help get pimples under control, look for the ingredient salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide on the label of an oil-free acne gel or cream. Benzoyl peroxide kills bacteria that can cause pimples, and salicylic acid mainly helps keep pores from clogging. To use either one, spread a small amount (about the size of a pea) evenly around your face after washing and drying it. Be careful to keep it away from your eyes and mouth—it’s strong stuff. Use the product only two or three times a week to start, and work up to using it every day if your skin doesn’t get too dry or irritated. Experiment to see which one works best for you. If your acne is more severe, try using them together, or use one in the morning and the other at night. If this doesn’t help get your acne under control, talk to your parents about seeing your doctor. Treatments are available that can help even the most severe cases.
Dear American Girl,
I have pimples on my arms. I wash my arms, but they are
still there. What should I do? Is this normal?
Getting Picked on by Pimples!
During puberty, many girls get small, skin-colored bumps on their
upper arms or thighs. The bumps aren’t pimples, although they may
look like them. Instead, they’re a harmless condition called keratosis pilaris, which just means “bumpy skin.” To help them go away, try using a washcloth or loofah in the shower (gently—no hard scrubbing!), and then use an oil-free moisturizer. No matter what, the bumps will start to disappear as you get older.
Dear American Girl,
My friends always tell me I’m really pale, and
sometimes I get teased about my freckles. Can
you please give me advice?
Snowgirl
Freckles and fair skin are part of who you are, along with your hair and
eye color. Try letting your friends know you’re OK with the features you
were born with by saying, “I like my freckles” or “I think they’re cool.”
It’s true that you have no control over your freckles, but one thing you
can—and should—control is your exposure to the sun, which can cause
a different kind of freckles and sunburn, too. Use a sunblock with an SPF
of 30 or higher, and stay out of the sun in the middle of the day to avoid
damaging your fair skin. Wearing a hat with a brim that shades your face
is also a good idea.
Dear American Girl,
I blush all the time, which is already embarrassing, but I
have a friend who laughs at me whenever it happens, and
that makes it 10 times worse. How can I stop blushing, and
how can I get her to stop teasing me?
Red Face
Blushing is your body’s way of reacting to stress. Some people sweat,
some people shake, some people (like you) blush. And as you already
know, when someone points out your blushing, it only makes your
cheeks burn brighter. The next time your friend laughs, try saying, “I
feel even more embarrassed when you point it out. I wish you wouldn’t
do that.” Let her know that the friendliest thing she can do is ignore
your flushed face and change the subject. That will give you a chance
to cool your hot cheeks by taking lots of deep breaths or splashing
them with cold water.
Dear American Girl,
I’ve been noticing stretch marks on my hips and at the
top of my legs. My mom says I’m getting them because
my skin is too dry. I put lotion on them, but they don’t
go away. Can you tell me how the stretch marks got
there and how to make them disappear?
Streaks
Stretch marks happen when your body grows very quickly—such as
during puberty. In fact, most girls (and boys) get them. Putting lotion
on stretch marks might help dry skin feel more comfortable. How-
ever, the marks aren’t caused by dry skin, and lotion won’t make them
disappear. Nothing can actually remove them, but their dark pink or
purplish color will eventually fade to the color of your normal skin,
and you’ll hardly notice them.
Dear American Girl,
I have a birthmark on my face. My friends say it’s my
“uniqueness,” but I can’t believe them. When people
notice it, it really bothers me.
Tired of It
It’s normal for people to be curious about birthmarks. If they
comment on yours, just say, “It’s a birthmark. I was born with it.”
You may be wondering about ways you could cover it up or remove
it altogether when you’re older. But actually, you might find it hard to
imagine your face without it—it really is part of what makes you unique.
Trust your friends, who know what real beauty means, and remember
their words when people’s curiosity gets on your nerves.
Glasses & Contacts
Dear American Girl,
I’m
