Do you have acne? That must be hard. But wait - there is still hope.

Acne is a broad term covering blemishes, blackheads and whiteheads. This condition can strike at any age. While there are many preventative measures you can take to avoid acne with good results, Acne affects most teenagers to some extent. However, the disease is not restricted to any age group; adults in their 20s - even into their 40s - can get acne. Acne is caused by the overactivity of the sebaceous glands that secrete oily substances onto the skin. There are many misconceptions and myths about acne. Exactly why some people get acne and some do not is not fully known. It is known to be partly hereditary.

The nature and cause of acne

Acne stems from the effect of sebaceous glands present in the skin. It has got an inflammatory nature. Appearance of papules or pustules is characteristic of this situation. There may also be formation of blackheads.

Secretion of certain hormones, their proportion and balance acts as a causative factor of acne. The use of harsh skin care products may also cause acne or pimples. Dehydration of the skin aggravates the formation of acne. Yeast build up in the body is also common in persons suffering from acne. This can be a probable reason for the acne formation.

Acne is also caused due to a devitalised condition of the skin which is a result of unhygienic living habits. Another effective remedy in the area of nutrition that seems to offer new promise of help for acne is zinc. Zinc is another popular home remedy for acne. Neem posses' outstanding anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral capabilities. Garlic has been used successfully to cure acne. Rub with raw garlic several times a day. Garlic is known to have cured the toughest of acne problem. Fenugreek is another useful remedy for acne. A paste made of the leaves of this vegetable, applied over the face every night before going to bed and washed with warm water in the morning, prevents pimples and blackheads.

Wash properly once or twice a day, using a mild soap, and rub lightly with your fingertips and warm water. If your skin is oily, use a soap with benzoyl peroxide for its drying properties.

Grated cucumber applied over the face, eyes, and neck for fifteen to twenty minutes has been found effective. Add hot water into a bowl and add a few drops of essential oils into it. Apply juice of raw papaya (including the skin and seed) on swelling pimples or acne. Meats, sugar, strong tea or coffee, condiments, pickles, soft drinks, candies, ice cream, refined and processed foods should be avoided as far as possible. A hot Epsom salts bath twice a week is beneficial in all cases of acne. Use 2-3 tsp. dried basil leaves to 1 cup boiling water. Steep 10-20 minutes. Cool, and apply with cotton ball. Grind orange peel with some water to a paste and apply on affected parts. Clean face with cotton wool dipped in rose water 2-3 times a day.

Drinking atleast 1 litre of water a day to impart a healthy glow to the skin. Mix 1 teaspoon lemon juice in 1 teaspoon finely ground cinnamon powder and apply on affected areas frequently. Apply ripe Tomatoes pulp on acne, pimples and keep them for 1 hour, then wash. Apply grated potatoes to treat wrinkles, pimples, blackheads,acne. Do not use harsh soaps, use baby soaps to wash face twice a day.

Watch out for iodine, which can be found in multiple vitamins and iodized salt. Some doctors believe iodine may encourage acne.

Prevention

As with any medical condition, prevention is preferable to treatment. Avoiding those items, which can trigger acne, should be seriously considered by anyone who has a history of it.

Some factors, such as heredity or hormones cannot be avoided, and in fact are probably the most prominent factors in determining whether a person may have acne. Other factors, however, can be reduced or eliminated as one of the natural ways to get rid of acne.

Stress, both physical and emotional, has been shown to be an acne trigger for some people. Attempting to reduce such stress may assist in reducing acne breakouts.