Pimples and acne
In puberty your body is a hormone producing machine. The production of new hormones also affects your oil-producing (sebaceous) glands and your sweat glands.
Pimples are caused by over-activity of the oil-producing glands. These glands lie just under the skin. They produce sebum, the natural oil that keeps your skin supple. During puberty, your hormones make the oil-producing glands grow bigger and produce extra sebum. This sebum is often thick and flows slowly, so it tends to clog the pores, causing pimples.
When pimples become very inflamed, a more severe condition called acne can develop. Some teenagers are troubled by pimples and/or acne for several years and may need treatment.
How can I look after my skin?
Frequent, gentle washing with warm water and a mild soap or face wash can help. Dirt doesn’t cause acne, but washing can get rid of excess sebum. You may also find that certain foods such as sugary and fatty foods make your pimples worse. Cut down on these. Eat lots of fresh fruit and vegies and drink plenty of water. Try to avoid touching or squeezing pimples as this can make them worse or cause scars. If your skin is really bothering you, then you should see your doctor, as medical treatments are available to treat severe cases of acne.
Sweat
Once you reach puberty, you may also find that you sweat more. Remember that sweating is a normal human function. The healthiest of sportspeople lose buckets of sweat out on the sports field!
By itself, sweat does not have much of a smell but bacteria which live on the skin can create a smell called body odour or BO.
To avoid body odour, wash your body daily, especially the underarm area, using mild soap and warm water. Change and wash your clothes often. It helps to wear loose-fitting clothing, made from natural fibres. An underarm deodorant will be useful, too. Body odour is one of the many things that people get needlessly anxious about. If you bathe and wash your clothes regularly, it is very unlikely you will have a problem.