5 steps to care for acne-prone skin during puberty

Participate in the workshop “Dare to shine”, running in parallel with the 2024 Youth Basketball Tournament – Ziaja Cup on the morning of November 4, at the Foreign Language Specialized High School – Hanoi National University, MSc.BS Resident Vu Xuan Huong, Hanoi Dermatology Hospital shares the causes of puberty acne as well as standard medical treatment methods for students.

Reason

Resident MSc. Vu Xuan Huong said acne is a common skin disorder. Of these, 80% of Vietnamese youth suffer from this condition, especially during puberty. Symptoms of acne include: blackheads, whiteheads, papules, inflammatory acne… often appear in areas of skin that secrete a lot of oil such as the face, chest and back. According to the new perspective of medicine, acne is a chronic condition, appearing from the beginning of puberty, and can last up to 30 – 40 years old. Although it does not affect health much, the disease has certain aesthetic and psychological impacts.

The two main groups of causes of acne during puberty include: hormonal changes and increased secretion and activity of the sebaceous glands. In particular, the increase in hormones such as Androgen will stimulate sebaceous hair follicles to work, increasing lubricant production along with the process of hyperkeratosis of the hair follicle neck, causing blockage, leading to dead skin cells. Dead cells and residue accumulate. This is a favorable condition for the bacterial system on the skin to develop, especially the acne-causing bacteria P.acnes. Then, the body will have a local inflammatory reaction, forming papules and pustules called acne.

Besides direct changes inside the body, factors affecting the external environment also contribute significantly to the formation of acne such as dirt, skin care process, diet, etc. living habits. However, these factors can be actively controlled by following a scientific diet and lifestyle.

Treatment methods

According to BS. Vu Xuan Huong, acne treatment for puberty still faces many difficulties because they are still in their developmental age and hormones change a lot. Therefore, systemic medications are not recommended for use. You need to change your perception of acne and be persistent in treatment. At the same time, the companionship of dermatologists and families is also very important.

To care for your skin, you need to choose a gentle cleanser with a neutral PH level to limit irritation and clogged pores. Wash your face twice in the morning and at night; Massage gently for 1 – 2 minutes then rinse with clean water. After that, you can use toner to balance the PH level of your skin as well as moisturize and remove remaining excess oil. Another very important skin care step in this dry winter is moisturizing with light and airy products such as lotion, serum… In addition, teenagers should also use topical retinol acne treatment products but You should follow your doctor’s instructions. Note, patients should test a small area in the corner of the jaw before using on a large area because this group can easily cause skin irritation.

“When going out, you also need to protect your skin by applying sunscreen with an SPF of over 30+ and an oil-free type to limit clogging. Physical sunscreen will be light and airy. and helps improve tone,” the doctor emphasized.

Besides resident MSc. Vu Xuan Huong, the program also has the participation of content creator Chu Diem Quynh (Quynh Tit). The young girl revealed that during puberty, many pimples appeared on her cheeks, so every time she looked in the mirror, she covered them with her hand.

“I just wish my acne would disappear immediately. I always feel self-conscious when communicating, often avoiding the other person’s eyes because I think they only focus on my acne spots,” she said.

At first, Quynh Tit did not have any knowledge about acne, her mother was the one who took her to the dermatologist and to the spa for treatment. She said: “The feeling of squeezing pimples is very terrible, the pain is so painful that I still have to bear it.” Currently, at the age of 25, the young content creator knows how to take better care of his skin. She emphasized that the most important steps are to clean your face, use topical acne medications, and take hormone-regulating medications. Once acne is gone, each person can follow minimal skin care steps, especially cleansing in the morning (with toner or gentle makeup remover) and 3-step makeup removal in the evening.

After sharing and instructing how to care for and treat puberty acne, resident MSc. Vu Xuan Huong and Quynh Tit also spent time interacting, asking questions and giving gifts to the students.

Hai My