If you are a teenager and pimples are among your greatest enemies, you not alone. 90% of all teenagers around the globe struggle with acne – from America to Africa.
Picture this: You’re preparing for a big day (a date w Mr or Ms Wonderful, a job interview or a party with friends) and you look into the mirror. You see yourself, but especially your pimply skin. You try to cover it with massive amounts of foundation or comb your hair so that the pimples don’t show... very upsetting. Do you recognize yourself? These are very real and understandable feelings.
Many studies and surveys have been done to understand how acne affects adolescents. Probably very badly. Pimples cause significant psychological stress: they lead to a loss of self-esteem and self-confidence, to uncertainty, and a lack of openness to new friends and relationships.
Today we have a lot of information about the causes of pimples and know of many treatments which help clear pimples up. This is why our medical centre has a special team to rid you of your pimples and the problems they cause, and allow you to feel open and free again.
During adolescence, hormones called androgens are produced by the body. This hormone is found in both boys and girls. The body is covered with hair and each hair ends in a hair follicle. Each hair follicle, in turn, is attached to a sebaceous gland, which produces sebum or oil. The oil creates a protective layer between our skin and the external environment, and maintains the softness of the skin.
When androgens are produced, the sebaceous glands begin to work overtime and the result is overproduction of oil. The oil sticks to shedded epidermal skin and blocks the pores (channel leading to the sebaceous glands), just like a cork in a bottle. Oil continues to be produced and the hair follicle becomes dilated. The oil stimulates bacteria on the skin to multiply and infect the follicle. Your immune system sends white blood cells to the site and the result is a red, swollen pimple, or a black- or whitehead, or a cluster of acne.
The first pimple is followed by a second, third, tenth and so on. Even after the inflammation has disappeared, a scarring from acne can remain.
This is the point when you should look up our teen acne center, where our team can provide you with individualized solutions to your acne problems. We want to solve your acne-related problems, answer your questions, inform you of a broad range of individualized treatment options and help you to choose the one which is best for you.
You will first be examined by a dermatologist to rule out any inflammation in your system that may play a role in the proliferation of your acne. You can then discuss your objectives and the options that are available to you.
In addition to the usual topical and pharmaceutical treatment, medical deep peel is also a possibility, which helps to open the blocked pores and reduce production of oil. A special cream (available at the centre) must be used for two weeks preceding the treatment, which alone will probably improve the condition of your skin. The “peel” term is not really descriptive in that the skin does not visibly peel; rather, it is the separation of tiny skin cells, a process which is not visible. In the medical office, your face, back, chest or whatever affected body part is cleaned and glycolic acid is applied to the area. Don’t worry, it doesn’t hurt; instead your skin will be very smooth and the procedure will help clear up the pimples. At least 6 applications are required for effectiveness, at one-two week intervals. Between treatments, you will need to use the special cream on your skin.
We are sure you have heard that chocolate, French fries, pizza, etc. are bad for your skin. The truth is that what is healthy for your body is also good for your skin. A specially trained, young dietician will provide you with personalized advice regarding a proper diet and what foods will help the pimples disappear. Since the development of acne is so complex, so are the treatments.
Once you have been treated by the dermatologist, who has discussed the treatment options with you, and you have also visited the dietitian to discuss your diet, the next step is the medical cosmetician. Don’t back out! There are cosmeticians who can clean up your pimples very gently, so that the process is painless. You can be sure that the cosmetician will not touch inflamed areas that should not be treated, because he or she has consulted with the dermatologist prior to your treatment and knows exactly what to do.
In the first part of this section, we mentioned that the root cause of the acne may be chronic, localized inflammation somewhere in your body. In order to exclude this possibility, blood tests are available at out clinic, with special screening for this problem. Once we have the results of your blood test, you may be examined by an ear-nose-throat specialist to determine whether bacteria are entering your system from your tonsils. Girls are encouraged to seek out the young gynecologist, to determine whether or not there is localized inflammation in the reproductive organs.
The point is that our acne-centre has specialists of every variety to help you get rid of your acne. Believe us, together we can succeed!
What happens if your acne is no longer active, but pits and unevenness remain on your face?
Our center is the only location in Hungary where a cosmetologist/dermatologist can treat your scars. This problem requires a special peel, which is not as superficial as the peel recommended for eliminating pimples. This is a deep medical peel, after which you must rest at home for several days. This treatment must be discussed with each patient personally.