While most teenagers experience acne after reaching puberty, some acne cases are worse than over. There are a number of different types of teenage acne, and it can be caused by a variety of different factors. It can be difficult to successfully treat, and in the process, it can cause severe self-esteem and body image issues for the sufferer, as well as potentially leaving lasting scars. In order to recover from teenage acne, you need to treat the source as well as the effects.

Acne Treatment

First things first, consult with your doctor and get a referral to a skin specialist if your acne is still active. There are a variety of over-the-counter and prescription medications and cleansers that can be used to treat the many different forms of acne. What works for one person many not work for someone else. Be diligent in your efforts, don’t give up if the first treatment fails, and remember to keep a lookout for allergic reactions to the products you use.

• On the advice of your dermatologist, you can still use many types of makeup to cover your acne while undergoing treatment. Make sure your products are oil-free and hypoallergenic. Keep your brushes and applicators clean and sanitized to avoid spreading germs to new areas.

Self-Esteem and Body Image

Remember that body image and self-esteem are at their most vulnerable during the teenage years. Kids are cruel, and facial acne is often an easy topic for bullies to zone in on. For example, according to Cassandra Bankson, the bullying she received in school in response to her cystic acne – being called “The Virus” and “Pizza Face,” among other degrading treatment – caused her to stop attending classes and earn her high school diploma at home in order to avoid harassment. 

Although she still suffers from acne, Bankson has become a YouTube star and professional runway model due to her video that teaches people how to apply makeup to cover acne and other skin problems.  “I used to sit back and let acne ruin my life,” she said. “But it got to the point where I needed to do something to get myself out of the rut.”

• Whether you’re still in school putting up with taunts about your acne, or are still hurting from the treatment you endured as a teen, consult with an expert who can help you work through any negative feelings about your body image. Although you may know intellectually that your acne damage has nothing to do with who you are as a person, the bullying still hurts, and recovering can take a lot of effort.

Treating Skin Damage

Long after your teenage acne has cleared up, you can still suffer from the resultant scarring and skin damage. Covering up the damage with makeup is one option. You can also undergo laser treatment to reduce the appearance of your acne scars San Jose experts claim. Laser skin treatments use a fine laser – about the width of a hair – to lighten scarring and stimulate collagen growth. The result is a reduction in the discoloration and lines of the scarring. 

Consult with your doctor before going in for laser skin treatment. You may need to take certain medication or antibiotics before undergoing the treatment. You may also have to put the treatment on hold until your current case of acne is completely cleared up. Your doctor will be able to tell you more, and help you make an informed decision about the process. 

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