Clear Advantage

by Danielle Bonilla

As I sit in front of a mirror held closely to my face, I see the not so becoming changes most teenagers face. Puberty! We are doomed to live through the battle against acne. This battle is frustrating, and sometimes makes some teens desperate to try anything just to get rid of it. Teen magazines don't always make our battle against acne easier because all of the models on the pages have beautiful skin and there aren't any marks of imperfection.

One of the worst things about acne is dealing with other people's reactions. Let's face it, acne is not pretty, and even your best friend might not be able to help squirming at the sight. Unfortunately, we live in a society where being perfect is being "it!" This is pressure!

Is there a product on the market that will guarantee a magical outcome? Can we all have beautiful skin like the models in the magazines? Or, are we asking for just a little too much these days? Is the prospect of flawless skin worth the expense, the hassels of experimentation, or the risks of taking powerful drugs to combat what we all have to go through?

Accutane is one of those powerful drugs used to treat severe cases of acne. Recently, it was brought to the attention of federal legislators because there had been 44 suicides committed by teens using this drug since 1983. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is now taking steps to insure that patients are educated about the drug's possible risks. They are making sure that "Med Guides" are distributed to inform patients who take this drug of the side affects. TeenSpeak thought it would be important to research other ways to treat acne safely.

Darphin

A dermatologist, Pierre Darphin, the Founder of Darphin, knew that people have different skin conditions and that each condition requires different treatment. Darphin offers skin care for all age groups and has recently developed a line for teens. Darphin's approach to skin care is different from other over the counter or cosmetic products. Darphin treats the three layers of the skin, rather than just treating the surface of the skin. The epidermis, the outer layer of the skin is treated with a cream; the dermis, the layer just beneath the epidermis is treated with a serum, and the hypodermis, the layer of skin beneath the dermis is treated with an aromatic oil. Some teens might think that oil is bad for acne-skin, but, this oil actually helps to clean out the dirt beneath the skin. According to Delphine Benet, the Beauty Advisor to Darphin, "The key to good skin care is to go as deep as possible. To treat the skin just on the surface is not enough."