Can you hear me now?

Teenage acne is another contributor to low self-esteem, something which many teenagers suffer from. Although they may deny it bothers them, the odds are it bothers them a lot. It can inhibit their emotional growth as well as affecting their grades in high school. No teenager today wants to live with this condition, and although it may take a bit of encouragement from parents it's important that they see the family doctors as soon as possible. There is absolutely no reason for any teenager to have to deal with this problem in the 21st century.

• It's also important that teenagers understand that the acne they are suffering with has absolutely nothing to do with dirty skin or poor hygiene habits. In many of the cases that doctors see, the cause is actually an infection. The skin becomes inflamed due to bacteria that everyone has on their skin. Not only that, but it's quite common that if your parents suffered from bad bouts of acne, then you will have inherited the condition. The biggest culprit when it comes to acne is hormones. Teenagers know well that they have little control over their hormones. The good news is, this condition is highly treatable these days using one or a combination of different methods. The earlier you start treating it, the more success you will have.

• Most teenagers have already gone the route of over the counter medications and soaps and usually with little results to show for it. If they still have acne then it's time to see a doctor. He will most likely recommend some prescription treatments. For most teenagers, this is all they will need as these also normally work well. On the other hand, if you have stubborn and very inflamed acne then your doctor will most likely refer you to a good dermatologist. Dermatologists have a number of different tools available to them to help cure even stubborn acne.

• Dermatologists have been using acne laser treatments for some time now with very successful results. These lasers kill the bacteria growth that is causing the acne. These lasers are completely painless and are a form of dermabrasion. Some stubborn acne can also be treated with a type of acid peel. They are simply a combination of fruit acids that help treat the acne that is present and can also help to improve scarring on the face from previous outbreaks.

Blue light is another treatment that helps many and some doctors will use it along with Levulan ala. It too helps to destroy the bacteria and also has the side benefit of helping with the production of collagen and it also helps to reduce the size of the pores. Although this procedure takes a bit longer it has a high success rate.

The main theme with all these therapies is killing the bacteria that are always on the surface of the skin. Since hormonal changes are the main culprit for teenage acne, it may be that teens will have to repeat treatments until the hormones in their body start to regulate themselves. This may take a number of years, but the good news is that their teenage years can be a lot happier with these treatments and will allow them to carry on a happy and normal social life.