While acne is considered to be the bane of the average teen, it can also be problem for adults. Acne, however, does have a tendency to rear its ugly head with the onset of puberty with 75% of teenagers having some degree of acne.

As puberty hits, hormonal changes wind up stimulating the oil producing glands that are situated within the pores of skin around the hair follicles. These glands wind up being plugged up with excess oil and skin which forces the hair follicle to bulge and become a whitehead. The top then might darken and turn into a blackhead.

If the follicle wall ends up rupturing, bacteria from the surface can then enter the skin and cause the area to become infected. Then, pimples form. Sometimes, if the infection is really deep within the skin a painful cyst will form. These cysts are the most painful kind of acne.

While acne has the tendency to form on the face, it can also show up on the neck, shoulders, chest and back. Acne on the extremities such as arms and legs is much less common. Acne can show up because of excess dirt and oil on the skin, hormonal changes that can occur with menstruation and pregnancy, or stress. Certain drugs such as testosterone and cortisone can also cause acne.

Acne, or the degree in which an individual has it, tends to be hereditary in nature. It can be more prominent in some families, than it is in others. Acne is not contagious, and it is a very treatable problem.

Acne treatments

The most common type of treatment for acne comes in the form of medications that are designed to dry out the skin in the infected area. Some chemicals that are used to achieve this are sulfur, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, retinoids, and resorcinol.

Oral antibiotics might also be prescribed in extreme cases of acne, Tetracycline, for example, has been proven to be effective. Antibiotics, however, can wind up permanently discoloring your teeth and are generally not prescribed to younger people for this reason. There are also topical antibiotic medications available that are applied directly to the surface of the skin.

Other methods to reduce acne

Going out and getting a little sunshine exposure can also help improve the condition of your skin and help to naturally dry out the acne riddled spots. You just need to keep in mind that too much sun exposure can also increase the risk of getting skin cancer.

Washing regularly with a gentle soap and warm water to help remove dirt, oil and make up will also help keep your acne under control. Taking a shower immediately after exercising will help keep acne off of the rest of your body. Also, be sure to shampoo regularly, preferably with an anti dandruff shampoo. Also, if you have long hair, comb it or tie it back so it is not in your face.

It is very important to remember not to touch the infected area. While they are difficult to ignore, touching and picking and pimple will only make the situation worse and cause more damage to your skin. You should also try to avoid resting your head on your hands as this can also aggravate the skin.

Another important thing to do is to monitor which foods or skin products may be causing outbreaks. Everybody is a little different when it comes to specific triggers and the best way to find out f something is causing you to break out is to closely monitor what you are eating or putting onto your skin.

Natural lotion with honey: Mix 1 tea spoon of Calendula extract with 1 cup of water and add 1 tea spoon of honey. Cleanse your face, then wet a cotton pad in the lotion and rub your face with it. Leave it for 30 minutes, then wash it off with cool water. The lotion is very effective.

Homemade mask with honey and fish oil: Take 1 part honey and 1 part fish oil and mix it well. Apply a thin layer of the mask on your cleansed face and neck. This mask helps with acne and erases wrinkles and pigmented spots. Your skin will glow from inside.

Tea tree oil: rub a drop of tea tree oil in a pimple.

Yeast mask: Take dry yeast, add some water until the consistency becomes liquidy, apply the mask on your face and leave it until it gets dry (do not speak or smile while you have the mask on your face). Wash it off with warm water.

Calendula alcohol tincture: Rub the tincture in your acne zone.

Natural cleanser for skin with acne: Take 2-3 table spoons of fresh nettle herb, add 1 cup of boiling water and let it sit for 30 minutes. Rinse your face with the extract or apply it as a compress to your acne spots. The extract improves metabolism, blood circulation and skin tone. It softens your skin and makes it soft, supple and free of acne.

Aloe Vera: Apply compresses with aloe sap.
 
Cucumber mask: Grate 1 cucumber with the skin still on it., add 1 cup of boiling water and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Pour out the water and apply the warm cucumber to your problem spot, cover it with a towel and leave it until the cucumber cools down. Wash it off and follow with your moisturizer.

Homemade mask with iodine: Take 1 raw egg white, add 3-4 drops of iodine (you can get it in any pharmacy) and 100 ml of vodka. Whip everything and rub your acne spots with the mix twice a day.

Herbal ice cubes: Take 1 tea spoon of bur marigold herb or greater celandine herb, add 1 cup of boiling water and put it on a steam bath for 10 minutes. Pour the extract in the ice form and froze it in your freezer. Rub your face with an ice cube daily.

Mask for black heads: Mix 1 tea spoon of rye flour with 1 tea spoon of honey and 1 tea spoon of lemon juice. Apply the mask on your face for 15 minutes, then wash it off with warm water and follow with your moisturizer.

Salt scrab for black heads: Boil water in a pot, add 1 table spoon of St. John's wort herb, fresh or dry, or Calendula flowers, Chamomille flowers or greater celandine herb. Steam your face above the pot (be careful, do not get burnt) for 3 minutes. Rub your face with mineral water and apply nourishing cream. In 20 minutes, rub carefully fine salt in the spots with black heads.