Natural Remedies to Fight Acne Blemishes in Tweens and Teens

Acne is a skin condition that affects more than 50 million people per year only in the United States. Studies have shown that 79% to 95% of the teenage population have been clinically diagnosed with acne while in 10- to 12-year-old children, this number reaches 28% to 61% of the population. If you want to read more about how to treat acne in young children, this ebook will be great for you, but today, I want to focus on ways to reduce acne blemishes without using harsh chemicals.

We are living in the «perfection era». When our kids open their cellphones, everything they see evokes perfection. Perfect faces, perfect bodies, perfect lives. More than before, acne blemishes can be emotionally devastating for young adults. Having acne was probably bad enough, they don’t need a reminder in their face.

In general, when we talk about skin blemishes derived from acne, we are talking about acne scarring which refers to those marks that remain in our skin after a breakout.

There are three main types of acne scars:

• Atrophic acne scars. Is the most common type, occurring in at least 80% of patients. They are shallow, pitted scars that are caused when there is a loss of collagen and the skin can not regenerate its tissue correctly.
• Hypertrophic or keloid scars. Are less common, occurring in 5% to 10% of patients with acne. They are raised and bulky scars that are sometimes itchy or painful and result from an abnormal net gain of collagen during the healing process and are functionally disruptive to patients.
• Hyperpigmentation. Although this is not precisely considered an acne-derived blemish because is more related to sun exposure, it can also be associated with acne, appearing as dark spots.

Skin blemishes formation is a consequence of the wound healing process that occurs when body tissues are damaged by a physical injury like acne or even whiteheads and blackheads (yes, your kids don’t need to experiment with a serious condition of acne to have some facial blemishes). The scar often develops in the dermis (the deepest layer of the skin) which is why its treatment, requires more time and specialized efforts.

Instead, dark spots are related to melanin, our natural skin pigment, which production increases as a defensive response against UVA and UVB rays exposure or injuries like acne spots. Hyperpigmentation can occur both in the dermis and in the epidermis (the outermost layer of skin), making it a little bit easier to treat.

There is no one single fit for treating blemishes, and treatment will depend on the type of scars. Atrophic scars and hyperpigmentation are easier to manage while hypertrophic or keloid scars which will require more aggressive treatments.

In any case, the first step in treating blemishes should be to consult a dermatologist to receive the proper guidance. However, below we mention the most common at-home treatments to address these blemishes naturally.

Brightening the skin implies the use of products with depigmenting capabilities to lighten uneven skin tone or improve skin complexion by inhibiting melanin reaction both to sun exposure or to injuries, to obtain a reduction of the pigmentation.

Accelerating the dead skin cells removal supports the proliferation of collagen fibers in the dermis. Remember that a skin blemish caused by acne is usually in the dermis and probably many skin layers should be removed to have a skin healthy-looking.

Hydroquinone is a skin-lightening agent that is often used in over-the-counter topical creams and ointments. It is effective in lightening dark spots, but there are some concerns about its safety.

Hydroquinone can potentially cause a skin condition called ochronosis, which is a progressive darkening of the skin in the form of dark patches that can occur after long-term use. In addition, it has been linked to an increase in the risk of skin cancer.

Blemishes caused by atrophic acne or by inflammatory hyperpigmentation eventually could become less notorious. However, it will probably need the support of other kinds of treatments beyond those that skincare products can provide, like laser treatment for example.

However, for a skin mark of the hypertrophic or keloid type, there is not an effective treatment yet, or at least topical, that has shown to be effective. Dermal and subcutaneous augmentation or surgical removal are some of the options that are currently medically reviewed.

Well, we already left behind hydroquinone because of its risks, let’s get deeper into the important topic of this article. What should you use if your kids have some facial blemishes? What is safe to use? At what age they should use it?

This is a naturally occurring antioxidant found in a variety of fruits and vegetables. It’s an essential nutrient that our body is not able to synthesize and therefore, its intake is a MUST not just for our skin health but our overall health. However, our intestinal transport mechanism limits its availability in our body when consumed orally which is why need to apply it topically as well.

Beyond the well-known antioxidant properties of this vitamin, it also promotes collagen synthesis and restores skin elasticity helping recover the skin tone.

Any skin care routine should include a vitamin-c serum. As young as 12 years old could be a good age to start in the case the kid is experiencing some type of acne or even comedones. It will help to balance pH, protect from sun damage and improve overall skin complexion.

It’s better to use it in the mornings to take advantage of its antioxidant abilities. Remember to wear sunscreen on top of it.

Not really. Despite the ingredient itself being natural-derived, there are other components in a serum that can be synthetic or even toxic.

Here is my recommendation:

Acids promote an acceleration of dead skin cells renewal. These also can inhibit melanin activity acting as potent antioxidants. The main acids used for skin blemishes are:

• Azelaic Acid: supports acne scarring fading and is usually recommended as a replacement for hydroquinone
• Kojic Acid: Has been successfully used in lotions and creams targeted for acne treatments as well as acne scars treatments.
• Ellagic Acid: Extracted from pomegranate and berries, interferes in the melanin synthesis and supports higher antioxidant stress than vitamin E.
• Chemical exfoliators (AHAs): In our exfoliation blog we talked about these deeper, but glycolic and fruits acids can give to your young teen a diminishment of acne spots.

It depends on the directions of each product. Usually Azelaic, kojic and ellagic are incorporated in leave-on creams while AHAs usually come in serum to put in the face for 10 to 15 minutes.

I wouldn’t recommend these to be used before 14 or 15 years old when the skin has matured enough.

Are vitamin A derivatives are effective in treating acne, skin blemish, and hyperpigmentation, by increasing the speed of the cell renewal process.

Despite «Retinol» has been the most commonly used form of topical vitamin A, and has shown to be effective in fading dark spots and improving overall skin texture, it has also been shown to have side effects like dryness and irritation. That is why bakuchiol seems to be a better option for topical application.

It is oil soluble and is usually in serum presentation or leave-on creams for nightly applications.

Bakuchiol is a relatively new ingredient and has not a lot of trials in young and immature skin. However, its benefits have been so visible and have shown to be so soft for the skin, that I am for sure willing to use it for my tween girl.

Below is my best natural option for this:

Acne scarring can be one of the most depleting things for a teenager. It’s not only the physical scars that are left behind but also the emotional toll it takes on a young person. We hope this blog has given you some ideas about how to improve your kid’s skin complexion using natural remedies. Check our other blogs on natural skincare for more tips and tricks. And as always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us. We want you to feel confident and beautiful, inside and out!