You wake up, look in the mirror, and see it: a giant red zit. Everyone gets acne. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, but there are ways to minimize breakouts if they bother you. Acne is often worse for teenagers because of hormone changes that happen during puberty. The pores in your skin contain glands that make a type of oil called sebum. Your hormones can stimulate these glands to produce excess sebum. When your pores get clogged with sebum and dead skin cells, you get acne. Acne is most common on the face, chest, upper back, and shoulders. Here’s how to deal.
These treatments are available over-the-counter at most drugstores. If your acne doesn’t respond after a few weeks, ask an adult to make an appointment with a dermatologist (a doctor specializing in skin).