3.2 Acne / Pimple Teenager's concern:

Acne/Pimple are normal during adolescence and generally goes away after few years. The main goal of acne treatment, is to prevent scarring, to reduce the number of painful lesions and to minimize the psychological stress and embarrassment caused by acne.

Acne is a disorder of the skin's oil glands that results in plugged pores commonly called pimples. Acne lesions usually occur on the face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders. Although acne is not a serious health threat, severe acne can lead to disfiguring, permanent scarring, which can be upsetting for adolescents who suffer from the disorder. Severe or prolonged emotional tension, may aggravate the disorder.

Changing hormone levels in girls may cause a flare in their acne, 2 to 7 days before their menstrual period starts. Greasy cosmetics may alter the cells of the follicles and make them stick together. Also, environmental irritants such as pollution and high humidity, squeezing or picking at blemishes, and hard scrubbing of the skin can make acne worse.

3.3 Boys and girls can take few precautions with acne as under:

• Gently wash the skin (face, neck, shoulders, chest) with mild water.

• The skin should also be washed after heavy exercise or take shower bath after sometime.

• Rinse the skin after washing it with cotton towel.

• Rough scrubs or pads should not be used.

- Keep the digestive system in good condition, avoid constipation.

• Oily hair may require frequent wash, may be every day.

- Do not use strong soap to stop outbreaks of pimples and oil production.

• Use of hair oil may be minimized, if acne persist and spread on major areas.

- Frequent rubbing and touching of skin lesions should be avoided.