DR. WALLACE: I'm a faithful reader of your column, so I trust you can help me. I'm a 14-year-old boy. I'm starting to get whiskers on my chin, and that's good, but I'm also starting to get a lot of pimples, and that's not good. I am the eldest child, with three younger brothers and two younger sisters, and my mother is expecting a new baby in six weeks.
We are not poor, but our family is on a strict budget. I know you tell most kids who have complexion problems to visit a dermatologist, but that is out as an option for me, as we can't afford it. Do you have a good home remedy you could pass along? I'd be happy just to have my complexion improve somewhat, even if it didn't clear up entirely. Also, does junk food cause a bad complexion? — Anonymous, St. George, Utah
ANONYMOUS: I do encourage teens with complexion concerns to visit a dermatologist because recent medical research has provided medical treatments that have been successful in improving or eliminating complexion problems. But all teens with skin blemishes can improve their complexion with a good home remedy.
It does sometimes seem that Mother Nature could be a little kinder during this transition from childhood to adulthood. In this phase, the body produces an abundance of oil. When that oil (sebum) mixes with the skin's natural bacteria and dead cells, pores get clogged. The result is the appearance of blackheads and whiteheads. When these are irritated, they erupt into acne, aka pimples.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends the following steps to counter the outbreak of facial blemishes. They require little money and can be done at home. Both girls and boys can benefit from these suggestions:
—Wash gently (no scrubbing!) twice a day with mild soap and water to remove pore cloggers.
—Use a small amount of over-the-counter acne medication on your T-zone (forehead, nose, cheeks and chin), where breakouts are most likely to occur.
—Avoid oil-based sunscreens and cosmetics. Look for products labeled "non-comedogenic" or "nonacnegenic," meaning they do not contain additives that can clog pores.
—Keep it clean. Anything that touches your face should be sanitary. For girls, skip the hairstyling products if you have a hairstyle that is face-framing, such as bangs. Sprays and hair molding products usually contain chemicals that are notorious pore blockers. If you must mousse, wash your hands and face after applying it.
—Keep hands off. Picking at pimples can cause infection and scarring.
—Get moving. Exercise improves blood circulation, which means better nourishment for the skin to help build new cells.
—Eat healthful foods. Eating junk food won't cause pimples, but a well-nourished, healthy body will repair itself faster and more efficiently.
Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.
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