So - What's the Best Way to Treat Acne?

What's the best way to treat acne? That question is the monkey on our backs. We're going to look at the best way to treat acne and keep it in its cage so to speak. I think it has to be a multi pronged attack. YES it is a battle. One that has to be waged daily, atleast till our early to mid twenties, for most of us.

For this article I'm going to use the "kiss" method. Keep It Simple Stupid . There is allot of great technical information available. I'm boiling it down to some easy to understand battle plans.

So let's first look at our enemy and the forces that would free it. Acne vulgaris is the most common type that teens get. The exact cause of acne is unknown, but doctors believe it results from several factors. The main factor is high hormone levels. These hormones increase in both boys and girls during puberty. The hormones cause a gland at the base of the hair follicle to produce higher levels of an oily substance called sebum. These glands are most prevalent in the hair follicles concentrated in the face, back, neck and shoulders. The acne comes about when the pores get clogged by skin cells and the sebum gets trapped .The sebum and the cells turn into bacteria. That causes the infection.

Other factors related to acne are heredity, environmental pollution and even somewhat to what we eat and drink. But here I must say that the myth of eating chocolate is NOT true. I'll go more into the foods we eat later. Several factors can make acne worse. When the skin is scrubbed hard, acne can become worse. Hormone levels in girls and women may cause worse acne 2-7 days before their menstrual period starts. Squeezing can spread the infection. Hats, helmets and even bangs can be places where oils can gather. Certain drugs are known to cause acne. Leaning on or rubbing your face can clog the pores. Greasy, heavy makeup is also a contributing factor.

So -what's the best way to treat acne, and keep that monkey in its cage?