Acne is a problem that many teenagers suffer from. This problem starts as early as age twelve and can carry on all the way into adult years. There is still no cure for acne. There is an abundance of products and treatments readily available on the market today. I have personal experience with this aliment. The emotional and physical trauma that acne causes can leave scars for years. For some it can leave scars for life.

I was a very young adolescent when I had my first breakout. Most teenagers will have their first acne breakout at the start of puberty. It is normal to have a few at this stage of life. Teenagers have many changes in their bodies. This is a normal transition. Acne forms at this stage of life. For some teenagers this will only last for a short time. For others it is a life long problem.

There has been a lot of research done on acne. However, there is still no cure for it. Doctors have done research to find a way to clear acne and prevent it from forming. Some forms of acne are easily treated, however there are others that require a much more serious medication of treatment. Some of the medications are very costly and have severe side effects, such as birth defects, should the teenager become pregnant while taking the medication.

How many acne treatments and products have you seen advertised on television? How many products have you seen in the health and beauty aids section at your local store? It's strange that there are so many products available, yet teenagers are still battling acne today. The reason for this is that everyone reacts differently to these products. The same is true in over the counter medications. Some people have great results with one type of medication and others do not, or they may be allergic to it. The same is true for skin care products.

The physical pain that acne causes is bad enough. Acne is painful and unattractive. The emotional effect of acne prevents teenagers from participating in social gatherings and makes them feel like they are freaks, so to speak. The emotional trauma that teenagers suffer is unbelievable. I have had teenagers tell me that they considered suicide because they have acne. They are teased about their acne so much that they feel that they would rather die, than to live another day to face their reflection in the mirror and the torment that they face from their peers. Not only does acne hurt teenagers skin and emotions, some of them won't even live to see it through.

What can we do to help? There are groups where teenagers can talk about the way their acne makes them feel. I suggest that if you are a teenager or if you know a teenager that suffers from acne; let them know that there is help for it and that they can have a normal life.