Adolescent Skin - Part 1

Changes in the skin. During your adolescent years your appearance becomes more important to you. Your skin, for example, begins to concern you more and more. Some people com plain  of oily skin and pimples. Others complain of dry skin. Still others are concerned about acne, dandruff, or the odor of perspiration. All these problems are common during adolescence. Fortunately, few of them develop into serious medical problems.

Your skin is not just an attractive covering to hide bones, muscles, and other internal parts. It is a complicated layer of glands, blood vessels, nerves, hair, and tissue. It helps the body maintain its temperature, protects the internal organs, eliminates some wastes from the body, and helps to prevent infections in the body.

Glands in the skin. The parts of the skin that cause most problems for teen-agers are the glands in the skin. There are two types of glands in the skin: the sweat glands, which secrete almost pure water, and the sebaceous glands, which secrete an oily substance called sebum.

 

The sweat glands always give off a tiny amount of salt dissolved in water. Usually the water evaporates quickly, leaving a thin coating of salt on the surface of the skin. In hot weather, when you perspire more freely, this coating can build up rapidly. This coating is not offensive because it has no odor. Daily washing and bathing removes it.

During adolescence a different type of sweat gland appears in the body. These glands secrete the normal salty-water solution, but they also secrete Products that can be broken down by bacteria that are normally on the skin. It is this bacterial action that produces the unpleasant odor that has become associated with perspiration. These special sweat glands are concentrated under the arms; consequently, it is from this area that the offensive odor comes.

You can avoid perspiration odors by bathing regularly and by using a deodorant that does not irritate your skin. But everyone needs to keep in mind that nothing is as effective as frequent bathing in eliminating skin bacteria and dissolved salts.

Skin problems. One of the problems many teen-agers face is oily skin. Some people’s skin becomes oily because the sebaceous glands in the hair follicles produce too much sebum during adolescence. This oily substance keeps the hair flexible, but in excess, can cause oily skin. The best way to remove the excess oil is to wash twice a day with soap and water. Pay particular attention to the nooks and crannies at the edges of the nose, eyes and ears. These places often collect more than their share of oil because the sebaceous glands are numerous on the nose and forehead.

Sometimes the glandular activity in a teen-ager’s skin causes another problem: blackheads and pimples. Contrary to popular opinion, these are not formed by dirty pores. They are formed when the tiny amount of dirt normally present on the skin combines with sebum, which clogs pores and sebaceous glands. Due to the concentration of bacteria in the sebum, there is a likelihood that the pores will become infected, swell up, and form pimples. When many pores become inflamed, the condition is known as acne.

Related Posts

1. Adolescent Skin - Part 2
2. Emotions Affect the Body
3. Solving Growth Problems
4. Health During the Years of Growth
5. The Endocrine System - Part 1