Acne is due to an over activity and plugging of the oil glands.  More than 90 percent of teenagers have some acne.  The main cause of acne is increased levels of hormones during adolescence.  Acne is not caused by diet.  A person who has acne does not have to avoid eating fried foods, chocolate, or any other food (although there may be other health reasons not to).  Acne is not caused by sexual activity.  It is not caused by dirt nor by not washing your face often enough.  The tops of blackheads are black because of the chemical reaction of the oil plug with the air.  Acne usually lasts until age 20 or even longer.  It is rare for acne to leave any scars, and people worry needlessly about this.  There is no magic medicine at this time that will cure acne.  However, good skin care can keep acne under control and at a mild level.

A.  Basic treatment for all acne:

• Wash your skin twice a day.  The most important time to wash is bedtime.  Use a mild soap such as Dove soap or Cetaphil cleanser.
• Shampoo your hair daily.  Long hair can make acne worse by rubbing against your skin.
• Avoid picking.  Picking stops acne from healing.

In general, it is better not to "pop" pimples, but most teenagers do it anyway.  Therefore, do it safely.  Never open a pimple before it has come to a head.  Wash your face and hands first.  Use a sterile needle (sterilized by alcohol or a flame).  Nick the surface of the yellow pimple with the tip of the needle.  The pus should run out without squeezing.  Wipe away the pus and wash the area and your hands with soap and water.  Scarring will not usually result from opening small pimples, but it can result from squeezing boils or other large, red, tender lumps. Sometimes these need an antibiotic prescription.

Blackheads are the plugs found in blocked-off oil glands.  They should be treated with Benzoyl peroxide 5 percent lotion or gel.  This lotion is also excellent for removing thickened skin that blocks the openings to oil glands.  Use the lotion as described above for pimples.  Blackheads that are a cosmetic problem can sometimes be removed with a blackhead extractor, but these are hard to find in stores.  This instrument costs a couple of dollars and is available at most drugstores.  By placing the hole in the end of the small metal spoon directly over the blackhead, your can apply uniform pressure that does not hurt the normal skin.  This method is much more efficient than anything you can do with your fingers.  Soak your face with a warm washcloth before you try to remove blackheads.  If the blackhead does not come out the first time, leave it alone.

C.  Common mistakes in treating acne:

• Avoid scrubbing your skin.  Hard scrubbing of the skin is harmful because it irritates the openings of the oil glands and can cause them to be more tightly closed.
• Avoid putting any oily or greasy substances on your face.  Oily and greasy substances make acne worse by blocking oil glands.  If you must use cover-up cosmetics, use water-based cosmetics and wash them off at bedtime.
• Avoid hair tonics or hair creams (especially greasy ones).  When you sweat, these substances will spread to your face and aggravate the acne.