While there's certainly more important things to worry about in the world than physical appearance, there's no denying that the way you look plays a huge role in your confidence. Many teens struggle with their self esteem because they're unhappy with things like the appearance of their skin, their weight and their smile.

These concerns can really get to you ― especially at a point in your life when your body is morphing so rapidly, and everyone's documenting and sharing it through Facebook selfies. But rest assured that there are things you can do to improve your skin and regain that confidence you might have lost along the way.

What can you do?

It's relatively easy to change your appearance. For instance, you can fix your teeth to get the smile you've always wanted, manage your weight through healthy eating and exercise and experiment with different hairstyles or makeup to emphasise your features. But clearing up problem skin is not always so simple, because sometimes the effects of hormones are unavoidable.

Fortunately, many skin problems (such as acne) are a temporary plight experienced by almost all teens at some point. It’s also something that you can treat at home without much effort. Here’s a few tips on how to minimise the severity of embarrassing skin outbreaks while you ride this awkward stage out.

Problem skin care tips

Pimples are a universal threat from which no one is safe. But by sticking to the following basic skincare tips as part of your daily routine, you'll help keep acne at bay and reduce its spread when an outbreak happens.

Practise good skin hygiene. Set up a routine of cleansing and moisturising your face twice a day, and be sure to use a cleanser that's specifically for use on your face. Don't be tempted to use soap because it will dry out your skin and make it look flakey.

Exfoliate your skin using a facial exfoliating scrub twice a week to give it a deep clean and shed any dead, dry skin. Don't go overboard and use it all the time though; exfoliants are purposefully abrasive and will irritate your skin if you rub your face raw every day. We found an awesome DIY face and body scrub here.

Avoid touching your face ― it spreads bacteria and oils from your fingers and gives your open pores a chance to clog up.

Drink plenty of water ― it flushes out toxins and keeps your skin looking hydrated and lively.

Don't forget your sunscreen ― the sun dries out your skin and makes it look sallow and crinkly over time. Sunscreen should be a big part of your problem skin care routine. Don’t miss out on sun altogether though — Vitamin D is really important for our overall health and the health of our skin ― 20 minutes of sunlight in the morning or afternoon can work wonders on your mental and physical health.

Be sure to remove your makeup properly (if you wear it) when you go to bed or whenever you simply don’t need it on. Makeup (especially foundation) clogs the pores of your skin and stops it from breathing, which promotes the spread of pimples. Try using natural cosmetic products or those designed specifically for sensitive skin. Also avoid cosmetics which are made with synthetic colours and fragrances, which are known to cause skin irritation in some people.

Coping with scars, birthmarks and other permanent skin issues

Not all skin problems are the result of hormonal turbulence. If you're dealing with a more permanent skin concern, such as an unusual scar, birthmark or visible dermatological condition like eczema, it can really wear down your confidence over time.

Bear in mind however, that many people suffer the exact same concerns; you're certainly not alone. So if you’re feeling unpopular because of a problem with your skin, or get the feeling that everyone is staring at it, just look at some of the famous faces who attract a worldwide following despite their perceived skin imperfections.

For example, singer Seal suffers from a condition known as lupus which can cause severe skin rashes, and permanent scarring. He overcame the physical signs of his condition and went on to marry a supermodel — which just goes to show you how far a bit of confidence can take you.

There are also some great natural products available which you can use to help minimise scarring from skin related issues. Products such as Vitamin E and coconut oil (taken both internally and applied externally), BioOil, Cocoa Butter and Rosehip oil are all known for having visible benefits on scarred skin over time.

Get real

The media bombards us with unrealistic examples of beauty every day. Photographs of models and celebrities which have been retouched, enhanced and manipulated until they're flawless ― so it's easy to sometimes forget it's not real life. That's why it's important not to set yourself up for a confidence fail by comparing yourself the people you see in magazines and movies.

Likewise, be sceptical of companies that try to convince you that perfect skin can be achieved through the latest 'magical' product'. These companies take advantage of our insecurities by offering equally unrealistic solutions, and positioning them in magazines next to beautiful photoshopped images that often make us feel inadequate.

On the subject of media — don't ignore the fact that glamorous celebrities like Rihanna and Adam Levine have all endured public battles with acne. The media has plenty of pictures of celebrities without makeup too — proving that they're not super humans after all. For example, Katy Perry has not only come forward as a sufferer of skin dramas, she's even been seen proudly sporting braces — which just goes to show why confidence doesn't rely solely on appearance.

Having great skin won’t solve all of life’s problems (on that note, no improvements to your physical appearance ever will), but it will help set you up with the confidence you need to take on those bigger challenges.  Book in for a consultation with Dr Anthony Pistolese, who can show you how to improve your appearance with a killer smile.