How to deal with teenage skin, spots, acne and break outs.

We at Shine Church Street and Newington Green Salons in N16, London, get a lot of requests for advice on the best skin treatments and products for teenagers.

I’ve compiled a list of things to try to avoid and things that can really help to improve their skin. Plus the most popular facial treatments for teenagers are right here.

Ah yes…the teenage years. I remember that tricky time of the blossoming, emerging sense of self, the insecurity, the oily hair and breakouts too. My Mum took me to a doctor who prescribed me some lotion, which I applied on a daily basis and my skin started to peel off like a lizard!

My face became very sensitive and even painful to touch. All this topped up with a bit of depression, due to the way my skin looked and probably the role of hormonal changes; it really wasn’t a fun time. It was extreme.

I know there weren’t many options about 25 years ago, but luckily things are different now, so relax – there is a solution.

As always, I think the way to improve your skin isn’t only with the external use of products, but internally, what you put into your body, is equally important. The same goes both ways, just drinking plenty of water and having a great diet, but not using the correct products for your skin, won’t see much of a result either. This applies not only for teenagers but for adults too.

Now is the time to try to get teenagers into healthy eating, because it’s so good for their skin. So whether it’s inspired by their interest in scientific exploration, a healthy level of self care, or pure selfie vanity, here’s what to encourage them to try:

Diet:

There are steps you can take to help your loved ones deal with problem skin, including paying special attention to the vitamins they get in their diet.

– Vitamin C is beneficial for problem skin and can help reduce the redness caused by acne or breakouts, speeding up the healing time of a squeezed spot. Any citrus fruits and vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower are rich natural sources of vitamin C as well as any fruits and vegetables that are dark yellow.
Other vitamin C rich fruits include strawberries and papaya.
•     Folic acid (found in vegetables like avocado, spinach and beans)
•     Nuts and seeds
•     Omega 3 is important for keeping the skin, hair and nails healthy (found in salmon and sardines)
•      Green tea is packed with antioxidants that help brighten skin and protect from free radicals. It is also anti-inflammatory. Add raw honey to it to draw out excess fluid from the breakouts and help reduce inflammation.

Try to:

• Keep long hair tied back.
• Wash your face gently twice a day with a recommended face wash by either a beauty therapist or a dermatologist
• Wash the skin straight after sport and at the end of the day
• Use a gentle toner that has anti-bacterial properties over the skin after washing.
•  Use charcoal and clay-based formulas to help draw out excess oil from the skin and clear pores
• Apply an oil-free lotion or moisturiser with anti-bacterial properties.
• Use mineral make up only – Bare Minerals is quite a well known commercial brand, which offers a natural concealer, a lovely mineral blush, illuminating powder and bronzers, to give a light radiance to young skin without layers of heavy make up.

Try to avoid:

(this part is harder as it essentially sounds like their ultimate shopping list!)

• Fast food / ready meals
• Sugar (as it increases inflammation)
• Dairy (animal hormones which combined with our hormones increases oil /sebum production and clogs the pores)
• Spicy food
• Whey protein (which comes from dairy), apart from yoghurt which is ok to consume
• Peanut butter
• Excessive food consumption results in higher hormone production and therefore more acne breakouts
• Picking or touching acne prone skin, to aid prevention of spreading bacteria.
• Be wary of the products you purchase in case they aren’t from a beauty salon or a clinic, as some can contain ingredients too harsh for young skin and can cause further inflammation.

I’m sure you’ll all agree that sometimes it feels like no matter what you do or say, you will never put a smile on your teenage daughter or son’s face, but there is something that is sure to cheer them up, a lovely skin boosting treat.

Receiving a facial treatment makes dealing with problem skin a more enjoyable experience for everyone, especially if mum gets to book in too!

A standard Facial will help pimple outbreaks, whereas acne might require a different kind of treatment and should be checked by either one of our skin therapists, or in more severe cases by a dermatologist.

A perfect choice for treating your teen’s skin will either be the
Comfort Zone Customised Facial or Dermalogica Pro60.

For the month of March, book in a facial for Mother and Son or Mother and Daughter, and you can enjoy £10 off the combined cost of your treatments. *Be sure to quote this promotion when you book.

Desi Petkova

If you would like to visit the experts at Shine Health & Beauty salons then please get in touch. Call 020 7241 2065 for our Newington Green health & beauty salon or 020 7241 5033 for our Church Street health & beauty salon in Stoke Newington.