Acne, or pimples, is a fairly common skin condition associated with the sebaceous gland and is caused by hormonal reactions mainly in persons of Pubescent age. While the condition is normally localized on the facial area, outbreaks on the neck, chest, shoulders, back, and even the arms are common. The condition usually becomes less pronounced at advanced ages, but there is no guarantee of this. While the physical damage of acne can be great, the psychological scars could actually be worse.

There are no hard and fast rules concerning the cause of acne or acne prevention. Some people may sail through adolescence relatively acne free, with only a few blemishes, while others may suffer psychologically crushing outbreaks. Predictable causes include pubescent hormones, menstrual cycles, stress, and allergies. The condition can also be caused by activities such as using too much, or the wrong kind of, cosmetics, drug use, and deficient personal hygiene (although over zealous scrubbing of the affected areas can also make the problem worse.) As far as nutrition is concerned, there is no simple cure acne diet. Although it's a good idea to steer clear of processed foods, eating the occasional chocolate bar has nothing to do with the cause of acne. You should, however, stick to a diet high in vitamin A and beta carotene, like melon, broccoli, and spinach. Avoid greasy foods like fried chicken and French fries, especially if you are already prone to oily skin. Acne is not a disease, it is a condition of the skin. Therefore, your skin can benefit from things like proper nutrition or a good facial. A trained facialist experienced with acne will know what your skin needs; blackhead extractions, camphor masks, exfoliation, sulfur, and zinc.

While the physical effects of the condition can be great, with permanent scarring common once the initial outbreaks finally cease, the psychological effects can be even more debilitating. Flaring up during a time in a person's life when they are likely already at their most emotionally vulnerable, acne's legacy can include a severely diminished self esteem and crippling depression. Acne scars are unsightly and can be permanent, and it is for this very reason they can be psychologically and emotionally distressing. Ironically, the more the victim of an outbreak worries over their appearance, the worse the condition will usually become. The psychological and emotional effects caused by acne scars can actually be as devastating as the outbreaks themselves. Though there are home treatments available for acne scarring, if scars are causing severe psychological distress, social withdrawal or emotional illness, medical intervention is indicated.

Although there are some very effective acne home treatment products available for acne sufferers, many widely available over-the-counter bactericidal products and treatments are usually without any scientifically-proven benefits. Based mainly on the chemicals benzol peroxide, glycolic acid, or salicylic acid, they rely on the drying of facial oil and the killing of offending bacteria. Since these chemicals routinely cause dryness, local irritation and redness, some people are better off not using them. Believe it or not, a little sun can be a good thing for acne flare-ups (this is most effective on oily skin), just don't burn yourself as this will put you at risk for things a lot worse than acne. Many dermatologists have employed this principal of treatment by placing acne patients before a UV lamp for a few minutes (with appropriate eye protection, of course) with widely successful results. If acne flare-ups become physically or emotionally unbearable, as well as resistant to treatment, dermatological advice should be consulted. As the best acne treatment is good acne prevention, some acne sufferers will benefit from simply keeping their face clean with a good oil-free, fragrance-free acne cleanser, buffing gently (not scrubbing) with a soft exfoliating towel and using an oil-free moisturizer on dry areas.

When general acne prevention and skin care, along with the diplomatic use of good over-the-counter products fail to produce results (as they sometimes will) more serious, scientifically produced and tested home treatment products are available, and should be investigated.

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