The most frequent type of acne appears when we enter puberty. This is because the creation of our skin oil (called sebum) is governed by the sex hormones (androgens). The more testosterone, 5-testosterone (DHT) and 5-androstene-317diol we produce, the more sebum our bodies make. Sebum is excreted by our pores as a natural way to keep our skin moist, supple and waterproof.
When our body produces too much sebum it can combine with bacteria and dead skin cells to obstruct the pores. The bacteria grows which puts pressure on the clogged pore and the result is a blackhead or pimple. The theory of acne treatment is actually fairly simple and straightforward. Make an effort to minimize the body's production of sebum and continue to keep the skin free of oil and bacteria.
The practice is, of course, a little more complicated because you have to do these things without creating more, and possibly worse, problems.
You don't want to mess with hormone production, particularly at such a critical time of development, and using harsh astringents to dry you skin will leave it cracked, red and sore.
The answer lies in simple changes to your diet, careful prescription of vitamins and the application of specially formulated soaps and cleansers.
Acne is not a life-threatening condition and it will be with you for many years to come. Harsh prescription drugs may eliminate the noticeable signs of acne but they are seldom justified in anything but the most acute cases.
Getting your acne under control begins with your diet. First you have to fix your inside before you can treat the outside. You've probably heard it before, but our modern high fat, fast food lifestyle is really bad. Keep clear of processed and packaged food and consume only fresh fruit and vegetables, particularly the leafy green ones. Lean meat and nuts in moderation are fine and drink mostly water. Avoid sugary juice and carbonated drinks and cut way back on dairy products like milk and ice cream.
You should consider taking supplemental vitamins but overdosing on certain vitamins can do you more harm than good. It's a good idea to find a vitamin program that's designed to target acne.
Keeping the skin clear of surplus oil and free from bacteria is a significant part of your acne treatment. There are many soaps and cleanser formulated escpecially to keep your skin clean without reducing the natural oils that keep your skin smooth and supple.
Lastly, as tempting as it is, try to avoid squeezing or popping your zits. Doing so could result in and infection and possibly scarring that would stay with you for the rest of your life.
Acne can't be cured but you can control it. Proper diet and a consistent cleansing regimen will reward you with a clear complexion free of blemishes.
