It is estimated that eight out of every ten teenagers will get some form of acne. This is because during puberty, hormonal changes cause sebum secretions to increase, clogging pores and leading to blackheads and pimples. Some teens may have mild to moderate acne, while others may have severe acne. Everyone is different, so what works for one person may not work for something else. The first step is to decide if a visit to the dermatologist is in order. There are prescription strength topical, oral and even light therapy treatments that can be done by a professional.

If the acne is painful, or occurs in large cysts that reach deep within the skin, this may be a sign that professional intervention is necessary. If you have tried over the counter remedies with no success, this is another indication that a dermatologist may be the way to go. Because some of the topical and oral medications have unwanted side effects, the use of special laser light applied to the skin (a painless procedure) to treat the acne is becoming increasingly popular with teens and adults.

The majority of teens will suffer from acne at some time or another. Acne in teenagers is very common because of the overload of oil, or sebum, produced during puberty. The good news is there are ways for teens to keep breakouts at bay and even prevent new ones from occurring. The first thing to do is evaluate the severity of the acne to decide on a treatment strategy. There are different types of acne that include blackheads, whiteheads, papules, pustules and cysts. If the acne is not painful and does not cover the majority of the face an OTC treatment might do the trick.

Many teens get acne either in clusters, especially on the forehead, around the nose and on the chin. Some get random pimples that pop up here and there. Either way, step one is keeping the face clean and sebum production to a minimum.