Do you remember when you were a teenager standing in front of the mirror and staring at the huge zit on your face? I'm sure you can remember the self-conscious feeling and wondering how your acne got there. You probably also remember wondering how were you going to get it off of your face before somebody actually sees it! If you have a teenager that is experiencing acne, you are going to have to show some sympathy the next time they ask for five bucks to go get another bottle of acne medication, cream or face wash. The unfortunate part about acne is no one really knows what causes it, although scientists think a hormone called androgen plays a significant role. Androgen acts as a stimulant to the sebum-producing glands. Shortly after puberty, boys produce 10 times as much androgen as girls. It is for this main reason that boys usually have more severe acne and need a good acne treatment.

Eighty five percent of the US population between the ages of 12 and 25 develop some type of acne. For boys, acne starts around the age of 13 and girls, age 11. Although there is no documented scientific evidence that junk food or greasy foods cause acne, it doesn't hurt to keep an eye on your teen after they eat these foods to see if their acne is affected. Once acne is detected, most use a good acne medication or at least develop better personal hygiene habits to help combat its spread.

There is also no direct evidence that oily skin or hair causes acne but if your teen is experiencing more pimples or blackheads under their bangs, it may be a good idea to change their hairstyle. Also, approximately 70% of all women notice their acne worsens the week before their period begins. Stress also seems to be a factor in acne breakouts, but there is no scientific evidence to back this up. Finding the best acne treatments and having perseverance with good personal hygiene is the best way to combat teenage acne.