Every time I see a teenager with acne I cringe, especially when it’s really bad.

“Why doesn’t that kid’s mother do something about that?” I think.  I don’t blame the kid. I blame the mother. Mothers are supposed to know everything.

But, one of my friends told me, her 17 year old son, who has acne, just doesn’t care enough about it to do much more than throw on some Noxema and call it a day.  What’s a mother to do? Of course, he’s not much interested in girls just yet. If he was, he might figure out that girls think it’s just gross, and do something about it.

What I’ve found out is that

1) Girls care about their skin a lot more than boys.

3) Boys don’t realize this.  It’s up to their mothers to explain it.

3)The earlier that kids start a skincare routine, the better.

4) Boys don’t realize this.  It’s up to their mothers to explain it.

Before starting any skincare routine, it’s a good idea to prep the skin with a good cleaning and treatment.  Beauty of Wax offers two specially-designed kick-off facials for teens.  We use PCA and other natural products like papaya, cucumber, oatmeal, honey and berries to cleanse, treat and protect the delicate balance of hormones that are coming out and maybe wreaking havoc on that pure, pretty face.

Girls will love the spa atmosphere and pampering they will experience here.  Boys may not really get it. It’s up to their mothers to explain it.

The Teen Facial (60 Minutes, $75) is an ideal gentle choice for acne and breakout prone skin. We use an anti-inflammatory to promote even skin tone.

The Acne Treatment Facial (60 Minutes, $119), for more aggressive blemishes, is formulated with pore penetrating, oil dissolving ingredients and soothing botanicals that help improve the look of pores, reduce irritation and alleviate skin inflammation.

Our aestheticians will clean, soothe and analyze your teen’s skin  type — normal, dry, oily, or combination — and and help them choose some products and techniques that should minimize future breakouts and hopefully start to build good skincare habits that will last into adulthood.

It’s important to cleanse your skin daily to remove dirt, oil, and dead skin flakes. All of this helps to prevent acne, blackheads, whiteheads and other yukky facials spots.

Cleansers with salicylic acid or glycolic acid is a gentle method to help rid skin of dead cells.  You can also use different types of masks to dry out and exfoliate the skin.  They tend to be gentler on the skin than salicylic acid. Benzoyl peroxide washes, creams, foams and gels are antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory and are also very helpful

in acne treatment. To remove eye make-up, especially waterproof mascara,

there are products specifically formulated for the eye area.

When you hydrate your skin, you simply add water, such as when washing your face or taking a bath. To moisturize your skin, you add water, oil, or both. For most skin types, you should moisturize skin morning and evening, using a moisturizer that does not aggravate a skin problem.   For instance, never put heavy cream on oily skin that is prone to breakouts. For oily skin, the moisturizer should be oil-free, but have hydrating qualities. Always apply moisturizer

after cleansing and hydrating.

Many teens need to treat skin conditions such as acne, which occurs when pores on the surface of skin become clogged. Sometimes, moisturizers and greasy cosmetics contribute to the development of acne. Oils or dyes in hair products can worsen acne by blocking pores. The goal is to treat all oily areas of the face — forehead, chin, nose, and cheeks — not just where you notice pimples. Treating the areas that tend to break out may help prevent future pimples. The aesthetician will help your teen identify those areas and show them how and where to direct the treatment products.

After cleansing your skin, protect it daily from the sun and other environmental factors. Use a moisturizing sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher for UVA and UVB coverage year-round.  This is especially important here in Florida, and will keep away those pesky wrinkles later on. And, oh yeah, maybe skin cancer too.

Bring your teens in for a spa day and a teen facial.   Ask about the blemish control and sunblock products we carry at the front desk. Mention this blog post for a special promotion.  It’s up to the mothers to explain it all.