Guest Post By: Brigitte Evans
As an adult, you probably have good hygiene and skincare habits, but it’s not easy to transfer these positive habits to your teenage child. Teens require a different type of beauty routines than adults because their skin and bodies are still undergoing many changes. So, how can you help your teen learn about good hygiene and skincare? This article might help.
Clean hands are half the battle
One of the best ways to maintain good hygiene is to wash your hands often and thoroughly. This will ensure that your body will stay protected from dirt and germs. Make sure to encourage your teen to give their hands a good scrub before touching their face or fixing their makeup. Another thing that needs daily cleaning is phones. This is something many people neglect, but since their phone regularly touches their face and mouth, it needs to be clean.
Shower regularly
There are no written rules about showering and every teen can tailor their showering schedule to their needs. However, if your child has oily skin or hair, they should take a shower every day. On the other hand, if they struggle with dry skin, bathing every other day is preferred. Showers that are too frequent will strip their skin of natural oils and make their condition even worse.
Conduct good dental hygiene
Proper dental hygiene not only makes teeth look white and healthy but also prevents all sorts of ailments. Regular brushing removes various types of bacteria that cause bad breath, gum infections and cavities. Flossing is another must, since it penetrates deep between the teeth and removes trapped bacteria. If those bacteria stay in the mouth, they can get into the bloodstream and cause all sorts of health issues, even heart disease. Your teen might not think about cardiovascular health right now, but they will be grateful for this advice when they grow older.
Acne battle plan
More than 85% of all teens have acne, the most common skin problem at that age. They are marked by painful pimples, whiteheads and blackheads and sometimes even hard and deep lumps on the face, back, chest and shoulders. Luckily, you can find acne treatment for a teenager that will help them keep the condition minimal, prevent permanent acne marks and leave their skin glowing and healthy. There’s everything from toners to oil control lotions, so your child will definitely find something that works for their skin!
Careful cleansing benefits
If your child battles with oily skin, their best path towards clean skin is a daily gel or foaming cleanser. They can cleanse once or even twice a day if their skin gets very oily and dirty. If your teen wears makeup, it’s best to remove the makeup first and then cleanse. Another trick that can encourage good skincare is washing the face before PE class or sports practice. If that’s not an option, provide them with facial tissues for skin blotting. On the other hand, teens with dry skin will benefit from a milky cleanser and moisturizer.
Stay clear of beauty myths
Another great advice to give to your teen is not to trust everything they heard from their friends or read online. Some of these odd remedies for acne control (like putting toothpaste on the blemishes) can even make the condition worse. Since there are tons of great acne products today, there’s really no need for these myths.
Encourage proper skin protection
Careful skin protection is important for many reasons. It will ensure your teen’s skin is healthy and soft and their breakouts less visible. Encourage them to use sunblock when hitting the beach and look into cosmetics and makeup with an SPF. If they insist on getting an artificial tan, self-tanners are a much better and healthier option than tanning beds. They cause all sorts of issues from early wrinkles to skin cancer.
The importance of makeup removing
Even if their BFFs sleep with makeup on and have no skin problems, it’s always good to remove makeup before bed. In case they are too tired to conduct a full face cleaning routine, encourage them to at least grab a cleansing wipe to take off makeup, oil and dirt. Teens who regularly sleep with makeup have a much greater risk of breakouts and perioral or periocular dermatitis (a bumpy skin rash).
Once your teen takes up these healthy hygiene and beauty routines, they will have some great habits for the future. Plus, they will definitely feel better and more comfortable in their own skin.
