“Are we serious right now?” I noticed a pimple on my chin the day of my school pictures. A big red bump was about to ruin my day. 

I can confidently say that it is a universal experience to break out on days that are the most important. Whether it be for picture day, a big presentation, or even a school dance, acne seems to be a common nuisance. 

According to Mayo Clinic, acne occurs when hair follicles are filled with oil and dead skin which can cause blackheads, whiteheads or pimples. Experiencing acne for the first time can be pretty hard to come to terms with, especially when it gets worse. 

“It got really bad in 10th grade,” Coppell High School junior Alex Yang said. “ I developed cystic acne and I was stuck with it for three to four months.”

Acne has replaced self-appreciation with low self-esteem and makes someone second guess the texture on their face.

“I hated being in photos,” Yang said. “It ended up messing with my self confidence.”

It is not a surprise that acne has been viewed to be such a bad thing when that is all we have seen in films. In the entertainment industry, we see people portrayed as ugly by having messy hair, crooked glasses and acne over their face, while the conventionally attractive characters have smooth hair with clear and glossy skin. 

This narrative creates the idea that teenagers with acne are unattractive, when in reality, it is the complete opposite. 

Even though acne can be a struggle, it’s also something that should be normalized and have less of a negative impact on teenagers’ confidence. According to Healthy Children.org, 85% of people have experienced acne during their teenage years. 

To get a better understanding of the effects of acne at CHS, we conducted our own research to see how teens at Coppell are impacted by acne. The results came from a survey of 116 people with 72.4% of students having acne throughout high school and 52.6% of students who currently have acne.

For skin types, 32 students have normal skin, 25 students have oily skin, 28 students have dry skin, 23 students have sensitive skin and 54 students have combination.

Oily skin happens when excess sebum is produced, especially in the T- Zone. People with dry skin have little to no oil production, and combination skin has areas that are both dry and oily. 

“Signs of oiliness can be assessed by the feel of greasiness or slickness at the skin, enlarged pores and shine,” Epiphany Dermatology Dr. Nancy Chung said. “Dry skin can sometimes get dry flakes and is usually more sensitive.”

According to Dr. Chung, acne usually appears on teenagers as their hormones begin to change. The process occurs when an increased sebum production and plugging of pores. 

“A lot of follicles also start to colonize with a bacterium called P-acne (propionibacterium acne), and then there is the inflammatory response,” Dr. Chung said. “The inflammatory response is influenced by a variety of things which include hormones, diet, and stress levels.”

There are two main groups as to which acne is categorized: inflammatory and comedonal acne. 

Inflammatory acne is described to be red bumps, and comedonal acne which is clogged pores and small bumps. Comedonal acne is what most teenagers experience.

Dr. Chung emphasizes how most acne treatments are drying. A solution is to use moisturizers to help replenish your skin.

“Acne treatments are a balancing act between addressing the different factors causing acne and minimizing side effects from the treatments themselves,” Dr. Chung said. “It does help to see a professional when dealing with difficulty in controlling acne.” 

In the case that a teen is not able to come in contact with a dermatologist, there are still ways that acne can be reduced. 

Having a good facial hygiene routine can help reduce acne, and Dr. Chung recommends washing the face twice a day with a gentle face wash. The benefit of having a good face routine doesn’t just include the prevention of acne, but can also serve as a time to care for yourself

“I would say it is like my own self-care,” junior Pragna Vykutam said. “I feel really relaxed. I play music and it’s just me unwinding for the day.”

Expensive face washes can be hard to get your hands onto, but teenagers are still able to get the same results at a lower price. 

According to Byrdie, the best affordable face washes are: La Roche-Posay, The Ordinary Squalane Cleanser, PanOxyl Acne Creamy Wash, and Differing Daily Deep Cleanser, all ranging from $10-$25.

Even with treatments and fancy skin cleansers, acne still has the possibility to recur, and that is completely normal. As teenagers, acne is a universal experience and it’s a subject that should be viewed with a positive attitude. 

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