our enemies

About 8 in 10 preteens and teens have acne, along with many adults. In fact, about 17 million people in the United States have acne. Acne is so common that it's considered a normal part of growing from a kid to an adult.
But knowing that doesn't make it easier when you look in the mirror and see a big pimple on your chin! The good news is that learning about acne and taking some simple steps can help you feel better about your face.
Acne is a skin condition that shows up as different types of bumps. They include whiteheads, blackheads, red bumps (pimples), and bumps that are filled with pus (cysts). What causes these annoying bumps? Well, your skin is covered with tiny holes called hair follicles, or pores. Pores contain sebaceous (say: suh-bay-shus) glands (also called oil glands) that make sebum (say: see-bum), an oil that moistens your hair and skin.(yeah, I did my research baby!)
Most of the time the glands make the right amount of sebum, and the pores are fine. But sometimes a pore gets clogged up with too much sebum, dead skin cells, and germs called bacteria. This can cause acne.
If a pore gets clogged up, closes, and bulges out from the skin, that's a whitehead. If a pore clogs up but stays open, the top surface can get dark and you're left with a blackhead. Sometimes the walls of the pore are broken, allowing sebum, bacteria, and dead skin cells to get under the skin. This causes a small, red infection called a pimple. Clogged-up pores that open up deep in the skin can lead to bigger infections known as cysts. A lot of kids and teens get a type of acne called acne vulgaris. It usually appears on the face, neck, shoulders, upper back, and chest. Teens and kids get acne because of the hormone changes that come with puberty. As you grow up and your body begins to develop, these hormones stimulate the sebaceous glands to make more sebum, and the glands can become overactive. When there is too much sebum, that oil clogs the pores and leads to acne.
No matter what you've heard, acne isn't caused by eating greasy foods like french fries or pizza, munching on chocolate, or drinking soda. It isn't necessarily caused by wearing makeup, either, especially if the makeup label says "oil-free," "non-Comedogenic" (say: non-ka-mee-doh-jen-ick, which means it won't clog pores), or "non-Acnegenic" (which means it doesn't cause acne). Yap, I have foundation that’s non-Comedogenic by VMV Hypoallergenics “Nutmeg”. *screetch* anyway, back to the min topic!
If your parent had acne as a teen, it's likely that you will, too. Stress may make acne worse, because when you're stressed, your pores may make more sebum. Luckily, for most people, acne gets better by the time they are in their twenties.
If you're worried about acne, there are things you can do to keep those pimples away:
1.)To help prevent the oil buildup that can lead to acne, wash your face twice a day with warm water and a mild soap or cleanser. 2.) Don't scrub your face. Scrubbing can actually make acne worse by irritating the skin. Wash gently, using your hands instead of a washcloth. 3.) If you wear makeup, moisturizer, or sunscreen, make sure they are "oil-free," "non-Comedogenic," or "non-Acnegenic." 4.) When you wash your face, take the time to remove all of your makeup. 5.) If you use hair sprays or gels, try to keep them away from your face because they can clog pores. 6.) If you have long hair, keep it away from your face and wash it regularly to reduce oil. 7.) Baseball caps and other hats can cause pimples along the hairline. Avoid them if you think they are worsening your acne. 8.) Wash your face after you've been exercising and sweating a lot. 9.) Try not to touch your face. 10.) Don't pick, squeeze, or pop pimples. I know, sometimes this could be hard not to do, but just resist the temptation and avoid looking at yourself at the mirror!
Many lotions and creams are sold at drugstores to help prevent acne and clear it up. You can try different ones to see which helps. Products with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid in them are usually pretty helpful for treating acne. Benzoyl peroxide kills the bacteria that can lead to acne and it also can reduce swelling (puffiness) of pimples. I’ve used this and, yep, it does work! Salicylic acid is another acne-fighting ingredient. It causes skin to dry out and peel, which can help get rid of pimples, too.