tripping over yourself!As time passes, your muscles thicken, and you grow stronger. Boys’ shoulders get broader.
Growing Pains
----
Growing pains usually occur in younger children rather than teenagers, but they may occur in early puberty. They occur in the long bones of the legs, so they are felt in the thighs or the calves. They generally occur in late afternoon or evening, and they may even wake you from sleep. A hot-water bottle or a massage may help. Growing pains do not occur in the knees or ankles, and they should not cause you to limp or stop going to school or playing sports.
If you are still experiencing growing pains, try applying a hot-water bottle or heating pad to where it hurts, or do something aerobic, such as taking a brisk walk, riding a bike, swimming, or anything else that gets your heart going. Or try a pain-relief medicine from the drugstore. Ibuprofen (Midol, Advil, and Motrin) and Aleve are some that can be effective.
Skin
----
Acne
Many teenagers get pimples on their skin, also known as acne. This usually goes away by the end of your teen years if not sooner, though some people have acne into adulthood.
Acne happens because the oil glands, which are right under the skin, are becoming more active, producing more oil than usual. This causes three types of acne: whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples.
In the case of whiteheads, the pores in your skin on your face, chest, or back get blocked by sebum, a substance made by the oil glands. The sebum can’t get out, and this creates a white bump.
If the bump pushes outward, a chemical reaction on the skin turns it dark. We call these blackheads.
Pimples are caused when bacteria on the surface of the skin become trapped inside the pore blocked with sebum and become infected. If the infection inside the pore erupts and spreads, it causes redness and large bumps.
Here are some things you can do to reduce the appearance of acne:
• Wash your face twice a day with mild soap and water to clear away the oiliness.
• Do not pop or pick the pimples. This only spreads the pus (bacteria) and can leave scars.
• If basic skin care doesn’t improve your acne, consult your doctor. Most family doctors are quite comfortable with acne care. If your acne is more severe and requires special medicines that only a dermatologist can prescribe, your doctor will help you find one. Your doctor (or a medical clinic, if you don’t have a doctor) should be able to recommend such a person to you or your parents.
One important ingredient to look for in an acne-treatment cream is salicylic acid. Tetracycline can also be effective but it requires a prescription.
Some scrubs, cleansers, or mail-order products don’t work well and are expensive. Avoid abrasive soaps and harsh products that can dry out your skin, causing you to produce even more oil. Basic face cleansers are always best.
Sun Damage
Darkly pigmented people, or those who don’t burn, can still experience sun damage. A few sunburns early in life are associated with skin cancers later on and contribute to faster aging and wrinkles.
Everyone should use sunscreen. Wear a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more every day, including when it’s cloudy. Applymore every couple of hours if you are at the beach, or if you go in for a swim or are sweating a lot. Many face creams now include sunblock; get one that does.
The ultraviolet rays of tanning beds damage skin in the same way the sun does. Any change in skin color, from a tanning bed or from the sun directly, is a sign of sun damage. Avoid tanning beds. Spray tans are not great for your skin, either.
Body Odor
----
Like your oil glands, your sweat glands become more active during your teen years, leading to increased body odor under your arms, around the genitals, and on the hands and feet, especially when you’re nervous or excited.
You may already be wearing deodorant or antiperspirant every day. A word about that. Deodorant is designed to improve the smell
Growing Pains
----
Growing pains usually occur in younger children rather than teenagers, but they may occur in early puberty. They occur in the long bones of the legs, so they are felt in the thighs or the calves. They generally occur in late afternoon or evening, and they may even wake you from sleep. A hot-water bottle or a massage may help. Growing pains do not occur in the knees or ankles, and they should not cause you to limp or stop going to school or playing sports.
If you are still experiencing growing pains, try applying a hot-water bottle or heating pad to where it hurts, or do something aerobic, such as taking a brisk walk, riding a bike, swimming, or anything else that gets your heart going. Or try a pain-relief medicine from the drugstore. Ibuprofen (Midol, Advil, and Motrin) and Aleve are some that can be effective.
Skin
----
Acne
Many teenagers get pimples on their skin, also known as acne. This usually goes away by the end of your teen years if not sooner, though some people have acne into adulthood.
Acne happens because the oil glands, which are right under the skin, are becoming more active, producing more oil than usual. This causes three types of acne: whiteheads, blackheads, and pimples.
In the case of whiteheads, the pores in your skin on your face, chest, or back get blocked by sebum, a substance made by the oil glands. The sebum can’t get out, and this creates a white bump.
If the bump pushes outward, a chemical reaction on the skin turns it dark. We call these blackheads.
Pimples are caused when bacteria on the surface of the skin become trapped inside the pore blocked with sebum and become infected. If the infection inside the pore erupts and spreads, it causes redness and large bumps.
Here are some things you can do to reduce the appearance of acne:
• Wash your face twice a day with mild soap and water to clear away the oiliness.
• Do not pop or pick the pimples. This only spreads the pus (bacteria) and can leave scars.
• If basic skin care doesn’t improve your acne, consult your doctor. Most family doctors are quite comfortable with acne care. If your acne is more severe and requires special medicines that only a dermatologist can prescribe, your doctor will help you find one. Your doctor (or a medical clinic, if you don’t have a doctor) should be able to recommend such a person to you or your parents.
One important ingredient to look for in an acne-treatment cream is salicylic acid. Tetracycline can also be effective but it requires a prescription.
Some scrubs, cleansers, or mail-order products don’t work well and are expensive. Avoid abrasive soaps and harsh products that can dry out your skin, causing you to produce even more oil. Basic face cleansers are always best.
Sun Damage
Darkly pigmented people, or those who don’t burn, can still experience sun damage. A few sunburns early in life are associated with skin cancers later on and contribute to faster aging and wrinkles.
Everyone should use sunscreen. Wear a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more every day, including when it’s cloudy. Applymore every couple of hours if you are at the beach, or if you go in for a swim or are sweating a lot. Many face creams now include sunblock; get one that does.
The ultraviolet rays of tanning beds damage skin in the same way the sun does. Any change in skin color, from a tanning bed or from the sun directly, is a sign of sun damage. Avoid tanning beds. Spray tans are not great for your skin, either.
Body Odor
----
Like your oil glands, your sweat glands become more active during your teen years, leading to increased body odor under your arms, around the genitals, and on the hands and feet, especially when you’re nervous or excited.
You may already be wearing deodorant or antiperspirant every day. A word about that. Deodorant is designed to improve the smell
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