Alongside puppy love and exam fever, problem skin ranks high on the list of teenage torments.
Angst over acne is even more of a concern these days, what with teens getting more experimental with make-up and skincare products, and at a younger age too.
“Teens love to experiment with new products that sound attractive, leading them to try out more products than a mature adult,” explains Dr Yeak Hwee Lee, the medical director of Singapore Aesthetic Centre at Novena Medical Centre.
However, this teen spirit has led to a growing number of youngsters suffering from acne, doctors say.
During the teenage years, oil glands are more active and produce more oil.
The oil, together with dead skin cells, clog up pores, creating a conducive environment for acne bacteria to thrive in.
This is why teenagers are more prone to break-outs.
Dr Eileen Tan, a dermatologist at Eileen Tan Skin, Laser and Hair Transplant Clinic at Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre, says she has seen the number of teen acne cases caused by inappropriate skincare habits grow 15 to 20 per cent from 2004 to 2009.
“For example, their acne conditions can worsen due to inadequate make-up removal or smoking.”
At the National Skin Centre, the number of teens seeking treatment for acne more than quadrupled from 602 to 2,605 cases from 2005 to 2009.
Help is at hand for all that fresh-faced vulnerability though. More skincare brands are trotting out specialised products just for teens.
American brand Dermalogica is one of the latest to introduce a teen skincare line of eight products. Called Clean Start, it is formulated to care for teenage skin.
“Teens don’t want to use the products that their mums use. They want a line developed for them and their needs,” says Jane Wurwand, the founder of Dermalogica.
Triska Looke, an education instructor for Dermalogica who was in town in November for the launch, says the line contains ingredients such as salicylic acid to maintain teen skin.
“Also important is what is not in the products – alcohol, artificial fragrances, mineral oils or allergy-causing ingredients – that will irritate their skin,” she adds.
With prices starting from $49 for a toner, this does not come at junior prices.
KEEPING IT SIMPLE
Other department store brands that have product lines targeting teenagers with oily skin include Clinique, Kiehl’s, Ettusais and Kose, which were launched here between three and 10 years ago.
Clinique, one of the pioneers in teen-friendly skincare, launched its Anti-Blemish Solutions product line in 1999.
Since then, the line has grown from five to eight products.
Carolyn Khiu, the brand general manager of Clinique Singapore, estimates that the number of teens who bought its products grew 6percent last year.
There has also been a 10 per cent increase in their average purchase.
“However, we believe that the actual figure may be higher as many Clinique customers are mothers who buy the Anti-Blemish Solutions products for their teenagers, especially for the boys,” notes Khiu.
There are also drugstore favourites commonly recommended by skin doctors such as Neutrogena, Oxy and Johnson & Johnson, which have teen-friendly skincare products that are also pocket-friendly, usually below $20.
Doctors whom Urban spoke to urge young consumers not to be swayed by brand names or prices, but to pick products that suit their skin’s needs.
Dr Tan recommends using products with benzoyl peroxide to treat acne.
Teens should also look for creams with retinol or tretinoin, a component of vitamin A which has been medically proven to treat acne successfully and improve the appearance of scars.
Some ingredients to avoid, advises Dr Yeak, are lanolin oil and Isopropyl myristate, which are used in skincare for their emollient properties.
Instead, pick water- or gel-based formulations because teen skin produces sufficient oil naturally.
Most importantly, teens should not neglect taking care of their skin.
Doctors say a simple skincare regimen is all it takes to keep your skin in tip-top condition through the years.
Dr Tan says: “My recommendation is a good cleanser and toner, an oil-free sunblock and a blemish stick to cover up uneven skin tone.”
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This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times.
