What is acne?

Acne is a skin condition where the pores become blocked and sometimes inflamed. It can take the form of a blackhead (an enlarged dark pore), a papule or pustule (red bumps or "whiteheads"), or a cyst (a large swelling underneath the skin).

What causes acne?

Hormones: Many teenagers suffer from acne because their skin produces too much sebum (the skin's natural oil), brought on by increased levels of androgen hormones. The excess sebum sometimes mixes with dirt and dead skin cells and clogs up the pores, and causes blackheads and pimples. Hormonal fluctuations can also cause young babies and pregnant, menstruating or menopausal women to suffer from acne.

Ingredients in cosmetics or skin care products: Some ingredients in beauty products are comedogenic - that is, they can clog the pores. By checking ingredient listings on your products, you may be able to find the culprit. Ingredient lists run in order of highest to lowest concentration, so a comedogenic ingredient listed right at the end of the formula will probably not be enough to make the formula pore-clogging. There's quite a good article about comedogenicity and a list of comedogenic ingredients at http://www.naturalbeauty.com/Beauty_Articles/articles02/articles02.html.
Bear in mind though that in the end it really does come down to personal trial-and-error - you'll need to experiment with different products to find out what works for you and what doesn't.

Medications: Some types of the oral contraceptive Pill can make acne worse (although some other types can make it better!). Steroid medications and lithium can also cause acne.

Not looking after your skin: If you don't regularly cleanse your skin and exfoliate to remove pore-clogging dead cells, your skin will be more likely to break out. For example, not bothering to take your makeup off at night is a big no-no!

Your environment: Being exposed daily to oil, grease, or chemicals can cause acne. For example, people who work in a kitchen might suffer from breakouts due to cooking oil splatters.

What about chocolate? Doesn't that give you pimples?

You won't get a pimple just because you ate a chocolate bar yesterday! If you otherwise eat a balanced diet, you'll be fine. However if your diet is generally poor, your skin won't be looking its best.

How can I get rid of acne?

First lesson: DON'T PICK!! Picking and squeezing pimples often causes the blocked pore to become more inflamed, and can lead to infection and scarring. If you want to have your blackheads extracted, you should visit a dermatologist.

Depending on the severity of your acne, there are several things you can try:

• Take better care of your skin. This means cleansing twice a day and exfoliating regularly; and a deep-cleansing mask used once or twice a week can help to clean out the pores. Make sure though that you use gentle products that won't dry out or strip your skin. If you have oily hair, make sure you wash it regularly (try Kusco-Murphy Oily Hair Wash).
  [Read more about looking after oily skin]
• Reduce the possible causes: Use a cotton pillowslip and change it every day. Always use a clean face cloth to wash your face. If you're breaking out along your hairline, change your styling products or shampoo/conditioner as they might be the culprits. And make sure your beauty products do not contain high quantities of pore-clogging (comedogenic) ingredients.
• Antibacterial skincare: This can help to stop blocked pores from becoming infected, red and inflamed, by killing the germs that cause infection. Antibacterial products are especially recommended if you suffer from white-headed or red pimples. Try Botani Skin Rescue Kit.
• Using BHAs: This is especially recommended if you suffer from a lot of blackheads. Beta-hydroxy acids can help to reduce and dissolve pore blockages, and when combined with alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) they can also remove dead skin cell residue that can potentially clog pores. Try Ultraceuticals Ultra Clear Oily & Acne-Prone Skin Gel (2% BHA plus retinol and AHA) or Ultraceuticals Even Skintone Serum (3% BHA + 10% AHA).
• Benzoyl peroxide: You can get this in several different strengths, some are over-the-counter from your pharmacy and some require a prescription. Benzoyl peroxide dries out the skin and has antibacterial properties.
• See your dermatologist: If all of the above fails, you should pay a visit to your doctor or dermatologist. They may prescribe anything from hormone tablets, to oral or topical antibiotics, to creams like Retin-A, to medication like Accutane/Roaccutane (isotretinoin). But you need to talk to them about your problem so they can recommend the best solution for you.