Whether you like it or not, now that you’re a teen, you get zits. They creep up at the most annoying times, and their appearance might leave you feeling miserable. Here's the good news: even though zits are a major source of frustration, they can be dealt with. Do you wonder if you have acne? Well, acne can mean any number of conditions, at any level of severity, in which pimples, blackheads or whiteheads develop on your skin.

Acne occurs on the face, neck, upper back and chest. These bumps show up because pores become clogged with extra oil and dead skin cells. Teenagers are prone to clogged pores because they experience hormonal changes that start in puberty. These hormones trigger oil glands to work overtime, creating a surplus of oil all over. On your skin, oil gets trapped inside your pores along with dead skin cells and other junk—that’s why those bumps keep sprouting up!

Some girls get one pimple a year, while others have severe acne that doesn't seem to go away. If you've tried skin care products from the drug store or if you have pretty intense acne, talk to a dermatologist—a doctor who specializes in treating the skin—about treatments. Besides over-the-counter products, there are lots of medicines that a dermatologist can prescribe that really help to clear up acne. Some of these medicines are creams to put on your face while others are in pill form. Your dermatologist may also prescribe birth control pills to help control the hormones that trigger acne.

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