How to Fight Acne

Get Rid of Acne Fast and Enjoy a Happy Lifestyle

By Kennika Freeman

How much do you really know about your skin? If you are suffering skin issues and looking for an effective way on how to fight acne then it all starts with knowing about the largest organ in your body; your skin.

Acne can be an embarrassing condition and while many think acne is a "teen disease", evidence has show that it affects teenagers and adults. It not only manifests physically but also leaves a deep emotional impact.

Acne is a condition of the skin that shows up as different types of bumps. These bumps can be blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, or cysts. Teens get acne because of the hormonal changes that come with puberty. The type of acne that a lot of teens get is called acne vulgaris, vulgaris meaning ("of the common type"), and it usually shows up on the face, neck, shoulders, upper back and chest.

The hair follicles, or pores, in the skin contain sebaceous glands (also called oil glands). These glands make sebum, which is oil that lubricates the hair and skin. Most of the time, the sebaceous glands make the right amount of sebum. As a teen's body begins to mature and develop, though, hormones stimulate the sebaceous glands to make more sebum, and the glands may become overactive. Pores become clogged if there is too much sebum and too many dead skin cells. Bacteria can then get trapped inside the pores and multiply, causing swelling and redness; the start of acne.

Acne Myths

There are a few myths out there about things that cause acne. Acne isn't caused by eating greasy foods like French fries or pizza, chomping on chocolate, or drinking sodas. Some people do find that they notice their breakouts get more severe when they eat too much of a certain food, though. If you're one of them, it's worth trying to cut back on that food to see what happens.

Stress doesn't usually cause acne either, although it can make existing acne worse because stress increases sebum production. There are also myths about what helps make acne better. Acne isn't really helped by the sun. Although a tan can temporarily make acne look less severe, it won't help it go away permanently, and some people find that the oils their skin produces after being in the sun make their pimples worse.

What Can I Do About Acne?

Some home remedies work pretty well. For example a mask made of oatmeal mixed with water works wonders on problem skin. Try this home remedy twice a week. Keep the mask over the affected portion of your skin for 20 minutes and you'll soon notice your skin becomes cleaner and less oily.

If you enjoy eating oranges, don't waste the peel. There's nothing better against swelling than a paste of freshly ground orange peel and water. Let it work for at least half an hour and then gently wash it off with lukewarm water. Whatever you do, don't stress your skin more. Peel, don't rub. After you wash, use a soft towel to dry, or better still, let your skin dry naturally. Next, put on a tonic. A concentrated basil tea is an excellent tonic for problem skin. Apply it gently with a cotton ball, twice a day if possible.

If you wear makeup or sunscreen, make sure it's labeled "oil free," "noncomedogenic," or "nonacnegenic." This means it won't clog your pores and contribute to acne. And when you are washing your face, be sure you take the time to remove all of your makeup so it doesn't clog your pores.

If you are a smoker, it's time to quit. It's bad for your skin, bad for your lungs and quite an expensive habit. Reduce the quantity of chocolates (or any other chocolate-based products) you eat. Try to drink less coffee as well. Both chocolate and coffee are natural excitants. It is important to have a proper diet when you fight severe acne.

And one last special tip for women: you can use contraceptive pills to treat acne. You can try this when nothing else works. However, be aware of the fact that contraceptives are not for every woman and seek medical advice before proceeding into this venture on your own. Ask both your dermatologist and your gynecologist whether the pills are a good choice for you or not.

These tips may sound simple, but take them as your weapon, to stand up against acne and they will be some of the best acne free tips you've tried. There are many medicines and creams that are used to fight acne. However, leading a healthy lifestyle is by far the best way to obtain a clean and clear skin. Changing habits will be hard at first, but in the long run you will have a better general health with beautiful glowing skin to match!