’s important to become correctly informed about acne.
How to Choose the Best Acne Treatment for Teens with Moderate to Severe Acne
When it comes to acne treatment for teens with moderate to severe acne, there is no one-size-fits-all cure. There are over-the-counter products that are easily available to teens and parents. These OTC acne treatment products come in a wide variety, ranging from gels and foams to kits. But, how do you choose the one that best suits your needs?
It helps to familiarize yourself with the active ingredients of a particular product first. Some of the most common active ingredients are benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, and alpha hydroxy acids.
Benzoyl peroxide kills acne-causing bacteria and is particularly useful for treating severe breakouts. It also helps eliminate dead skin cells and control excess sebum. It is ideally used as a spot treatment for the occasional cyst or nodule. Given its strength, it may cause redness or irritation when first applied to your skin.
This ingredient helps keep your pores from getting clogged by eliminating dead skin cells which, when left unchecked, can eventually cause acne.
This element helps prevent or treat acne by removing excess oil and dead skin cells. However, this ingredient can dry your skin.
Alpha hydroxy acids help improve skin texture and reduce the appearance of fine lines. These acids are also used to help reduce acne in both teens and adults and reduce the appearance of acne scars.
Retinoids can help reduce inflammation, as they work on unclogging your oil ducts, thus preventing the growth of cysts or nodules. However, retinoids are only available via prescription.
Choosing the right acne treatment depends on a number of factors, such as your skin type and acne severity. Here are some general guidelines to follow when choosing an acne treatment:
Precautions on the Use of Acne Treatment Kits
When using acne treatment kits, you need to observe some necessary precautions:
Ways to Prevent Future Breakouts
While you may not be able to eliminate acne overnight, there are some simple steps that you can follow to prevent further breakouts.
Washing your face properly helps get rid of dead skin cells and excess oil, both of which can contribute to acne. When washing your face, avoid using harsh cleansers.
Allowing your skin to stay moisturized is one way to prevent breakouts. Dry skin is prone to irritation, which can lead to acne. When choosing a moisturizer, go for products that are fragrance-free and non-comedogenic to avoid clogging your skin.
Long-term exposure to the sun can dry out your skin, which is why it’s important to wear sunscreen. Just make sure that your sunscreen is oil-free and non-comedogenic.
When choosing cosmetics or other skincare products, make sure to avoid oil-based products as these can clog your pores.
While scrubbing gets rid of dead skin cells, too much scrubbing is bad news for your skin. Excess exfoliation can irritate your skin because it removes a large amount of natural oils. When this happens, your skin may end up producing too much oil to compensate and this could lead to acne.
Dehydration makes your skin look dull and lifeless. It can also cause your skin to produce excess oil. Always make sure you stay hydrated throughout the day by drinking at least eight glasses of water.
Your hands come into contact with various surfaces throughout the day. These surfaces harbor bacteria that can be transferred to your face when you touch it. Some of these bacteria can clog your pores, leading to irritation and acne.
It’s best to always wash your hands and limit touching your face as much as possible.
While stress doesn’t directly cause acne, it can make it worse. Try activities that can help reduce stress like exercise, meditation, and having hobbies.
Having an acne problem shouldn’t feel like the end of the world for teenagers. Today, there are a number of products, treatments, and procedures available that can address this common skin problem. Don’t let acne stop you from being who you are and doing what you love.
Our mission is to create highly effective products that are specifically designed for people with moderate to severe acne.
Neutralyze® is the world’s first acne treatment system to add the power of Nitric Oxide. Nitric Oxide (NO) is a beneficial substance produced naturally by your body. It helps increase blood flow to stimulate healing and reduce inflammation. The multi-patented Nitrogen Boost® Skincare Technology, as well as other scientifically proven, acne-fighting ingredients work together to deliver life changing results.
We care deeply about you, our customers, because we've been in the same position ourselves. Besides having amazingly effective anti acne products, we have an absolute commitment to customer service, and we will always go the extra mile to make sure you are well taken care of.