IF THERE IS something both males and females can relate to, it is acne. It is quite rare to find both genders speak the same language—except when the topic involves pimples, blackheads, and other skin blemishes.

Of all skin concerns, acne seems to top the list. Young people look for the one magic potion, the elusive remedy that will eradicate the skin problem off the face of the earth once and for all.

While that zit on your nose always seems to be a step ahead of your skin regimen, don’t lose hope. Self-diagnosis often leads to hasty product choices, and while this hit-or-miss strategy seems to work at times, there is nothing wrong with getting to the real cause of the problem and finally pulling it out right down to the root.

Usual suspects

Acne can be explained with one simple equation: pore (with oil + bacteria + dirt + dead skin cells) = acne.

What we don’t realize is that, like most equations that explain the many complicated phenomena in life (like e=mc2), more permutated equations may be derived from the formula above.

This is why you can be cleansing, oil film-ing, and disinfecting your skin with no impressive results. If this is the case, you may want to take a closer look at your skin condition.

Sun exposure

Believe it or not, the amount of time you spend under the sun may be the culprit behind those nasty zits that just won’t go away.

Many people believe that a good tan is a clever disguise for pimples and acne marks. So they allow themselves to bake without a conscience.

The real scoop, however, says that tans and burns cause the surface layers of skin to shed dead skin cells at a faster rate, sometimes leaving raw skin exposed.

The accelerated sloughing of skin merely increases the likelihood of clogged pores, and ultimately, more acne.

Don’t let Mr. Sunshine ruin your complexion—be guarded every day.

Be aware that the bar has been raised, too. The requisite SPF 15 has gone up to a 30 for everyday protection, so be armed with the best armor there is.

Fortunately, for us, supercharged sunblock is readily available. I like the velvety texture of Shu Uemura XTR Protector.

It leaves a beautiful matte finish, and works well as a makeup base, too.

And with a whopping SPF 50, the Protector won’t allow those rays to get anywhere near your skin.

Hormonal imbalance

Every month, I have to deal with what I call my PMP, which is just a cute-ified moniker for “post-menstrual pimple.”

And it never fails. The day after the main event stops, a little (or monstrous, at times) red bump will appear somewhere on my face.

It’s quite forgivable for the hormones to go berserk once a month, but there are a few women whose hormones just can’t stop jumping around and damaging the skin.

But while common knowledge dictates that birth control pills may end this dilemma once and for all, studies have shown that some pills available in the market actually aggravate the problem. The poison? Testosterone. A number of brands raise androgenic activity and raise testosterone levels as a result.

Stick to preparations with progesterone and estrogen like Diane 35, or consult with a reputable dermatologist.

Stress

It’s no secret. Stress can make things worse. And the stress shows on your face.

Stress worsens acne more than it causes it, sure, but it’s not something you can simply ignore.

The technicality lies in, again, your hormones. When stress strikes, your body produces cortisol, which has been long known to trigger acne outbreaks.

So how do we deal with it? For one, take the tried-and-tested solution with healthy living. Take antioxidants like Vitamin C and Vitamin E, or upgrade with green tea capsules (like popular brand TeGreen, which is said to be 100 times more potent than Vitamin C).

A less popular antioxidant, Glutathione, is usually known as a whitening supplement, but can also help improve skin conditions.