the skin gets more oily during puberty, manygirls think that using products (such as soaps, cleansers,
and alcohol-based wipes) to dry out the skin will prevent
pimples. But not necessarily! When you dry your skin,
the oil glands beneath the surface sometimes become
more active and make more oils. So wash your skin with
gentle soaps or cleansers, pat dry, and then apply a light
moisturizer to help slow down your oil-forming pores.
Avoid products that contain overdrying alcohols such
as ethyl alcohol, ethanol, and isopropyl alcohol.
Hands Off
When it comes to keeping acne away, it’s all about what
you put on your skin—and that includes your hands!
Some people think acne is related to what you eat, but
that’s true only if you touch your face with hands that
have touched food. So eating a greasy pizza won’t create
a pimple, but if you wipe your greasy hands on your face,
a zit could follow.
If you do have pimples,
DON’T PICK. Even if you
think the bumps might
look better if they were a
little flatter, popping a zit
could create new problems.
The picked area becomes
even more irritated and can
get infected—this can
mean an obvious scab or,
worse, a permanent scar.
Go Away
There are lots of different ways to help make acne less
troublesome.
Wash your face every morning and every night, and don’t
forget to moisturize.
Remove dirt using a gentle cleanser or soap that is free
of dyes and perfumes.
Don’t scrub too hard, or you can irritate your skin.
Avoid oily facial products and cosmetics that can make
acne worse. If you really want to ditch the zits, try
water-based products instead.
Some girls use special cleansers, creams, or even
medicines to help control their acne. This should be
done only with the help of a doctor. Here are some of
the treatments you may hear about and how they work:
Antibiotic: kills the bacteria growing in clogged pores.
Benzoyl peroxide: works as an antibiotic and also
helps to unclog pores.
Retinoid: prevents pore clogging.
Are the bumps on
my upper arms
acne, too?
Nope! Many girls will have
tiny bumps on the backs of
their upper arms at some
point during puberty. These
are super small—about the
size of a pencil tip—and
feel a little rough. But they
don’t itch, and they won’t
get bigger or redder. They
are called keratosis pilaris, a fancy way of saying bumpy skin. The bumps might be less noticeable if you keep your skin soft, so try using a washcloth or loofah in the shower and apply moisturizer regularly. But truly it is time that helps them go away.
Help! Q&A
Girls just like you sent us their body questions.
Here are the answers!
I’m really skinny for a 10-year-old.
My friends make rude comments
and say I look like a stick. I told
them that my doctor said I’m fine,
but they think I’m lying.
Not Too Thin
It can sting when friends make
comments about the way you look.
Next time it happens, say, “Please
don’t call me that. It makes me feel
awful.” It could be that your friends
are just being insensitive, and telling
them that they’re hurting you could
fix this. But it also could be that they
are worried about you. Some girls are
naturally very thin, but other girls
sometimes do dangerous things to
try to make themselves thin. It can
be tough for a friend to tell the
difference. Talk it through. If they’re
not convinced, ask your mom to
assure them that you really are OK.
I sweat a lot. I use deodorant, but
it doesn’t seem to help. I’m starting
to get uncomfortable at school, and
I
