How to Help Your Teens Get Ready for Back to School

Every August and September teens around the globe begin their preparation for the first day of school!  In addition to the books, computers, school supplies and back-to-school clothes, many are also focused on putting their best face forward.

Aesthetic professionals are in a unique position to help students achieve that, particularly with teen acne being such a prevalent issue (nearly 85 percent of teens struggle with it). With the right treatments, home care tools, and a little education - a clear, healthy complexion can be a huge boost to their confidence.

Here are a few tips, treatments and home care regimens to help get you started.

Why Focusing on Wound Healing is Key to Treating Acne
When it comes to treating acne, it’s common to focus on cleaning up and correcting blemishes - eliminating the factors that are contributing to the acne. While these actions are absolutely essential to providing clear skin, it is also extremely important to remember a crucial part of effective acne treatment is wound healing.

Acne lesions are cellular wounds, and if left untreated, the wound may become a breeding ground for more bacteria and increase the risk of permanent scarring. The key is to take a holistic approach - first reducing bacteria, increasing exfoliation, and then support with healing ingredients.

Repair and Rebuild in the Treatment Room
In the treatment room, when working with teens, keep it simple but effective. We highly recommend RA’s Teen Express treatment to reduce bacteria and kick-start the wound healing process.  This quick, yet effective 30-minute facial is a favorite because of the results it produces in minimal time, providing a deep cleanse, mild exfoliation and healing, calming properties for a healthy, glowing complexion.

This specialized treatment uses salicylic acid to cleanse and exfoliate cells from the inside out and reduce surface bacteria as well as a papaya enzyme to soften the cells and comedones, reducing redness and swelling, and digesting dead skin cells.  To deepen the exfoliation, 20% glycolic acid is used for its ability to penetrate the skin rapidly and deepen the desquamation process followed by an anti-inflammatory, botanical-based mask to soothe and calm skin.

Support Wound Healing at Home
With acne-prone, problematic skin, it’s best to keep the regimen simple, using ingredients that provide antiseptic benefits and calming, healing support. Again, you’ll want to continue to manage bacteria and inflammation (to help prevent more wounds from occurring) and gently exfoliate in addition to healing the skin. Key ingredients to support the skin through these stages include:

• Vitamin E – accelerates healing and provide antioxidant support.
• Epidermal Growth Factors – stimulates epidermal cell proliferation and decreases inflammation in wounded skin.
• Mandelic Acid – increases cellular exfoliation and provides antibacterial support.
• Salicylic Acid – delivers powerful antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits.
• Totarol – suffocates P. acne bacteria without over-drying the skin.
• Zinc – protects from environmental pollution and provides healing mineral support.

Below is a simple yet very effective regimen to start teens on to help heal and prevent future breakouts.  Consult with your RA Professional for additional recommendations.

AM Regimen

• Cleanse with Green Tea Beta Cleanse
• Spot treat with Blemish Serum over any existing breakouts
• Apply a light layer of Zinc Relief Cream for healing hydration plus sun protection

PM Regimen

• Cleanse with Green Tea Beta Cleanse
• Spot treat with Blemish Serum
• Apply Mandelic Clear Complex, over entire face
• Apply Vital Repair Gel for lightweight hydration and to heal blemishes

For more information about how approach to treating acne visit our Acne Remedies website.