HOW many times have you stood in front of the mirror staring at the spots on your face and thinking it was the end of the world? Yes, we're talking about zits, pimples, acne, call them whatever . . . they may just be teeny-weeny spots, but they are also a teenager's worst nightmare.
But instead of weeping and wailing about our genetically-determined skin composition, experts say a few simple precautions can work wonders in keeping the little monsters from erupting into major agony.
The first thing to do is look after your skin. There is nothing sexist about zits, but boys tend to suffer more because of their hormones. So no matter how friends tease, boys should develop a skin-care regime as early as possible.
The most common causes of acne are pathological - excessive hormonal secretion during adolescence, oil trapped in the ducts of sebaceous glands and bacterial infection - along with external factors like reactions to chemicals or cosmetics, and too much touching and squeezing.
So if you want to beat an obstinate acne problem, you must keep your skin clean and moist.
''We should develop a habit of washing our faces and applying plain cream after cleansing to let out the oil from the pores,'' said a doctor who deals with skin problems.
And while it might be tempting to squeeze the pus from the pimple, it will only inflame the problem. So curb those impulses and apply ointment instead.
Different kinds of ointment and medicine deal with different causes of acne.
Some regulate the amount of oil you secrete, others stop it becoming trapped. Some medicines contain antibiotics which kill the bacteria that cause infection, so check with your pharmacist or doctor if you are unsure which you need.
You can also make a difference by eating properly. Dieticians have found that a balanced diet with enough liquids can help control the problem.
Water helps keep your skin moist and prevents the blocked ducts which lead to acne.
Eating fresh fruits and vegetables and avoiding too much chocolate and deep-fried stuff may also help, said Connie Chan, chairwoman of the Hong Kong Dieticians Association.
Vegetables such as carrots and tomatoes are rich in vitamin A which was essential to our skin health, she added.
