Acne is a very serious problem for most teenagers. This may disrupt the self-esteem of the adolescents because it implies in most people that a person with a lot of acne has an unhygienic lifestyle. At their age, it is important for them to form a social bond with others. But the difficulty of having the feeling of belonging often starts with the face. A typical teenager dilemma is that less people associate with those who have a lot of acne. Acne is normal and has no grave effect to the health. There are many ways to manage its occurrence; like searching for the best face wash for acne, the proper skin care for pimples, or even activities that relieve you from stress.

What is Acne?
Acne is a normal and common skin condition that starts in hair follicles and skin pores. Many always use “acne” and “pimple” synonymously though technically both have different meaning. Acne is the baby of every pimple in your face. Acne starts with small blemishes that signify a trapped hair or trapped oil. Nonetheless, a pimple is the final outcome of the inflammation caused by the trapped debris.

Signs and Symptoms
Acne has different attributes when it comes to signs and symptoms. The formation of blemishes is considered a first sign of acne development. Another symptom is that the contour of the face has a slight elevation. Further, after the onset of the acne, there is a scar formation and it may be permanent or temporary. Pigmentation also appears but is considered a normal occurrence. The darkening of pimple marks is caused by collagen fibers building a new skin tissue similar to the face. The darkening may return to normal skin color after a couple of months or years.

Causes
What causes acne is still questionable. However, related theories are being considered as a contributing factor to the formation of acne:

Hormones – adolescents have the highest peak level of androgen in the body. Due to increased androgen, sebaceous glands enlarge and produce more sebum. This can lead to blackhead formation which traps the sebum inside the pores inducing the inflammation; hence there you have a pimple.

Bacterial infection – staph infection is the most common bacteria-triggered acne. Sebum formation tends to trap the microbes to prevent bacterial propagation. Some bacteria are apt to escape in the sebum and reach the follicles. This kind of infection must be treated with medicine to prevent the sporadic occurrence of meningitis.

Diet – although it has been considered as a factor, there are no strong evidences that can support this theory. Yet, foods with high glycemic index are said to lead to acne formation.

Management
Acne formation is not curable even though it is a disorder, however the following skin care management can help reduce the pimple formation:Wash your face – it is recommended to wash your face at least twice a day: one, after waking up and another one before going to bed. You can also look for the best face wash for acne in the market to complement your facial skin care. Avoid touching your face – one of the dirtiest parts of your body are the hands. That is why most health organizations advocate proper hand washing to prevent the spread of the infection. You never know what kind of bacteria lodges at your hands.Prevent squeezing your pimple – there are bacteria present inside those pimples. You’re breaking them free and allowing them to infect other pores if you squeeze it out.Have fun – it means to lessen your stress. Emotional stress signals your body to release androgens. Then the “hormones strikes back”. Identifying stress releasing activities is a personal preference, so you decide what to do best. Above all, enjoy your adolescent life. It only comes once in a lifetime.

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