Helping teens tackle common skincare problems

Experts on skincare and health offer a variety of options to tackle teenage skin problems, from conventional approaches that address symptoms to natural treatments that focus on solving the underlying causes.

Common teen skincare issues

Finger warts

These flesh- or dark-colored lumps and bumps can grow under fingernails, on fingers, on the backs of hands, or on the soles of feet and are caused by a virus.

"Warts are very common in teen years, and happen at a time when even a minor imperfection can seem to cause major problems," says Joel Schlessinger, M.D., president-elect of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery.

Tips for Treatment: The best way to avoid warts is to avoid biting your nails or injuring your hands. Skin that is injured appears to be more susceptible to the wart viruses. Most warts go away without any treatment within about two years.

There are many treatments, says Schlesinger, such as freezing the growths with liquid nitrogen, burning them off with a laser, or a chemical treatment. While the treatments sometimes work, warts can come back.

Up next: Eczema/atopic dermatitis >>