Maybe someday there will be but until that wonderful day arrives there are still some things that all teenagers and young adults can do that will at the very least help to keep acne at bay.

Nobody really knows what causes acne. Most research indicates that it is caused by hormonal imbalance but there are other contributing factors and these are the factors that those who are at risk for acne can modify.

One contributing factor to acne is clogging of the pores in the skin. There are several measures that people can take to help prevent this clogging.

One thing that young women can do is to make sure that they clean make-up from their faces thoroughly before going to bed at night.

Additionally, young women need to clean make-up brushes completely using warm soapy water and cleaning brushes on a regular basis. Old make-up that can be contaminated needs to be tossed out.

Teenagers and young adults need to be aware that squeezing, picking at or popping pustules will not cure them.

These measures only serve to worsen the acne and can lead to infection and scarring.

Pillow cases need to be changed frequently and a clean towel needs to be used to pat skin dry after it has been washed.

Fabrics tend to hold bacteria and germs can that can make acne worsen.

Changing pillowcases daily is not too often and a face towel should never be used more than once.

Keep hair pulled away from the face while sleeping. Bacteria and germs can thrive in human hair.

Another important measure that can be taken to help alleviate some of the factors that contribute to acne is to always be sure to take a shower as soon after hard physical exercise as possible.

When sweat combines with skin oils the mixture can serve to clog pores.

Most cases of acne are very mild and require only the use of medications that can be bought at the corner drug store and a regimen of facial cleaning that is faithfully followed.

Sometimes acne becomes moderate to severe and a dermatologist must be consulted to clear up the acne as well as to prevent the scarring that acne can cause if left untreated.

There are many well-known and accepted facts about acne. There are also some myths that circulate. Its better to know the facts than to listen to the myths.

Myth #1:  Acne is contagious…you must not touch anyone who has acne or you will get it, too!

Fact: Acne is not contagious. Acne is what is called a “non-communicable” disease. That means that it is not contagious.

One person cannot “give” acne to another person by touching or even eating and drinking after them.

Myth #2: People just outgrow acne. Nothing needs to be done about it. Its just a normal part of the growing up process.

Fact: Although it is true that acne is very, very common among teenagers, it is not true that you just have to outgrow acne.

Nor is it true that nothing needs to be done about it and it sure isnt true that it has to be a normal part of the growing up
process.

There are oral as well as topical medications that can cure acne and prevent teenagers and young adults from having to suffer the embarrassment that it causes.

Myth #3: Sweating helps to clear up acne.

Fact: Oh boy! Is this one ever wrong! Sweating can actually worsen acne. Strenuous physical activity makes the body create more oil.

It is just part of the complex chemical process that produces sweat. This oil can make the acne worse rather than better.

Annual sales of over-the-counter as well as prescription acne fighting products are in the billions of dollars and projected sales figures say that they are expected to continue to rise with no let up in sight.

Most of that 12 to 25 year-old age group will, at some point, buy at least one over-the-counter acne fighting product. Most will buy several and continue to do so over the course of about 12 years.

It isnt hard to see why acne fighting products are such big business. But, what are these products and how are they supposed to work?

Facial cleanser products: These products are designed to remove dead skin cells, open up pores and remove excess oils, dust, dirt and environmental pollutants. Most products recommend being used two or three times a day.

The advantage of these products over just plain soap is that they are pH balanced and thus better for the skin.

Acne Fighting Lotions: These lotions are oil and water emulsions that are only supposed to be applied to unbroken skin.

Acne lotions most usually haveAntibacterials, skin exfoliants, retinoids or antibiotics in them.

The stronger ones are available only by prescription but all can be bought over the counter that have lesser strength.

Acne Fighting Creams: Creams are semi-solid emulsions. The idea of a cream is to provide a barrier of protection while delivering anti-acne medications. Creams are also used to help retain moisture in the skin.

Acne Fighting Soaps: These soaps are always pH balanced unlike hand soap or bath soap.

They provide a method for cleaning the face that is conducive to removing excess oil without producing undue drying.

Some cosmetic procedures, for example, cannot be used on skin with dark pigmentation because it will leave light spots.

Actually acne is an equal opportunity disease. The color of the skin has no bearing whatsoever on whether a person will have acne.

Treating acne is based upon the type of acne it is and what the most effective treatment options are for the particular type of acne that is present in each patient.

Many acne medications make the skin sensitive to excessive sun exposure.  This has nothing to do with the color of the skin. The sensitivity is simply a side effect of the medications.

Those with darker skin complexions are not usually as prone to sunburn as those with lighter complexions but these medications make dark skin as susceptible to sun damage as their lighter skin friends.

A sun blocking product with an SPF factor of at least 15 is recommended when there will be prolonged sunlight exposure.

There is one type of acne that often afflicts only those who are of African heritage. This type of acne is called Pomade Acne.

Pomade acne is caused by a hair care product that is designed to straighten very curly hair.

The product has a very heavy oil base and should be kept off of the skin as much as is possible.

The pigmentation in very dark skin can get darker after an inflammation is cleared up.

This is called ‘post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation’….which means increased pigmentation following inflammation.

The spots will gradually return to their normal color over time but a dermatologist can prescribe medication which will hasten the process.

It doesnt matter much that it affects anywhere from 95% to 99% of them, when it happens to any one of them, you would think that they were the only kid who had ever had a zit.

Teenage boys hate acne just as much as teenage girls hate it. Boys just suffer through it but girls turn to cosmetics to try to hide it.

There is nothing wrong with a teenage girl or a young woman trying to make an acne outbreak appear less noticeable. It is a perfectly natural thing to do. They use cosmetics anyway to enhance their appearances…make their lips redder or more full, give their cheeks a healthy glow and make their eyelashes appear longer so covering up a blemish is the next logical step.

The cosmetic industry knows that covering blemishes ranks right up there with rosy cheeks so they have developed products designed specifically for covering up blemishes. These products are called concealers. They come in many forms.

Some of them are in tubes like lipstick while some of them are in bottles like other liquid make up base products and some of them are in cake form like pressed face powder.

The one thing that all teenage girls and young women do need to remember when they use these products is that the products need to be thoroughly cleaned off before going to bed.

If left on the face, these products will contribute to clogging pores and intensify the acne outbreak.

The bottom line here is that using concealer products is just fine. If it makes you feel better about yourself, then go for it but before you go to bed, use your facial wash.

Clean your face completely, pat it dry with a clean towel and apply your acne fighting medications.

Facial cleansing is particularly important for those who are generally prone to acne, however. The facial cleansing for the prevention of acne outbreaks and while an outbreak is in progress needs to be in a specific fashion.

1.Wash your hands first. Is that surprising? It shouldnt be. Your hands are about to come in contact with your face. The first thing you need to do is scrub your hands
and be sure that your nails are clean as well.

2.The next thing that you need to do is to secure your hair either in a hairnet, a shower cap or a headband. Pull your hair away from your face and firmly secure it.

3.Wet your face with warm (not hot) water and apply the soap or facial cleansing product as directed on the packaging. Never use more or less of the product than is recommended.

4.Using only your fingertips (NOT a washcloth), gently massage the cleanser into your face. Use a circular motion and be sure that you go all the way to the hairline. Pay particular attention to the areas of your face where you most often see pimple. Hard
scrubbing is counterproductive. Be very gentle.

5.Rinse your face thoroughly by splashing it with warm water. Dont take a shortcut here. Rinse your face until all traces of the cleanser are gone.
6.Gently pat your face dry with a clean towel. Dont rub your face and never use a towel more than once.

7.Allow your face to air dry for at least 15 minutes before you apply acne medications or moisturizers.