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female
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anonymous
writes: Please help me. I am 15 years old, and have so many spots. I am quite pretty (I don't want to boast) and when I get spots I feel that people stare at me, some even say "Urgh, you're dead spotty!" and it's really making me depressed.I have tried endless creams and soaps, and I keep my skin really clean, so I shouldn't get them, should I? I also wash my hair and have showers regularly. My skin also gets really dry and I get loads of blackheads.I know all teenagers are prone to some spots, dry skin conditions and blackheads, but none of my friends have spots, and I feel different, I fear the worst of my horrible skin is yet to come.Please help me, I really need some comforting advice.
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female
reader, -SC-  +, writes (17 June 2012):
Girl,you're a teenager! xD just because you're friends dont have 'spots' dosent mean you have to feel different,soon or later they will get spotty...but if you seriously think that you look terible than try using some other creams and gels (dont by cheap ones,they dont usually work) and if that dosent work than go doctors maybe there you may find some good cream :)
A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (7 January 2006): Im 25 and up until a year ago I had really bad skin, I had eczema round my hairline and loads of blackheads around my nose and chin and when I got spots they where more like boils and you know what the other girls where saying there is so true dont use anything too harsh, I thought I was doing the right thing using harsh cleansers and toners but then a friend of mine recommended Dermalogica products and I went to the beauticians its great they what they call a skin mapping and she told me that the products I was using where stripping away the natural oils in my skin and therfore causing overproduction of sebum.
So I bought this ultracalming cleanser and they dont use toners but their moisturisers are fantastic, seriously this stuff is great I havent looked back it took a while but my skin has never looked better.
This stuff is pretty expensive, in the UK anyway, but it is seriously worth the money I would recommend it I had tried almost everything else.
Good Luck and dont apologise for saying you are pretty self confidence is a beautiful thing!!
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (6 January 2006): You can get a prescription for oral antibiotics from a regular family doctor or even a pediatrician probably (in the US at least), which should be able to help a lot, if you haven't already been doing that. A dermatologist is great, but if it's hard for you to get in to see a specialist, just a regular dr is fine. just mention it next time you're in.
From the sound of your letter, I wonder if you are over-cleansing. There is such a thing as washing too much. I had horrible acne for years - did antibiotics, cremes, accutane ... everything. My dermatologist recommended washing with Dove sensitive skin - nothing more. He also advised against make-up. I was vain and wanted to cover the spots, so I ignored that, but if you can go somewhere for a few weeks where you won't care (on holiday or camping or something), it's a good thing to try.
Another trick to minimize the appearance of spots is to use a sunless tanner/bronzer. You can get it at any drug store - Neutrogena has a good one. When you're tan, your skin automatically looks healthier (ironically, given sun damage), so a bottled tan is the best of both worlds.
If you absolutely can't get in to see a dr, i've heard good things about proactive; i think it was some antibiotics in it.
Lastly, and *most* importantly - DON'T POP YOUR ZITS!! For some reason this is always so hard for people to accept. They think the spots will look better if they're smaller and less pussy, but it only exacerbates the problem. Whatever you do, DON'T PICK AT THEM! If you get one that's really big and is just driving you mad, there are two things you can do to try to get it to go away.
1. Put some toothpaste on it at night before you go to bed. it will sting a bit, but it'll dry the pimple out a little, which will help the way it looks.
2. If you need some quick spot treatment before an important event (like a dance, school picture, etc.), take a clean washcloth and wet it with hot (but not TOO hot - your hand should be able to take the heat) water, then place it on the spot. Don't press - just hold it there, for a full minute. Wait 30-60 seconds, and then repeat. Do this five or ten times. The heat will increase the circulation to the area and let the white blood cells work extra hard at fighting the bacteria. After doing the heat thing 5-10 times (10-20 minutes, including the rest periods), you can just leave it if you have some time before you need to get ready. If you need to rush out the door, though, you'll need to do something about the inflammation that comes from the heat. Grab some ice cubes and fill a bowl with ice water. Dip the cloth repeatedly into the bowl, applying the super cold water to your face. That will reduce the redness and decrease swelling.
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A
male
reader, harshbutfair +, writes (6 January 2006):
 Bev says one thing that is SO IMPORTANT. Be gentle when you are washing your face. Be gentle with the products you use. If anything is making your face hurt or red or sting, stop using it.. You will make your skin and your acne much worse and live to regret it. Good luck and keep it gentle. Over-washing or using harsh products isn't the answer, gentle washing and some gentle skincare should help. If it is really bad see your doctor who will be able to help further. Good luck!
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A
female
reader, purrfectionist84 +, writes (5 January 2006):
 Hey girl,
Please try not to worry too much. I had terrible acne around ages 14 to 16, but after that, it really cleared up on its own, and at the age of 21, I don't break out nearly as much. I'm sure that it will improve for you as well; it usually does. You're at an age where your hormone levels are fluctuating like crazy, making you especially prone to break-outs, but they should level out soon enough. Your acne does not mean that you are not washing enough or anything like that; it is a NORMAL, common teenage condition, and anyone who suggests that you break out because you are filthy or other such nonsense is ignorant and uneducated!
Everyone's skin is different, but I found that the fewer products I put on my skin, the less I break out. I use a mild cleanser/makeup remover, a clay mint mask, and occasionally, a salicylic acid treatment for stubborn spots, and that regimen seems to work wonders. In terms of makeup, I prefer to use a spot concealer and skip foundation altogether, since it seems to prevent my skin from "breathing" and to clog my pores.
You might want to confide in your parents about seeing a dermatologist (skin doctor). Tell them that your acne is affecting your self-esteem, and that you'd like to see a professional. A doctor can recommend a good skin care regimen that is suited to your particular skin type. If you prefer to tackle this problem on your own, then ask your parents for some money so that you can experiment with the different products out there and see which ones work best for you. I'm sure that they won't mind investing in your skin, which has a direct impact on your self-esteem (though it shouldn't because you are beautiful in so many other ways).
My best advice of all: Don't pick at pimples and blackheads! Picking at acne will only make it worse because it will spread the bacteria, and it can lead to scarring. When you are in front of the mirror and tempted to pick, remind yourself that it will only make things worse. This takes self-discipline; I know that it took me a while to break the habit, but it's in your best interests in the long run.
Don't listen to anyone who comments on your spots. They have no right to. Some of your peers are going through puberty at a different rate than you are and, while they are spot-free now, they too may begin to break out down the road.
Good luck. And remember: You are beautiful no matter what anyone says!
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A
female
reader, Bev Conolly  +, writes (5 January 2006):
 It's easy to mistake teenage acne for the kind of infection that's caused by a lack of washing, but they're two different conditions.
Acne in people your age is a bacterial infection, which is caused by, and aggravated by, natural oil secretions from your skin. I'm presuming that you keep your skin clean by washing - gently!- 2 to 3 times a day with a good skin cleanser. Don't use abrasive products and don't scrub, (tempting though that is) because it irritates your skin and can make the infections worse. What you're doing so far is a good start.
You also need to consider looking at your diet. Be sure that you're eating as healthy as you can. *Lots* of water every day, lots of fruit, lots of vegetables etc. The stories you hear about chocolate causing acne are now understood to be a myth, by the way, but all the same, limit the amount you eat. Regual exposure to sunlight can also help, and I've found that swimming in the ocean has a good effect too, if that's an option for you.
The goal is, if your body is at optimum health, you can beat the bacterial infection on your skin.
Another tack is to go to a doctor and ask for a scrip for oral antibiotics, or to ask him/her to recommend an appropriate treatment. Emphasise that you're doing all the right things for health and are still plagued by spots.
Lastly, you have to also accept that this is a transient state of things and almost unavoidable. Very few people go through their teen years without this problem. It almost always clears up by the end of high school. It seems like it's going to last forever, but it really doesn't.
Take care. Try not to worry!
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