Teenage Acne: Choosing the Right Skincare Routine

If your teenager has acne, you may have already spent hours researching what to do about it.

Perhaps you've bought a cleanser because somebody recommended it, tried a spot treatment, or watched videos explaining which ingredients are supposed to clear acne.

And when one product doesn't seem to make much difference, it's tempting to try something else.

I understand why.

When your child is struggling with their skin, you want to help them find something that works.

But here's something I want parents to understand:

Treating teenage acne isn't simply about finding the strongest acne product or building the most complicated skincare routine.

It's about understanding the skin first.

Why teenage skin isn't one-size-fits-all

Although teenage acne is common, not every teenager experiences it in the same way.

One teenager might primarily struggle with blocked pores and blackheads. Another might experience inflamed spots, while someone else may develop deeper, more painful lesions.

Their existing skincare habits can differ, too.

Some teenagers barely wash their face. Others use several products every day, perhaps following routines they've discovered on TikTok or Instagram.

Some have already tried numerous acne products, while others are only just beginning to notice changes in their skin.

These differences matter.

A routine that suits one person won't necessarily be appropriate for another.

That's why I wouldn't automatically recommend the same products to every teenager who develops acne.

Before deciding what their skin needs, I'd want to understand what is happening with it.

When more products can become part of the problem

Imagine your teenager starts getting spots.

You buy them an acne cleanser.

A few weeks later, their skin hasn't improved as much as you'd hoped, so you add an exfoliating product.

Then you see a recommendation for a spot treatment, followed by another product that's supposedly essential for acne-prone skin.

Before long, they're using several different products without really knowing which ones are helping.

The difficulty is that introducing multiple products at once can make it harder to identify what's working and what might be contributing to irritation.

Some acne treatments can also cause dryness, redness or irritation, particularly when used incorrectly or combined inappropriately.

This doesn't mean acne ingredients are bad, or that teenagers should avoid effective treatments.

It means products need to be chosen carefully and used appropriately.

More products don't automatically mean better results.

Sometimes, the first step is simplifying a routine and understanding what is already being used.

What should you consider before choosing skincare?

Rather than starting with a shopping list, I'd encourage parents to consider the bigger picture.

• What does their skin actually look like?

Are they experiencing mainly blocked pores, inflamed spots or deeper lesions? Is there also redness, dryness or irritation?

Understanding what you're seeing helps determine what kind of support may be appropriate.

• What are they already using?

It's worth looking at their entire routine rather than considering each product in isolation.

That includes cleansers, moisturisers, exfoliants, spot treatments and anything else they're applying to their skin.

• How are they using those products?

A product's suitability is only part of the picture. How often it's used, how it's introduced and whether the instructions are being followed can also matter.

• How is their skin responding?

If their skin becomes increasingly irritated, uncomfortable or dry, adding another active product may not be the best next step.

It's worth reassessing the routine rather than assuming they simply need something stronger.

• Do they need additional support?

If acne is persistent, worsening, painful, causing scarring or affecting your teenager's confidence, it's worth seeking appropriate professional advice.

You don't have to work everything out alone.

What about the emotional side of teenage acne?

There's another part of this conversation that I think deserves just as much attention.

How does your teenager feel about their skin?

They might be perfectly happy with a simple routine and the occasional breakout.

Or they might be checking their reflection constantly, avoiding photographs, covering their skin with makeup or feeling embarrassed around their friends.

You may not realise how much it's affecting them.

And you don't have to assume that every teenager with acne is struggling emotionally. But it's important to give them the opportunity to tell you how they feel without dismissing their concerns.

The goal isn't to make their skin the centre of their lives.

It's to help them understand their skin, make sensible decisions about its care and access appropriate support when they need it.

My approach to teenage acne

My approach has always been about understanding the individual rather than treating everybody's skin in exactly the same way.

I look at the skin itself, the products being used, the person's habits and the wider factors that may be relevant to their skin health.

From there, the aim is to make informed, appropriate decisions rather than constantly adding new products and hoping something works.

And importantly, I don't believe every teenager needs an elaborate skincare routine.

Sometimes the most appropriate starting point is simple. In other cases, persistent or more severe acne needs medical assessment and treatment.

The important thing is understanding which situation you're dealing with.

If your teenager has acne, where should you start?

Start by looking at what they're already doing.

Don't feel pressured to buy every product recommended online, and don't assume that stronger products are necessarily better.

Pay attention to how their skin is responding, listen to how they're feeling about it, and seek professional advice if you're concerned.

And remember that acne isn't a reflection of poor hygiene or a failure on your part as a parent.

You don't need to have all the answers. You just need to know where to start.

If you'd like to understand more about acne, the factors that can influence it and why a broader approach to skin health matters, you can watch my free Acne Masterclass, available online whenever it suits you.

Because understanding the skin is a much better starting point than guessing what to put on it.

© 2018. Emily Britten. All rights reserved.

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