Acne

Acne

Acne
Reading Level

	edHelper's suggested reading level:	grades 5 to 8
	Flesch-Kincaid grade level:	5.32

Vocabulary

challenging words:

pre-teen, scrubbing, secrete, self-confidence, teens, dermatologist, insecurity, moderation, acne, teen, condition, effective, social, sunscreen, makeup, better

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Acne
By Cindy Grigg

¹     Acne is a skin condition caused by over-active oil glands in the skin. Changes in hormones are a normal part of adolescence. These changes cause the oil glands to secrete more oil than usual, leading to acne. Most teens have acne at some time in their teenage or pre-teen years. Usually it is mild and can be treated at home. For serious cases, you might want to see a dermatologist, a doctor who treats the skin.

²     As you approach your teenage years, chemicals inside your body called hormones begin to change your skin. Hormones cause the oil glands in your skin to make more oil. The oil flows out through your pores, which are tiny openings in your skin. When too much oil is made, it collects and hardens in the pores. The hardened oil forms a blackhead. If bacteria grow in the blackhead, the pore fills with pus. These are called pimples or zits. This skin condition with blackheads and pimples is called acne. If you have a lot of pimples, you might need to see a dermatologist. He could prescribe an antibiotic to kill the bacteria growing in the pores. We usually think of acne appearing on the face, but it can also affect the skin on the neck, chest, back, and upper arms.

³     If you have acne, the most important thing to do is to keep your face clean. Wash your skin at least twice a day with mild soap and warm water. Don't scrub hard. Acne can't be scrubbed away, and hard scrubbing can make it worse by irritating the skin and pores. Then gently dry it with a clean towel. Don't squeeze or pick at pimples. This spreads the bacteria on your skin. It can also cause skin damage and lead to scarring. Be sure to wash well after exercising. Sweat feeds the bacteria on your skin. This can make acne worse.

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