Acne - it’s a bane of adolescence and beauty spoiler for the adults. Resulting from clogged skin pores, acne is considered to be a common medical condition. But, for someone who suffers from acne problems, it’s more than just a condition - it’s an embarrassment, annoyance and obstacle to their every day lives.

Acne doesn’t just affect the skin. It can be a sign of another medical condition. People who suffer from acne willingly spend a great deal of money looking for a cure. Medically, acne is classified as clogged pores, pimples, cysts, pustules, whiteheads and blackheads. Oil glands that overproduce oils are the main cause of this condition.

The oil glands are actually performing a necessary function. The oil they produce is used to protect the skin. At times, the oil will become blocked and a build up will occur under the layer of skin. Natural skin bacteria thrive in this oily environment and the result is a skin eruption.

Unlike what many people believe, acne is not passed on from your parents, nor is it related to any consumed foods, sweat and dirt, hormones, stress or cosmetics. These have not been proven to be a direct cause for acne. But, some drugs containing iodides, steroids and bromides, certain industrial chemicals and helmets, collars and straps which apply pressure on your skin are known to cause and aggravate acne. Some people are prone to more oilier skin conditions and this is possibly caused by hormonal activity, but there’s no definite proof for it.

When should you start treating acne? There’s no ‘right’ time as such. Everyone gets some acne during their lifetime and treatment should be sought when it gets excessive. Excessive acne is when a sudden severe breakout happens or mild acne continues for a long period.

Curing acne naturally and permanently requires a few basic essential lifestyle changes. Remembering the three steps on how acne is caused, the most important thing is to start with eradicating them - unclog pores, destroy the bacteria and reduce oil build up.

The ideal way to avoid acne is to sleep eight hours each night, drink eight glasses of water and have a balanced, healthy diet. But, people are too busy and have hectic schedules, so the next best thing is to resort to natural methods for reducing and then permanently curing acne.

Keeping the skin clean and the pores open is essential to clearing up your acne. As much as you may wish, there’s no magic pill to cure acne. Cleaning your skin every day and using a good exfoliant and moisturiser are the first steps to clearing up your skin. Consuming a healthy diet rich in green leafy vegetables is another step that will help you on your road to healthy skin. Antioxidants have been shown to boost your immune system, which will help fight the bacteria that are causing your acne. You should only eliminate the oils on your skin surface and not what’s there internally.