10 Things That Affect Teenage Acne (and How to Help Clear It)

Nearly nine in ten teens deal with acne at some point, so if this is you or your teenager, you are far from alone. It is rarely about being "clean" or "dirty", and there is genuinely a lot you can do to help.

At Aalgo, our philosophy has always been simple: nothing added, nothing taken away. Here are ten real things that can affect teenage acne, and one small, doable step for each.

1. Hormones

Puberty raises androgens, which tell the skin to produce more oil. This is completely normal and cannot be stopped, only supported.

Try: Focus your energy on the things you can control, like the points below, rather than fighting this one.

2. Makeup and Heavy Cosmetics

Oil-based foundations and thick concealers can block pores, especially if they are left on overnight.

Try: Switch to a lighter, non-comedogenic formula and make removing it before bed a non-negotiable step. The less you can wear, the better. Makeup-free days, or even evenings, can make a positive difference.

3. Ingredients That Are "Full of Nasties"

Harsh sulphates, synthetic fragrance and drying alcohols can strip the skin barrier, which often makes the skin overproduce oil in response.

Try: Check the label on your current cleanser and swap anything with a long list of hard-to-pronounce ingredients for something simpler. Our Olive Oil Facial Cleansing Bar is a gentle option.

4. Screens and Blue Light

The evidence is mixed. Blue light may cause some oxidative stress, but the stronger link is indirect: late screen time disrupts sleep, phones transfer bacteria and heat to the face, and notifications can raise stress levels.

Try: Wipe your phone screen once a day and use earbuds for calls instead of holding the phone to your cheek. Try not to hold your phone too close to your face when scrolling.

5. Not Enough Water

Dehydrated skin can sometimes produce more oil to compensate.

Try: Keep a water bottle with you and aim to swap one fizzy drink a day for water.

6. Sports, Sweat and Not Cleansing After

Sweat combined with tight straps or helmets can trap heat and friction, often triggering breakouts.

Try: Wash your face as soon as you can after training, rather than waiting until you get home hours later.

7. Diet and Blood Sugar Spikes

High-sugar, high-glycaemic foods can spike insulin, which in turn can increase oil production.

Try: You do not need to cut anything out completely. Just notice how your skin reacts after a few sugary days compared with a more balanced week.

8. Stress and Cortisol

Exams and general teenage life can raise cortisol, which may increase oil production and inflammation.

Try: If a breakout appears during a stressful week, that is not a coincidence. Be extra gentle with your skin during stressful periods rather than scrubbing harder.

9. Sleep and Evening Phone Habits

Poor sleep can raise stress hormones and slow the skin's overnight recovery.

Try: Set a phone curfew, even if it is only ten minutes earlier than usual, and notice the difference over a couple of weeks.

10. Touching Your Face, Dirty Phones and Pillowcases

Hands, phone screens and pillowcases all carry oil and bacteria that can transfer to the skin.

Try: Change your pillowcase weekly and make a conscious effort to rest your chin on your hand less often.

Where Aalgo Fits In

Teenage skin is simply doing what it is meant to do while the body changes, and none of this is your fault. Small, consistent habits can make a real difference, even if the change is not overnight.

At Aalgo, we believe in giving skin the gentlest support possible: pure, wild-harvested Atlantic seaweed, nothing added, nothing taken away. Sometimes the kindest thing you can do for young skin is take things away rather than add more.

If you want to keep things simple, you can also read more about our approach to acne-prone and sensitive skin.