As a teen, it may seem that your skin is just impossible to manage. Particularly when you rise in the morning, you may find that your skin is oilier and that you may already have a blemish beginning on your skin. On the up side, there are a few things that you can do to minimize the occurrence of blemishes and to keep your skin clearer.

Wash your face thoroughly two times a day. Use a very mild soap and warm water. Massage your face in a circular fashion as you wash it. One of the things that we all hear is that washing your face is important, but what many of us do not know is that washing too hard or actually scrubbing your face can irritate it and may actually cause a few extra blemishes to take place.

Never squeeze or pop blemishes or pimples. It is hard to resist sometimes but when you do it, you can actually put more infection deeper into your body. When you add more infection in there, you can actually cause scar tissue to form because of increased swelling.

If you use a cell phone, and what teenagers today do is, wipe out the oils frequently to keep safe it from collecting oils from your skin and putting them back onto your face. Use a tissue or a clean paper towel and just gently wipe down your cell phone, this method is good for your skin care to protect your skin from harmful chemical.

For glasses, the same principle applies as for the telephone. For natural skin care Keep the eye and nose pieces clear of oils and make sure that you wipe them down frequently since they are constantly touching your features.

If you do experience an outbreak before some type of special event, keep these skin care tips in mind and you will minimize the duration of the outbreak. If it is imperative to look your best, you will want to use some caution in treating yourself and instead visit a dermatologist in order to have your blemish problem treated effectively, or use a product that you trust to help to clear up the acne problem.

Teenagers go through a stage called puberty, wherein they experience physical changes in their body. Part of these changes is acne breakouts usually on the face. If you are a teenager, you should start practicing skin care techniques to eliminate acne problems.

One of the most important skin care tips that you have to remember is to eat the right kinds of food. Avoid those foods that contain too much oil, or spicy foods that may worsen the acne. Maintain a well-balanced diet and consider eating fresh foods instead of junk foods. Junk foods are not good for the body and often contain saturated oil that may only worsen the acne.

Other skin care tips include removing make-up before going to bed and drinking lots of water to keep your body and skin hydrated all the time. Although sodas and juices may be tempting, it is important to know that they cannot replace water as the main hydrant that you use for the body. Sodas and juices may satisfy a teenager’s sweet tooth, but they can actually prevent you from achieving a more radiant and healthy skin.

For other skin care tips, wash your hands often with soap and water. Avoid touching your face often, especially if your hands are not clean. Teenagers like you may have active lifestyle and touching the face may be inevitable, but keep in mind that the face has sensitive skin that may easily become irritated. Aside from your hands, wash your face, too. Unlike the face, however, do not use soap to clean it. Instead, use a gentle facial cleanser, and then moisturize it right after washing.

Use a cleansing mask at least once a week for your acne skin care. This will help you get rid of blackheads and whiteheads better than just washing it with a facial cleanser. If you have an active lifestyle and you have to stay outdoors often, apply sun block or sunscreen protection whenever necessary. If you will be exposed to the extreme heat of the sun, make sure that the Sun Protection Factor or SPF of your skin product is within 30 to 45, or higher. You may need higher SPF especially if you have sensitive skin.

Q: Is acne contagious?

No, acne is not contagious. This means that if you have a date, do not worry, you can still kiss or touch your partner without developing acne.

Q: If my parents suffered from acne, does this mean I will also suffer from it.

In a study published in the March 2009 issue of the Journal of Investigative Dermatology, the incidence of acne increased if the mother had acne at any point in her life.
Source: http://acne.about.com/od/acnedevelopment/f/AcneCausesHeredity.htm
Unfortunately, there is an increased chance in the child developing acne at a later stage in life.

Q: Does eating or drinking certain foods cause acne?

There are a whole range of factors which cause acne. This can be pollution, weather conditions and even food such as fried foods, sugars and oils. To be fair, you know your skin better than anyone. If you feel that your skin reacts in a bad way to certain foods or food groups avoid them.

Q: Skin Care Hygiene and Acne?

Healthy skin = Hygienic practices. There is no right or wrong in how many times a day you have to wash your face or how many showers you need a day. Again, it all depends on your body type. Some people who over wash end up irritating the skin and are then more prone to infection. It is all about finding the right balance.

Q: Acne and Stress?
If you are already suffering from acne, stress can certainly make it worse. We all get stressed from time to time but managing it is the key to not only keeping acne in control but also keeping your overall health in check.

Q: Can acne come back in the later/twilight years?

The answer to this is yes. It can come back in your 40s , 50 and even 60s.Therefore, looking after your health is vital throughout your life.

Q: Can sunscreen make acne worse?

If you are already prone to acne, it is recommended that you use oil free products and always try a little on a patch of skin to ensure that it does not cause a reaction to your skin.

Q: Can exercising affect my acne?

In certain people, the sweat produced from vigorous exercising does make the acne worse. It is important to be hydrated by drinking lots of water after exercising.

Q: Can a facial help reduce acne?

The bottom line here is that anything; whether a store bought product or a fancy facial at an expensive spa which can cause irritation on your skin can definitely make acne worse.

Q: When is acne classified serious?

For some teenagers and adults, acne comes and goes and leaves little scarring. For some, they develop acne and then severe scarring. At this time, it is strongly recommended to visit the GP for a full check-up as there may be other underlying problems.

Another cause of concern is when along with a severe case of acne, people also complain of lethargy and fever. This may indicate an infection which needs to be looked at immediately.

If you have any more inquire regarding skin care or need more tips for healthy skin you can check our Skin Care Tips Category for more information.

In the next few weeks, we will be providing more information on FAQ on acne skin care related matters. Watch this space.

Below are seven skin care tips for the week using all natural herbal skin care ingredients.  Many ingredients you may already have in your kitchen!  All are fairly easy to find at your local market and stores:

1. Oranges are high in vitamin C and when eaten helps to boost the immune system, especially from upper respiratory illnesses like colds and even allergies. The juice of oranges and dried orange peels can be used as a skin toner or a facial mask or scrub.  The blossoms makes a fragrant bath and helps control body odor.

2. Rosemary helps to lower blood pressure, and is good for the heart and liver.  Rosemary makes a great tonic for skin, and helps to get rid of wrinkles.  Rosemary flowers and leaves can be boiled in water to make an excellent facial cleanser.

3. Take beet root and cut up and grind into tiny bits.  Then squeeze the juice from the ground bits and use this as a facial massage / cleanser.  Rinse for around ten minutes in the shower.  Be careful not to stain clothing.

4. Roses make a wonderful fragrance to use in facial creams, lotions, masks and tonics.  Grind up rose petals and mix with milk cream as a nice moisturizing cleanser, rinse well in the shower.  Rose water can also be applied as a perfume.

5. Strawberries, in addition to being a good fruit to eat, are very good to treat serious skin conditions.  They can be very helpful in whitening teeth, just brush and clean the teeth with the strawberry juice.

6. Almonds are both good to eat and excellent as care for the skin.  Almonds can be used in creating facial packs.  Ground up it makes a good cleanser / scrub for the face.  The oil from almonds makes very good herbal skin care.

7. Lavender is widely known for its wonderful fragrance. Use it in a bath to open up the sinuses and ease stiff and sore muscles. It can be an effective mouthwash too. The oil can cure headaches.