If you’ve got a teenage son, or if you’re a teenage boy yourself, you need to read this!
For too long we’ve taken teenage acne for granted, normalising it to the extent where it’s just ‘something that everyone needs to go through’. This is especially true in teenage males where, socially, there is less acceptance about establishing good skin care routines (and we’re not talking about rubbing men’s Nivea on your face after the shower – that is not helping!).
The reality is that there are things that can be done to help reduce acne occurrence AND severity in teenage boys. Ready to find out what they are?
Heeeeeyyyy, hormones!
Puberty is defined by hormonal changes; we are talking massive increases in the production of steroid and reproductive hormones as well as massive increases (about 6-fold) in the amount of sebum being created in the skin. This alone creates a higher likelihood of congestion and inflammatory skin issues like acne as unfortunately teenage boys usually don’t have a very good skincare routine to start with. Not only are many of the popular items being used comedogenic (meaning they contribute even further to congestion), they are also usually quite harsh, abrasive and stripping to the skin barrier, which creates further issues for problem skin. It’s important to incorporate some kind of baseline skincare routine that can help with oil regulation and inflammation, to help offset the expected problems that come with increased sebum production and to reduce the potential of scarring, pitting and post-inflammatory pigmentation changes (I love to use B vitamins, vitamin C and natural enzymes + botanicals with my 1:1 patients).
In males, pubescent changes are governed by the masculinising hormone, testosterone, which creates lots of changes; boys’ voices deepen, they develop body hair, and they undergo growth spurts. These changes are all a normal part of puberty, so when it comes to treating teenage acne, we don’t focus treatment on hormones alone as we have no interest in trying to stop or change the very important process of puberty. The body is super intelligent, and we don’t want to disrupt this natural process of hormonal maturation. Instead we focus our attention on the variables that contribute to problem skin, and how we can help in a little more indirect way than addressing testosterone alone. One of the ways we do this is focusing on other more potent metabolites of testosterone, which have an affinity for the skin, which brings me to the next point…
Where’s your zinc at?
Zinc is an incredibly important nutrient for adolescents because of its role in growth and sexual maturation. And because of the rapid growth and hormonal changes that happen during adolescence, serum zinc levels decline (this is especially true in teenage males because boys lose 2.5mg of zinc per ejaculation… sorry, mum, I know you probably don’t want to hear that but it’s a very important factor!).
The recommended daily intake (RDI) of zinc for children aged between 9 – 13 is 6mg p/day. When boys hit puberty, the RDI more than doubles, increasing to 13mg p/day for boys aged 14 – 18 years. Often there is no major dietary change or awareness to account for this increased need, which can leave teen boys at a risk of deficiency. Just two of the common signs I look for in zinc deficiency include fast growth spurts and stretch marks. Zinc is usually on the lower end of normal or deficient in teen boys that I treat, which is why it is helpful to focus on incorporating some safe and gentle zinc support into your teen boy’s life if he’s struggling with acne (Formula S2 has 12mg of zinc per serve, designed for everyday skin support – especially for teenage boys who may require more zinc.. plus it tastes delicious!).
As mentioned earlier, zinc assists with the conversion of DHT – a super powerful metabolite of testosterone which when elevated, can drive teenage acne. Zinc inhibits an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase, which normally drives DHT levels. So by interrupting the process of the DHT conversion using zinc-rich foods and supplementation, hormonal levels can stabilise and the skin can have a chance to heal.
Zinc deficiency in teenage boys can be a major driver in teenage acne. I highly recommend working with a practitioner such as myself to identify if there is a zinc deficiency, and working to correct it.
Omega-3 deficiency is another huge factor, but I could write for far too long about why that’s important so I’ll save it for another day!
…Put down the Maccas
The standard Western diet is not our skin’s friend. When you consume high-glycaemic food (found in refined carbohydrates such as white bread, cakes, biscuits etc) and inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids (found in refined vegetable and sunflower oils used to cook fast food), our skin suffers. Omega-6 fatty acids contribute to inflammatory acne, whereas a high intake of omega-3 fatty acids (found in our E/FA Pure), can actually decrease inflammatory factors.
A study of acne occurrence around the world showed that people living in the Kitavan Islands (near Papua New Guinea) and the Ache hunter-gatherers of Paraguay simply don’t suffer from acne. Scientists concluded that this was because they consumed a low glycaemic diet, complete with fresh fruit and vegetables and lean proteins. There were no fast or processed foods consumed, and no acne as a result. So, it turns out that we are what we eat.
Not sure where to start? I encourage eating with Mediterranean principles, as this is the most researched diet in regards to health, including reducing problem skin.
If you’d like to know how I can help you with your teen’s acne, book a free Discovery Call with me so I can get an idea of your son’s skin, his commitment to treatment (many boys just want to do the bare minimum… and that’s fine!!!), and what kind of support will be best.
If you want to start with something more proactive, you can check out the Skin Essentials Bundle to start getting your teen the nutrition they need for healthier skin.
For the love of skin…
Em (Founder, Naturopath, Skin-thusiast)
