Skincare for teenage girls

What is the best skincare for teenage girls?

Choose products for your skin's needs: dryness, sensitivity, excess oil or acne. Puberty can increase oil production, and acne develops when hair follicles become blocked with oil and dead skin cells. Acne is not caused by dirty skin, so stronger scrubbing is not the answer. Using fewer products consistently is more useful than a ten step routine, which is a lot of administration for a face.123

What should you use in the morning?

1. 1Wash gently. For acne, use a gentle cleanser twice daily. A soap free cleanser with a skin neutral or slightly acidic pH is a suitable choice. If your skin is dry or sensitive, washing only in the evening can be enough.
2. 2Apply moisturizer. Choose a fragrance free formula to reduce the risk of irritation from added scents. Moisturizing helps relieve dryness and itchiness, including dryness from acne treatments.
3. 3Apply sunscreen. Choose broad spectrum, water resistant SPF 30 or higher for daily use. For acne prone skin, avoid oil based or pore clogging formulas. A hat and sunglasses add protection outdoors.

Which moisturizer suits your skin?

What is a good nighttime skincare routine for a teenage girl?

1. 1Remove makeup at the end of the day, using a mild cleanser. Choose makeup designed not to clog pores and avoid oil based formulas if you have acne.
2. 2Pat your face dry after cleansing. Do not scrub, and avoid routine washing more than twice daily because frequent washing can irritate skin.
3. 3Use any prescribed evening acne medicine exactly as directed. Several prescription combinations are applied once daily in the evening, but follow your own medicine's instructions.
4. 4Apply a moisturizer suited to your skin.

After sport, shower to remove sweat that can irritate skin. A basic routine does not require fancy products or a large budget, so your bathroom does not need to resemble a skincare department with plumbing.3

What can you add for acne?

For a few blackheads, whiteheads or spots, ask a pharmacist about salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Acne medicines target spots and blocked pores; cleansing alone is not the same as treating acne. Persistent or more severe acne can need prescription treatment. Options include medicines applied to the skin, such as adapalene or tretinoin combinations, and tablets for more severe cases. A clinician should choose treatment based on severity, suitability and your preferences.24

Benzoyl peroxide reduces bacteria and helps spots and blocked pores. Most people aged 12 or older can use it. Start with the lowest strength available and follow the packet; use is usually once or twice daily. For a leave on gel, wash your hands, gently clean and dry the skin, apply a thin layer to the affected area, then wash your hands again. For a gel wash, wet the area, wash with a small amount for 1 to 2 minutes, rinse and pat dry.6

Benzoyl peroxide usually starts working within four weeks. Seek advice if acne worsens or has not improved after 12 weeks. More product will not work faster. Dryness, peeling, redness or itching can improve with less frequent use; ask a pharmacist or doctor about symptoms that persist or bother you. Keep it away from eyes, mouth, broken or infected skin, hair and fabrics. It can bleach fabrics and increase sun sensitivity. Only combine it with other acne treatments if a pharmacist or doctor approves.6

Stop using benzoyl peroxide and call 999 for a swollen throat or tongue or difficulty breathing. If pregnant, check with a doctor before using it. Prescription retinoid combinations containing adapalene or tretinoin must not be used during pregnancy. Discuss pregnancy plans and breastfeeding before starting prescription acne medicines.46

Which products and habits should you skip?

Skip cosmetic retinol, vitamin C and exfoliating acids bought for wrinkles or sun damage. They can cause redness, burning or peeling without addressing teenage skincare needs. Acne treatment is a different use: a dermatologist can recommend a retinoid or salicylic acid when appropriate. Introduce one new product at a time. If sensitive skin reacts to shop bought products, get advice rather than adding more products.1

Do not pick or squeeze spots because this increases the risk of scarring. Toothpaste is not an acne treatment and can irritate skin. Sunbathing and sunbeds do not treat acne. There is not enough evidence to recommend a specific diet for treating acne, so a restrictive acne diet is not a necessary skincare step.234

Can periods or contraception affect your skin?

Hormonal changes around periods can trigger acne flare ups at different points in the monthly cycle. If you use hormonal contraception, discuss skin concerns with your GP because contraception can affect susceptibility to spots. The combined pill is also one prescription option for managing hormones that contribute to acne; it is a medical treatment decision, not an extra skincare product.235

When should you see a doctor?

See a GP for lots of spots, deep painful lumps, scarring or acne that is not improving with treatment. Persistent dark marks also deserve assessment. Get medical advice for hot, swollen skin or suspected infection; redness can be harder to see on brown or black skin. Acne affecting your mood or confidence is also a reason to seek help. You do not have to wait until acne becomes physically severe to discuss its emotional impact.24

What skincare is available for teenage girls in the UK?

UK shops and pharmacies sell benzoyl peroxide, including the brand Acnecide. A pharmacist can help choose an acne treatment and explain its directions. If pharmacy treatment is not helping, a GP can prescribe treatment or refer you to a dermatologist. Take your current product and medicine details to that discussion so treatment choices account for what you already use.26