If there is one thing you can count on as a teen, its ACNE! More than 85% of teenagers have this common skin problem, which is marked by clogged pores(whiteheads, blackheads), painful pimples, and sometimes hard,deep lumps on the face, neck, shoulders, chest, back, and upper arms. The prime culprits of acne, are heredity and hormones. At puberty, the sebaceous or oil glands around the hair follicle on the skin enlarge. Oil production also increases, then the ducts, surrounding the follicles become clogged, and a whitehead or blackhead appears. Acne can continue for years, but typically, vanishes when a person reaches his or her early 20’s. Determining which type of acne lesions a teen has, is the first step in directing treatment. Your Dr. may prescribe one or more of these: Antibiotics(help to kill bacteria and reduce inflammation, Birth Control pills and other medicine that works on hormones( can be helpful for women), and Isotretinoin ( the only trmt that works on all that causes acne). Usually, the first choice for treating acne is tetracycline, such as minocycline or doxycycline. Oral antibiotics are best used with topical retinoids and benzoyl peroxide.