Welcome to The Teenager magazine online
The Teenager
About us | Advertise | Write on! | Contact us | Subscribe
Welcome to The Teenager magazine online
Click to see larger image
JANUARY 2010


 Ask
DR GRUGNI

Ask
DR VIBHA

Ask the
DOCTOR
Your
FEEDBACK

theteenagermag on Facebook
Ask the Doctor

Dr Taher Kudrati
& Sveta Bhassin
...................................................

The scariest thought for a teenager is getting pimples on his/her face. Teenage is that period of life when we want to look our best always. But our face erupts into pimples as soon as we turn 13 or 14 and by the time we try all the free advice given to us by our elder siblings, friends, aunts, media and advertisements we have already damaged our skin.

What is acne?
It is an inflammatory disease of the sebaceous glands (oil-secreting glands) and the hair follicles manifested by whiteheads, blackheads and pustules. Scarring is common and is usually associated with an oily discharge.

Causes
Heredity, hormonal imbalance especially during puberty, poor hygiene, improper diet, stress, drugs like corticosteroids, improper digestion, pollution, lack of sleep.

See a doctor if…

  • your acne is infected and there is pus like discharge.
  • you are not sure if it is acne or any other skin eruption.

    Nutrition & exercise
    Your face is the reflection of your insides.
  • Meditation, exercise and pranayam are the most important methods of keeping your mind and body fit. Even a 45 minute workout or walk in the open will help in good circulation of blood to nourish and detoxify the skin, thus negating the effects of pollution.
  • Consuming plenty of fruit, juices, vegetables and salads also contribute to a healthy skin.
  • Constipation aggravates acne. Drinking 4-5 litres of water, psyllium or isabgol helps prevent constipation.
  • Rose water mixed with saffron water + Bengal gram flour + milk + turmeric powder + olive oil is a very good pack, to be applied on the face for 20 minutes before washing off with lukewarm water followed by a mild herbal face wash. This is excellent for treating acne and maintaining a glowing skin.
  • 2 walnuts, 2 dried figs and 5 almonds with a glass of warm milk made with saffron and honey is also very good for clear skin.
  • Reduce junk food, fatty food, chocolate, ice cream, butter, cakes, white bread, sweets and fried food which is difficult to digest.
  • A teaspoon of flax seeds (Alsi) available at any grocery store, after lunch daily is helpful.
  • At least 8 hours of beauty sleep is very essential. Avoid sacrificing sleep for entertainment.
  • Aloe vera juice also helps reduce acne.
  • Foods rich in vitamin E like papaya, almonds, sunflower seeds, mustard greens, spinach also help to maintain a healthy skin. Simple easy-to-do home remedies are always better than using chemical based creams which may react differently to different skin types. Acne if treated with patience will go on their own without leaving unpleasant scars.

    • Do

  • Wash your face frequently, at least 3-5 times a day, taking care that it does not become too dry.
  • Use a gentle cleanser made of natural ingredients or herbs rather than chemical preparations.
  • Try not to apply cosmetics regularly. Use non-greasy light make-up of repute.
  • You can use facial steam to reduce inflammation and infection but never more than 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Avoid touching your pimples unnecessarily.
  • Exercising regularly will improve your circulation.

    Don't

  • Wash your face frequently, at least 3-5 times a day, taking care that it does not become too dry.
  • Do not scrub your face while washing as scrubbing inflamed skin aggravates acne.
  • Do not use very highly-scented soaps. Use a mild anti-bacterial soap if possible.
  • Do not sleep with make-up on.
  • Do not overexpose your skin to the sun. Preferably wear a hat while going out.
  • Do not burst your pimples else it will lead to a secondary infection.

    • I have pimples only on my nose which looks very odd. I tried lots of methods to get rid of them but failed. Now what should I try?
    Piush (Age 17) / Hazaribag

    You have mentioned you have "tried lots of methods". Have you tried any medications or medicated creams in consultation with a doctor or have you just tried some home remedies? Without knowing it would be very difficult to prescribe any medicated ointments for application. I would advise you to consult a skin specialist for the same. In the meantime, do the following:

  • Use a pH balanced face wash. Wash your face 3-4 times per day.
  • If you have a dandruff problem use an antidandruff shampoo and get rid of your dandruff.
  • Steaming your face daily for 3-5 minutes.
  • Eat plenty of fruits and salads. Cut down on deep fried foods, oily foods and fast foods.

    My skin is very oily and as a result I have a lot of pimples. It looks quite horrible. My parents too complain about it and ask me to use some sort of cream. What should I use?
    Shubhangi Sharma (Age 14) / Dehra Dun

    Refer to the answer above. You need to get your skin examined by your family doctor or skin specialist and accordingly he/she will advise you what ointment to use.

    My hair is very, very, very dry and full of knots which come back 3 minutes after combing my hair. Please suggest a natural remedy.
    Ria (Age 13) / Chabua, Assam

    Oil your hair regularly using coconut oil or almond oil. If you do not use oil regularly, apply it over night before a head bath. It will help to improve the texture. Use a conditioner after washing your hair with shampoo. If you have a more dry type of hair by birth we cannot change your hair type but definitely improve it. Also focus on a healthy and well-balanced diet.

    • E-mail your queries to editorial@theteenagermag.com with the subject line ‘Ask the Doctor’

    This site is best viewed in IE 5.0 and above at 1024 x 768 resolution.