Many people are affected by acne and it often goes untreated. People who do not treat this problem will likely end up with long lasting effects that could permanently damage their complexion, for example hyper pigmentation and scarring. Acne is like any other illness in the respect that it should be recognized as a health problem and treated. And fortunately there are a number of natural treatment options that are available to help clear acne.

How does Acne Develop?

The development of acne begins deep inside your skin's hair follicles. These follicles are lined with skin cells and sebaceous glands that produce sebum, a type of oil. In healthy follicles, sebum brings older dying skin cells to the skin's surface to be washed away. A blemish is caused when this process is interrupted by a blockage caused by a group of skin cells that cannot be secreted from the follicle. This situation causes a micro comedone, which is effectively a mass of oil and dead skin cells. The blocked follicle creates a perfect environment for bacteria to grow and feed on the oil and dead skin cells. The result of this infection can become a whitehead, a closed comedone, or a blackhead, an open comedone. In more serious cases your body will naturally send other types of cells to fight the infection, causing the mass to grow larger, become inflamed, and result in a painful bump or cyst.

What Causes Acne?

The nasty process that creates unwanted acne and blemishes can be avoided with the knowledge of how this reaction is triggered. There are numerous different factors that can promote acne. The most significant factors that cause acne are genetics, stress, and diet. People who are affected with acne react in many ways, some with responses that can actually exacerbate their condition. For example, over cleansing your skin may seem like a good idea but it in fact exacerbates affected skin. Other beauty products, such as hair gel or pomade can cause problems around the area of your forehead and temples. Make-up too is most often oil based. Try to avoid using heavy make-up, especially to cover blemishes as this will only exacerbate the area and lengthen healing time.

How do You Treat and Prevent Acne?

1. Let blackheads and whiteheads heal themselves on their own. Picking at your skin causes further infection and is the leading cause of scarring.

2. Do not excessively wash your skin. Blackheads appear dark because of oxidized sebum, not because they are filled with dirt and grime. If you wash and scrub your skin too often you can worsen your condition. Gently wash your face with warm water and adult acne products and pat dry.

3. Noncomedogenic products are important to use as they do not worsen cases of acne.

4. Find an skin care product that is appropriate for you. Be aware of possible side effects, for example, heightened sensitivity to the sun. It is vital to be aware of this side effect and consequently take care to wear UV protection.

5. Keep away from extra treatments. Facials and other heavy therapies can aggravate acne. It is best to stick with an effective and simple natural skin care routine and patiently wait for the symptoms to diminish.

6. Keep your hands away from your face and your hair pulled back. It is important not to do anything that would make your skin oilier.