There are few teenagers who don't know what its like to have acne shatter their confidence. - And almost all of these teenagers know how difficult acne can be to get rid of. It is not known exactly what causes acne, but it is agreed that it begins with a clogged pore that fills with sebum. This pore then becomes enlarged from the excess oil, causing a perfectly moist environment for bacteria to grow. - Making a lot of pimples really just small infections. Acne usually ends by the time a person reaches adulthood, but it's not uncommon for people to break out even in their thirties and forties! It is also the most common skin disease, with at least 17 million people in the US alone suffering from it.

"Acne" is actually a word that is used to classify several different skin conditions that feature pimples or pimple-like bumps. Most people with acne actually suffer the specific condition acne vulgaris. This kind of acne can produce several different forms of pimple, but some of the most common are papules, pustules, whiteheads, and blackheads. Pustules and papules are the exact same thing - a simple bump in the skin - but pustules actually contain a tiny amount of pus-like sebum, bacteria, and dead skin cells. These are the kind that most people tend to pop, believing that it will cause them to disappear sooner. This is not the case. A pustule will remain on the skin for only a few days is treated, and when it is popped only causes reddening of the skin and can potentially leave behind a scar. Whiteheads and blackheads, similarly, are also nearly identical. They are both slightly deeper in the skin, but with a blackhead, the pore is large enough for sufficient amounts of oxygen to mix with bacteria to cause a dark-colored mass. This eventually rises up to the surface of the skin, where it can be seen and easily removed.

Treating acne is as complicated as trying to find the true cause. This is because acne isn't completely understood, and different people have different biological factors contributing to their acne. Because of this, different products have slightly different results for different people. When searching for an effective acne treatment, the only real way to find the best product is to try them one at a time, and try to research what type of acne the product is designed for. A good rule, however, is to always keep your skin clean and to cleanse it at least once a day. This will help to prevent clogged pores, reducing the likelihood of the formation of pimples. Make sure to avoid cleansers or cloths that are too rough, chemical, or abrasive. These will only aggravate your skin, prompting it to produce more sebum, which will likely cause more acne. Soft cleansers without many chemicals, used with warm water, are the best solution for clean, healthy skin.

Acne is most common on the shoulders, back and face, so make sure to clean these areas well. There is also another type of acne that typically occurs later than life called Rosacea. It is often more red and discolored, and consists of papules and pustules forming in the middle of the face. It is not understood what exactly causes this type of acne, but there is a lot of research indicating that the consumption of "warm" drinks such as alcohol and coffee may factor in. There is, as of yet, no way to completely get rid of this type of skin disease, but in combination with medications and personal awareness the symptoms can be fought and the signs can be greatly reduced.