During adolescence, a person changes not only his or her character and worldview but also his or her body as a whole. The profound changes in all organs are strongly reflected in the skin. One of the most common "youth" problems is oily skin. A teenager can also develop blackheads and pimples. Ironically, it is at this age that a person develops an attitude about their body, and appearance problems can cause serious complexes for both a girl and a boy. Facial skin care for teenagers is a task that needs to be solved by an esthetician. A professional will tell you which method is most appropriate in a particular case.
Start with nutrition.
The skin mirrors the organs of the gastrointestinal tract. If a person digests food poorly or if toxins are slowly eliminated from the body, "traces" of this problem will immediately appear on the face. Teenage skin care is linked to good nutrition. If a growing child eats poorly, skin breakouts cannot be avoided. Consumption of alcohol, spicy, or fatty foods causes the liver to release toxins onto the skin in the form of pimples, dryness, and redness.
In addition, with a poor diet, not only the skin but also the hair can suffer. The hair of a teenager who regularly eats chips or energy drinks will become brittle and thin. Of course, we can't force ourselves to eat well, but parents can set a good example by avoiding fatty, spicy, and sugary foods, as well as foods with lots of synthetic additives. Facial skin problems, often present in adolescents, are the result of a lack of self-discipline on the part of parents.
Diseases of the digestive system can be caused not only by poor nutrition but also by bad heredity, congenital disorders of the tissue structure, lack of movement or the influence of environmental factors (for example, bad water in the place of residence). To avoid possible problems, you should undergo a medical examination. In the case of diseases of the pancreas, gallbladder, liver, or stomach, the doctor will prescribe a preventive treatment. For example, he will advise you to periodically drink decoctions of medicinal preparations.
Skin Care Tips for Teenagers
Skin care education begins in childhood. As soon as a child gets his or her first pimples or blackheads, it is important to explain to him or her that they cannot be removed mechanically, otherwise they will leave visible scars. It will be much more difficult to get rid of them than acne, and some traces of the fight against skin problems will remain for life. To get rid of acne that has already appeared, you need to choose good cosmetic products for cleaning!
If you plan to choose a cleansing product for your child yourself, or if you want to help him or her do so, read the manufacturer's instructions carefully! Most products for problem skin contain acids and alcohol. At the same time, alcohol dries out the skin, but at the same time stimulates sebum production and upsets the balance. Therefore, before purchasing such a product, it is best to consult a cosmetologist.
It is important to keep in mind that before starting any skin care routine, existing problems must be eliminated. If the child or teenager has acne, contact a dermatologist or, in the case of less serious complications, a cosmetologist. He will clean, find out what products a girl or young man uses for oily skin, and give any necessary recommendations.
The specialist will also perform a darsonvalisation, make a special mask and prescribe a healing cream. To even out the skin's texture, you can use superficial and medial peels. These procedures remove the keratinized layer of the epidermis and even out the color. Masks for teens can be made from natural products, but first make sure that the person is not allergic to certain components.
Skin care for teens usually consists of three main steps: cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. You should choose cosmetic products according to the characteristics and needs of each particular case.
Cleansing
Cleaning should be done with a special product after the age of 13 years. Ordinary soap will not work: an aggressive alkaline environment destroys the protective lipid film, which can lead to increased sensitivity, dryness, and dehydration of the skin. Special cosmetics usually have a neutral or near-neutral pH and therefore have a much less irritating effect.
It is sufficient to wash the face twice a day: in the morning and in the evening. In the morning, it is necessary to clean the skin from the accumulation of sebum and sweat accumulated during sleep, and in the evening, it is important to get rid of the dust and dirt accumulated during the day, mixed with sebum and the dead layer of the epidermis.
The nature of the treatment and the type of products used depend mainly on the type of skin and its characteristics.
- Oily skin
It is characterized by an excessive production of sebum on the entire surface of the face. It is characterized by a noticeable oily sheen on the forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin. Since inflammation is caused by the accumulation of dead skin cells on the surface of the skin, a cleanser containing micro-exfoliating ingredients is the most optimal.
Gels and foams containing salicylic acid (salicylic acid), zinc (zinc) or willow bark extract (willow bark extract) will really clean pores and remove excess oil.
- Dry skin
While the vast majority of boys and girls report an increase in oily skin during puberty, in some it can become drier. This occurs when the pores produce an insufficient amount of sebum to protect themselves from the negative influence of external factors. This type is characterized by a feeling of tightness, flaking, and dullness.
For cleansing, choose cream-based gels or gentle detergent-based foams. Aggressive facial cleansers should be avoided because they will be too drying and uncomfortable when combined with tap water.
The composition should look for moisturizing ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid.
- Combination skin (mixed)
This is a combination of oily, dry, and normal skin areas. For cleansing in this case, you can choose a remedy for the problem that worries the teenager the most. If the main concern is shine or blackheads, oily products are suitable for washing. If dryness in some areas is more of a concern than oiliness in others, cleansing should be more gentle, moisturizing with cosmetics for the dry type. Anti-inflammatory agents with mild detergents will also become a universal option. They clean deeply while avoiding over-drying the skin.
- Normal skin
Boys and girls with normal skin can be envied, as they do not encounter any problems. They are not bothered by excess oil or the discomfort of dryness. However, even perfect skin needs to be cleansed twice a day. Gentle foams and creams are suitable for this purpose.
Toning
Toning is the final step in the cleansing process and the preliminary step in basic skin care. The physiological pH of the skin becomes alkaline when washing with foam, and the toner helps to normalize it.
Depending on the type of skin, there are certain rules and tips to consider for proper skin toning.
- Oily skin
Toners and lotions usually contain alcohol and anti-inflammatory components like witch hazel extract (witch hazel bark or leaf extract), tea tree oil (tea tree), and salicylic acid (salicylic acid). All of this is designed to clean and shrink pores as well as neutralize acne-causing bacteria.
- Dry and normal skin
For these skin types, alcohol-free toners and toners are more suitable. Their task is to balance the pH, restore the hydrolipidic film, and, ideally, moisturize as well.
The presence of soothing components in the composition will have a positive effect in the case of hypersensitivity to tap water or sulfated cleansers.
- Combination skin (mixed)
In this case, you can use several toners at once, depending on the needs of each area of the face. For cleansing and mattifying oily areas, more aggressive lotions with a drying effect are suitable. For dry areas, gentle alcohol-free toners are suitable.
Moisturizing
Regardless of the problems and characteristics of each skin type, moisturizing is a mandatory step in the daily beauty routine. Lack of water leads to dehydration. The role of a moisturizer is to prevent moisture loss due to evaporation. For teenagers, there is no need to choose different products for day and night care; just find a good moisturizer that can be used in the morning and after washing at night.
However, there are some specific rules for skin types that need to be emphasized for effective moisturizing.
- Oily and combination skin
Contrary to popular belief, dehydrated oily skin does not dry out, but rather signals even more active sebum production. Only regular moisturizing will help pores balance oil production and control the appearance of oily skin.
When the skin's oil production increases, light-textured products are suitable for moisturizing, such as emulsions, gel creams, and fluids. They are quickly absorbed, don't clog pores, and don't smell on the face, which is especially appealing to teenagers. In addition to moisturizing ingredients such as glycerin, aloe, and hyaluronic acid, these products may also contain components that help fight acne, such as zinc (zinc), clay (clay), and salicylic acid (salicylic acid).
- Dry and normal skin
A young epidermis contains enough collagen and elastin to maintain its firmness and elasticity, so intensive moisturizing and nutrition are usually not necessary. The exception is if you have atopic dermatitis or other skin conditions.
In most cases, a universal moisturizer will suffice for comfort.
Finally, it is equally important for parents not to ignore the changes in the teen's body due to hormonal changes. With more experience and knowledge, parents are sometimes better able to choose cosmetics for young skin than teens themselves, based on advertising and marketing advice. And that's very important, because appropriate skin care for teens is an investment in the health and beauty of tomorrow.