Teens Need to Cleanse Skin Mildly

Preventive skin care for teen-age boys and girls needs to include no more than a daily routine of mild cleansing, moisturizing and sun protection--plus regular shampooing for oily hair, said Dr. Ellen Gendler, a New York dermatologist.

“The single most important criterion of any skin care routine is that it neither aggravate an existing acne problem nor bring on breakouts where there were none before,” Gendler said. Wash your skin morning and evening with a cleanser designed to provide a rich lather without drying. Limit exfoliants or scrubs to twice a month since they can be irritating to acne-prone skin. For oily skin, use a mild, low-alcohol toner. If you are using acne medication, however, a toner can aggravate your skin. For dry skin, apply a greaseless moisturizer that won’t clog pores. And use a sun block of at least SPF 15.

“Although most people are aware of the danger of prolonged exposure to the sun, few realize that the greatest damage comes from exposure before the age of 20,” Gendler said.

“Nature has given us two ears but only one mouth.”--Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881)