Teenage Skincare: Healthy Skin Through the Teenage Years

The teenage years bring major hormonal changes, and the skin often notices them first. One of the most important changes is an increase in sebum (skin oil) production.

In boys, rising androgen levels — particularly testosterone — stimulate the sebaceous glands. Girls also produce androgens from the ovaries and adrenal glands, and changes in the balance of oestrogen, progesterone and androgens during puberty can influence oil production.

Why Do Teenagers Get Pimples?

Extra sebum can combine with dead skin cells and block the hair follicles. This creates an environment where microorganisms naturally living on the skin, particularly Cutibacterium acnes, can contribute to inflammation and acne.

Similar changes in oil production and the skin’s microbiome can contribute to seborrhoeic dermatitis, producing dandruff of the scalp and sometimes redness and scaling around the eyebrows, nose, ears and other areas of the face.

Hormones aren’t the whole story. Stress, anxiety, genetics, diet, physical activity, sweating, skincare products and hygiene habits can all influence how teenage skin behaves.

Nobody Needs to Simply Put Up With Acne

Every teenager’s skin is different. There is no one-size-fits-all treatment for acne, and something that works beautifully for one person may irritate another.

Over-the-counter products can be useful, particularly for mild acne, but they aren’t automatically appropriate for every skin type. Depending on the individual, treatment may include carefully selected cleansers and skincare, prescription topical medications, oral treatments or other therapies.

Treating acne early is particularly important. Persistent inflammatory acne can cause permanent scarring and pigmentation, which can be considerably more difficult, time-consuming and expensive to treat later.

Start With a Proper Skin Assessment

At SKEEN, we can assess teenage skin in detail rather than simply looking at a few pimples.

Where appropriate, this may include clinical examination, dermoscopy and VISIA Skin Analysis. VISIA provides detailed facial imaging that helps us evaluate features such as oiliness, pores, redness, pigmentation and skin texture.

Occasionally, further investigation may also be appropriate when the pattern of acne or other symptoms suggests an underlying hormonal or medical issue.

From there, we can develop an individual treatment plan based on the teenager’s skin type, severity of acne, lifestyle and underlying causes. Education is equally important — sometimes small changes to skincare habits, products and daily routines can make a substantial difference.

Teenagers shouldn’t have to wait for acne to become severe before asking for help. Early assessment and appropriate treatment can help maintain healthy skin and reduce the risk of permanent acne scars.

We welcome teenagers and their families to SKEEN for a comprehensive skin assessment and a personalised approach to healthier skin.

Dr Colin McTari

SKEEN