GOT ZITS? My Quest to Clear Teen Acne

If you’ve got zits, don’t you want to get rid of them? Or possibly just put a paper bag over your head? I know, I sure didn’t want them when I was growing up. It started long, long ago when I was around 12 years old. My mom didn’t have this problem and who knows if my dad did, but all we knew was that I had zits. And it was the pits, period. Speaking of periods, mine started a year later. Hmmm? Maybe there was a connection? As a matter of fact there was a connection between zits and puberty. Bummer.

So, of course, like a good mom, my mom dragged me to a couple of health food stores to look for natural ways to help me with my skin. Oh, that sure was fun! Clueless strangers looking at me with a befuddled look and giving me this or that remedy. I think they were thinking, “Please go away.” Clueless, I tell you, clueless! But then again, so was I.

Moving on, I’d see some acne commercials and so a-ha! I know what the answer is! I need product X, Y, or Z! The ones I saw on TV and, voila, my acne will be gone! Some hits and misses but still no cigar, or should I say clear skin?

Okay, okay, it’s time to get take matters into my own hands and check out what there is in the medicine cabinet. Maybe some of this alcohol or hydrogen peroxide might work? Oh, the sting and the burn, it must be working. Kill, kill, kill the acne now! What? I now have dried out, irritated and peeling skin? How long must this go on?

Well, guess what? During my teen years, even with the help of my mom and my own sorry attempts, I never found out what really worked until I turned 18, during my senior year. Thank God for being 18! What made being 18 better? I realized I could make my own doctor’s appointments did so because by this time I’d had it!

Lo and behold, the doctor said, “Yup, you’ve got a nice case of acne and you need prescriptions.” He prescribed two antibiotics, one internal and one topical and Retin-a. I finally got my acne under control, but my journey during the college years was even worse, but that’s another story.

I ended up going to esthetics school in my late twenties and confirmed that I knew nothing about taking care of my skin. Now, 15 years later, I’m a pro at dealing with acne. Let me share with you what I’ve learned over the years:

Acne can be a challenge but it also can be manageable. It may take weeks and sometimes months to clear up, so be patient. You may also have to try a few products before you find what really works for you. One of the most important things is that you need someone to help you with your skin, to adjust your skin care routine and to monitor your progress. Frequently, acne gets worse when you’re starting an effective treatment program, so be patient. There are solutions to zapping the zits and getting clearer, healthier skin.

Brenda Piper teaches teen acne classes every month and Life Goals for Teens at MVUSD Adult Ed ages 10-19. The next teen acne class starts October 6, 20, November 3, 17 from 7-9pm. Call for more info at 951-816-7021. If you have a special event coming up, don’t wait until the last minute. Start your teen clear skin program now.


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GOT ZITS? My Quest to Clear Teen Acne By Brenda Piper If you’ve got zits, don’t you want to get rid of them? Or possibly just put a paper bag over your head? I know, I sure didn’t want them when I was growing up. It started long, long ago when I was around 12 years old. My mom didn’t have this problem and who knows if my dad did, but all we knew was that I had zits. And it was the pits, period. Speaking of periods, mine started a year later. Hmmm? Maybe there was a connection? As a matter of fact there was a connection between zits and puberty. Bummer. So, of course, like a good mom, my mom dragged me to a couple of health food stores to look for natural ways to help me with my skin. Oh, that sure was fun! Clueless strangers looking at me with a befuddled look and giving me this or that remedy. I think they were thinking, “Please go away.” Clueless, I tell you, clueless! But then again, so was I. Moving on, I’d see some acne commercials and so a-ha! I know what the answer is! I need product X, Y, or Z! The ones I saw on TV and, voila, my acne will be gone! Some hits and misses but still no cigar, or should I say clear skin? Okay, okay, it’s time to get take matters into my own hands and check out what there is in the medicine cabinet. Maybe some of this alcohol or hydrogen peroxide might work? Oh, the sting and the burn, it must be working. Kill, kill, kill the acne now! What? I now have dried out, irritated and peeling skin? How long must this go on? Well, guess what? During my teen years, even with the help of my mom and my own sorry attempts, I never found out what really worked until I turned 18, during my senior year. Thank God for being 18! What made being 18 better? I realized I could make my own doctor’s appointments did so because by this time I’d had it! Lo and behold, the doctor said, “Yup, you’ve got a nice case of acne and you need prescriptions.” He prescribed two antibiotics, one internal and one topical and Retin-a. I finally got my acne under control, but my journey during the college years was even worse, but that’s another story. I ended up going to esthetics school in my late twenties and confirmed that I knew nothing about taking care of my skin. Now, 15 years later, I’m a pro at dealing with acne. Let me share with you what I’ve learned over the years: Always wash your face 2x a day in the AM and PM. If you wash your face too much, you may over dry your skin and your skin will overcompensate for the dryness by producing more oil. You lose and the acne wins. Believe it or not but acneic skin needs hydration such as a hydrating toner, skin humectants, and/or an oil-free lotion. The hydration balances the oil and water moisture on the skin. Acne needs exfoliation, but it depends on what level of acne you have. There are four grades of acne, from mild to severe. Some examples might be scrubs, exfoliating cleansers, hydroxy acids, enzymes or facial brushes. You’ve got to unclog those pores. Kill the acne bacteria. Benzoyl peroxide works the best, but there are also essential oils, triclosan, and salicylic acid formulas. This is where you’ve got to be diligent, yet careful not to overuse and cause too much irritation with some of these. Finally, I learned that professional products are much more effective than over-the-counter products. Why? OTC products sell to the masses so they don’t make them as strong. Professional products are more potent with higher active ingredients and more effective formulations and that’s another reason why they do cost more. You’re paying for the effectiveness of the product. Acne can be a challenge but it also can be manageable. It may take weeks and sometimes months to clear up, so be patient. You may also have to try a few products before you find what really works for you. One of the most important things is that you need someone to help you with your skin, to adjust your skin care routine and to monitor your progress. Frequently, acne gets worse when you’re starting an effective treatment program, so be patient. There are solutions to zapping the zits and getting clearer, healthier skin. Brenda Piper teaches teen acne classes every month and Life Goals for Teens at MVUSD Adult Ed ages 10-19. The next teen acne class starts October 6, 20, November 3, 17 from 7-9pm. Call for more info at 951-816-7021. If you have a special event coming up, don’t wait until the last minute. Start your teen clear skin program now.