Acne is a type of skin ailment affecting people mostly in the age group of 11-30 years. To put it in a simple way, human skin is made up of pores which get blocked due to skin cells, sebum [oils] and hair follicle which clump together to form a plug. This plug gets infected with bacteria and gets filled with pus. This condition is called ‘Acne’

Acne is a skin condition of which pimples are a part. There may be one pimple or many pimples in Acne. Acne refers to the overall condition in which one or more pimples, blackheads and whiteheads and any other boils or cysts which may or may not be painful and reddish in appearance and usually filled with pus. Pimples are sometimes single or can appear in clusters.     

The different types of Acne are, Blackhead, Whitehead, Papules, Pustules, Nobules, Cysts and, Pimples.

In humans, Acne tends to occur on the facial area, neck, the chest and back, and the shoulders. But Acne can affect any part of the body in various forms like pimples and cysts which can be in an area visible to the eye or maybe hidden from eye view; for example the back of the legs. Different types of Acne can occur anywhere on the body but is more prominent on the face.

The root cause of Acne in teenagers and adolescents is the onset of puberty which leads to a sudden increase in hormonal levels in the body. Excessive production of oil or sebum clogs the pores which leads to accumulation of sebum and hair follicle which when infected by bacteria results in pus. Food habits, stress and lack of hygiene are also amongst the various causes. Heredity also has a role to play.

Any individual between the age of 11 to 30[men and women] can be affected by Acne but sometimes the occurrence of Acne can go beyond this group and affect people up to the age of 40 and sometimes 50 also. Teenagers are the most likely to be affected in wide numbers as the oils producing glands are highly active during these ages.

Acne in itself is not a perilous or serious condition but sometimes it does have an adverse psychological effect on the minds of the individual, especially in teenagers and adolescents where the people are more mindful of their appearance and want to look their best and impress people. If teenagers suffer from this skin condition it leads to low self esteem or depression and sometimes demonstrate lack of confidence. Adolescents and teenagers shy away from crowds and avoid intermingling with peers, which leads to losing many an opportunity. But nowadays there are medicines to combat both the conditions.

Famous Hollywood actor Brad Pitt had Acne, but he overcame it and today is a successful Film Star! 

Acne can be cured by applying creams available easily, but if the problem persists and acne is severe then a Dermatologist/Skin Specialist has to be consulted. Occurrence of Acne and its treatment depend on the skin type and the Dermatologist will identify the skin type and prescribe accordingly. The other remedy is to change the food habits, like avoid eating oily foods, junk food and sweets. Proper skin care routine should be followed. Stress should be avoided and one should get the right amount of Sleep. All these steps help avoid Acne to a large extent. 

Yes natural remedies do help prevent Acne. There is a difference between natural homemade remedies and natural products available in the market. Home made products are totally safe for use with almost no side effects, but before using products available in the market one should consult a doctor or else the condition may be aggravated. Natural products available in markets contain aloe vera; tea tree oils, vitamin A and E along with certain chemicals which help combat the incidence of Acne. Hence caution has to be exercised. But homemade remedies like application of honey and lemon along with Fuller’s Earth are safe for the skin.

Yes.  A balanced diet is very important in controlling Acne. Drinking lots of water detoxifies the system. The daily intake should be at least 8 glasses of water for a healthy skin. Vitamin A and Vitamin E should be included in the diet in the form of fresh fruits and vegetables. Vitamin A and E are also available in tablet and gel form in combination with other essential nutrients which help develop a healthy skin and healthy body.