Effective Skin Care Tips for Teenagers

Teenage Skin Care by Dermatologist

As a teenager you might be wondering how to take care of your skin! Or made to wonder from peer group or Instagram Reels. To simplify this, let's categorize skin care needs into a few common groups. In this discussion, we'll focus specifically on facial skin care.

• Out in the sun a lot?

• Teen with acne

• Teen with oily skin

• Teen with a lot of dry skin

• Teen with a Normal Skin

All the above categories require different sets of products, but skin care can be made simple and easy to understand with a few tips based on scientific knowledge. Two popular products worth mentioning are toner and aloe vera gel. Let’s explore their role in a skin care routine.

The so-called “magic” product, toner, actually has little to no role in skin care for any age group. So, that’s one product off the list. Now, let’s consider the others.

Aloe vera gel can provide moisturizing benefits and help repair skin damage caused by sunlight and pollution to some extent. It’s best to choose non-fragrant formulations from reputable brands.

Out in the Sun a Lot!

A mild face wash and a good mineral sunscreen are your go-to essentials. Mineral sunscreens (the ones with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) are usually thick, leave a white cast, and last a while. Don’t worry — the white cast typically fades in about 10–15 minutes.

Make sure to apply it at least 15 minutes before heading out. It works well for about 2–3 hours, so you’ll need to reapply after that. If you’re swimming or sweating a lot, go for water-resistant options to keep your skin protected.

Teen with Acne

An anti-acne face wash and a good cream or gel for pimples are all you need. These two products help reduce oiliness, minimize pimples, and prevent the pigmentation and scarring that often come with breakouts. Clearer skin can really boost your confidence! Its wiser to get the anti-acne cream from your dermatologist.

How long should you treat acne?

Once you stop acne treatments, breakouts can often return, especially since they're usually driven by hormones during growth phases. To keep acne under control, it's a good idea to continue using ointments even after your skin has cleared up, but with less frequency. For example, if you used an acne cream daily during a breakout, you can switch to using it every other day or just twice a week for maintenance. This approach helps manage acne long-term.

When it comes to sunscreens, many OTC (over-the-counter) or cosmetic ones can be comedogenic (pore-clogging), so it’s best to avoid them. Opt for moisturizers when needed, and try to buy them from a pharmacy. Non-fragrant formulations are better since they’re hypoallergenic and less likely to clog pores (non-comedogenic).

Note: Foods to avoid for clearer skin

Teen with oily skin

Antiacne / oil control facewash (with label “OC facewash”) and pimple creams decrease the oiliness of the face. Oil control moisturisers are also available. Alpha/ beta hydroxy acid-based face washes and serums can also help control the sebum in the face. The rest of the care is similar to the acne skin care.

Teen with a lot of dry skin

Dry skin is common in most during winter. Whereas there are few with innate excessive skin dryness. They may or may not have associated allergies such as eczema, dust allergy, continuous sneezing in the morning hours etc, that is referred to as “Atopy”.

A few things can really dry out your skin. Washing your face or body too often with soap and water, taking long hot showers, or cranking the AC to super low temperatures are all culprits. Using gel-based face or body washes doesn’t help either, since they tend to strip away moisture.

If you have dry skin, it’s better to use a gentle cleanser. Cleansers help lock in moisture and keep your skin hydrated. Also, go for creamy moisturizers instead of lotions — they keep your skin soft and supple for much longer.

Teens with a Normal Skin

Acne and oily skin are totally normal at this age. When we say "normal skin," we just mean there’s no dryness, seborrhoea, or excessive acne. Honestly, this kind of skin doesn’t need any special care. But if you really want to do something, just grab a mild face wash and a non-fragrant, lightweight moisturizer. That’s all you need!

With all this info, you now have a solid understanding to help you pick a product for your skin!

One more Mantra – Buy and try One Product at a time!! This is the Golden Rule of Skin Care!