Is your teen ready to 'face' the school year?

There's an amusing office supply commercial running this month about kids going back to school that features the line 'it's the most wonderful time of the year...'.  But for the students, there are mixed emotions.  There is excitement and anticipation, yes, but for many, there are also concerns about their grades, health, and appearance.  Among their worries... their skin!

Adolescence wreaks havoc on the hormones and body, and one of the most obvious places that is affected is the skin.  According to the American Academy of Dermatology, more than 40% of adolescents have acne or acne scarring by their mid-teen years.  This can severely affect their self-esteem and confidence, often resulting in their withdrawal from activities and social events.  Worries about skin issues can lead to additional stress-related breakouts... it's a vicious cycle.

Managing the hormonal changes in the skin is about more than simply buying the most popular acne cream.  Many harsh products are available that promise one thing, but create havoc or lead to long-term damage in other ways.  Skin care should never be about treating one particular problem at the expense of something else, but rather how to overall care for the skin in a way that promotes health and vitality.

While teens and tweens are fairly self-informed about health and personal care thanks to today's media, they often do not have a thorough understanding of how their skin is unique and has different needs than the skin of their best friend or pop idol.  That is where having a professional analysis and treatment can help.

And let's not forget makeup!  When breakouts occur, often the first inclination is to cover it up with multiple layers of concealer and foundation.  A girl can get started on the most ah-mazing skin care routine, but if she follows it up with poor makeup choices, then she's negating all the great potential of her skin care products.

Why not schedule your son or daughter, niece, nephew, neighbour, little sister, or brother for a skoah facial and some simple, powerful advice?  If you really want to make a difference, consider joining your student and her skin care trainer for some post-facial recommendations and pick up a product or two (or a kit!) to get her started on the path to confident, healthy skin!

Kristen Cheyne, skoah Skin Care Trainer