Teen Skin Care Q&A

I told my facebook friends that I was writing an article on teen skin care and when I got such great questions back from them and their teen daughters, I thought… why not just make this article a Q&A?  So without further adue, here are some great questions from teens about their skin.

How do I get rid of this zit?

If you just get a random pimple once in a while, consider yourself blessed!  Teen acne is a major concern for many.  For the occasional blemish, I recommend a gel which contains 5% benzoyl peroxide.  You’ll find plenty of 10% benzoyl peroxide products on the drugstore shelves, but the one I recommend is milder— therefore, it’s safe to apply daily to PREVENT blemishes from forming as WELL as treat the occasional pimple that does crop up (usually at that fun time of the month!)  Due to internet marketing restrictions I cannot name the product line I recommend here on this blog but you can email me at heatheramyprice@gmail.com and I will tell you how to get the gel I’m talking about.  You want to apply this gel AFTER cleansing, exfoliating and toning, but BEFORE moisturizing.

I have dry skin, but I have acne!

Oy, what a conundrum!  The products out there which clear up acne work well because they DRY up acne!  Aside from the basics which I ALWAYS recommend: cleanse, exfoliate gently, tone, moisturize, and protect the skin, you’ll need to do two things.  Number one, you’ll need to apply the gel I discussed above twice a day every day after cleansing.  It’s safe for use on dry skin and will not dry your skin further like a 10% gel will, or a salicylic acid solution.  Number two, you’ll need to make sure that the moisturizer you’re using is oil free and hydrating enough for your dry skin and will not further exacerbate the acne problem.  I do recommend a particular moisturizer in this case, but if your skin is PARTICULARLY dry, I recommend a hydrating gel in addition to a moisturizer.  I think of using a hydrating gel in conjunction with a moisturizer like this… you want to drink plenty of water, but sometimes you want to splash water on your face too.  One works from the inside and one from the outside.  Same with a moisturizer and a hydrating gel.  One works on the epidermis and one works on the dermis— sometimes if you’ve got dry skin you really need to tackle both.

When I wash my face it gets dry but moisturizer breaks me out!

A similar problem to our previous questioner.  You’re skittish about using moisturizer because in the past it’s broken you out.  But YES- you DO need moisturizer.  I only recommend NO MOISTURIZER in the oiliest of teen skin cases.  Your moisturizer needs to be oil free and safe for acne prone skin.  If after 4 weeks of using this type of moisturizer (email me for a recommendation) you’re still breaking out and it’s clear that the moisturizer is causing the breakout, you might switch to using a hydrating gel INSTEAD of a moisturizer.  Many teens (or adults with teen type skin) need to do just that.  (A young mother asked me this question- NOT a teen)— which leads me to remind everyone that if in your 20’s and 30’s you have acne prone, oily, or otherwise “teen type” skin…. You’re LUCKY!  Your wrinkles will form much more slowly.  When you’re in your 50’s, you’ll look better than your normal skinned friends.

I want to be tan, but I don’t want to end up with skin cancer.

In that case, I recommend a self tanning lotion.  Please don’t bake in the sun!  Even with the heavy dutiest of sunscreens, it’s a risk.  Learning to apply self tanning lotion deserves it’s own blog post, but here’s a helpful tip…..  exfoliate your skin first!

How do I get rid of my blackheads and stop them from recurring?

Wash your face first.  Then……Hot water!  You’ll want to use a steamer or bowl of very hot water.  Lean over it (use a towel to get the vapor to reach JUST your face, as if you have a cold).  Now that your pores are wide open, wipe the blackheaded areas with a clean, dry towel.  If you have oily skin, I recommend using a salicylic acid astringent at this point.  Rinse your face with cold water to close your pores.  To keep blackheads from recurring, the best thing you can do is keep your pores closed and protected.  So, after every face washing session before you use moisturizer, be sure to rinse with cold water.  Then, after your moisturizer, be sure to be using a foundation that protects your skin from the environment by creating a strong barrier in between your skin and the smoggy dirty air out there!  Younger teens might not be allowed yet to use foundation because of the “makeup” look.  There are very natural mineral powder foundations that are appropriate for even a fourteen or fifteen year old to wear to school, in my opinion.  If your mom won’t let you wear foundation but you’re blackhead prone, have your mom email me, ok?

More teen skin care concerns?  Leave a comment here or email me at heatheramyprice@gmail.com – thanks for reading and take care of that beautiful skin!

Heather Price of Cleveland, OH, has been a skin care and beauty consultant since August of 2000. Have you ever wished you had a skin care program that was customized for your needs by a personal consultant? That’s what Heather does- she sends you home with skin care and color products that meet your specific needs. The result is smoother, softer, younger looking skin. Clients feel better about their appearance which gives them the self confidence they need in their lives. You can join Heather’s email list at http://freeskincarehelp.com – she answers every email response personally.

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 10th, 2009 at 6:46 pm and is filed under Acne, Benzoyl Peroxide, Blackheads, Exfoliation, Teen Skin. The entry is tagged under You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.