OC HIGH: STUDENT NEWS AND VIEWS : Saving Your Skin : Has your skin rebelled? Acne attacks virtually everyone. But there are some ways to battle blemishes and make it a fair fight.

Being a teen-ager is filled with new experiences: You can get your driver’s license and your first car, attend high school and the prom and battle acne.

Back up a minute, you might say; Can’t we just skip that last part?

While acne is a part of young adulthood that we’d all like to skip, few are able to escape it entirely. Ninety percent of teen-agers will experience some form of this pesky problem on the face, neck, chest, back or arms. To the other 10%--the rest of us envy your luck.

For many years it was thought that acne was the result of improper hygiene, what you ate or even a person’s degree of sexual activity.

Those beliefs are misconceptions, and you are not at fault for your acne, according to “Overcoming Acne: The How and Why of Healthy Skin Care,” a book by Alvin, Virginia and Robert Silverstein.

Instead, point a finger at your body chemistry.

Between the ages of 12 and 17, your body undergoes many changes, and sex hormones begin to surge. These hormones are responsible for increasing the amount of oil in your skin. Your skin is constantly shedding dead cells and replenishing them with new ones. Sometimes the dead skin cells and oil clump together, along with bacteria. This mixture lodges itself in the tiny holes in your skin, called pores. This is where the problems begin.

Oil continues to flow in your pores despite the backup. This causes pressure. There are two options for the trapped mass. It will either remain in the pore, adopt a dark color and create a blackhead or push through the pore and form a pimple.

Neither option is good for your complexion. If the mass decides to push through the pore, your body will launch a war on the escaped contents. Blood will surge to the injured site, and your white blood cells will attack and destroy the bacteria, dead skin cells and oil. The white blood cells, having completed their job, die and form pus. The end result is a pimple. Believe it or not, that pimple is a victory sign for your body.

What can be done about acne? Unfortunately, there is no miracle cure. However, you need not weather the problem alone. Drugstore shelves are loaded with products--Clearasil, Oxy and Stridex to name a few--that are waiting to help clear up your complexion.

The brands have something in common--benzoyl peroxide.

Benzoyl peroxide helps fight acne because it delivers extra oxygen to your skin. The bacteria that causes acne hates oxygen. When benzoyl peroxide is applied, it releases the excess oxygen. The oxygen kills the bacteria and, therefore, reduces formation of pimples.

Benzoyl peroxide does have side effects for some people, though, including causing peeling skin and leaving a stinging sensation.

A former benzoyl peroxide user among acne sufferers interviewed for this article recalled an uncomfortable experience: “I was walking into school one morning, and my face was burning so bad that it felt like I was on fire. My face was red and splotchy. When my friend saw me, she laughed and called me a fire engine.”

To avoid this discomfort, it’s recommended that a person starting treatment use the weakest concentration. Wash your skin before your application, but allow plenty of time for drying. Rub the medicine over the entire affected area, not just on one blemish. Keep the benzoyl peroxide away from eyes, nose and mouth. If your skin stings, leave the medicine on for a short time--say an hour--and then wash it off. As your skin becomes less sensitive, gradually increase the time you keep the medication on until you can endure a full night or day.

You should be aware of another side effect: Benzoyl peroxide can create dark spots on some skin types. Asian and African American skin types are most vulnerable to this side effect.

This medicine also causes sun sensitivity in all races, so don’t forget your sunscreen for excursions to the beach.

The sun isn’t the only thing you will be sensitive to. “I have learned to stay away from soaps and lotions with heavy fragrances and dyes. They irritate my skin and cause more stinging,” says one acne sufferer.

This medication can even take a toll on your wardrobe.

“It ruins your clothes. It takes the color out,” says another victim of acne. To prevent bleaching of clothes, thoroughly wash your skin before dressing. If you apply medicine to your back, consider wearing a T-shirt under your clothes.

If over-the-counter medications just don’t seem to cooperate, don’t despair. Visit a dermatologist. She will personalize your treatment with prescriptions for stronger benzoyl peroxide, Retin-A, tetracycline or other topical and oral medications. Be sure to ask about side effects. A dermatologist can also perform chemical peels and help with acne scars.

As a last resort for extreme acne, Accutane can be prescribed. This oral drug, which remains in your system for two months, cures nearly all patients, according to “Overcoming Acne.” There are significant potential side effects to Accutane, including blurred vision, liver problems and heart disease. Blood tests are routinely taken during treatment to monitor the patient. A pregnancy test is also performed before treatment begins, due to Accutane’s history of causing birth defects and miscarriages.

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There are some simple things you can do to keep from aggravating your skin whether you have an active case of acne.

Don’t do things that prevent oil from escaping from pores, like resting your chin on your hand during boring lectures or wearing a football helmet with a chin strap for prolonged periods. Also, be wary of cosmetics and foundations. The products you use to improve your looks could be clogging pores and exacerbating acne.

Reduce stress in your life. Stress stimulates the release of oil and can make you susceptible to a variety of bacteria and viruses.

The good news is last: Eating a candy bar does not cause acne. Although what you eat will affect your overall health and therefore your skin, studies are finding that the food you eat is not what triggers acne. So, if you dare, enjoy your favorite chocolate bar, soda and potato chips! The thing most likely to be affected is your waistline.

Take heart in knowing that you may be stuck with acne for now, but eventually it will disappear. Look around. You are not alone. Nearly every teen can relate. They are all waiting for the same day--the day that acne isn’t a daily battle.