The root of the problem in Acne breakout is the disorder of the Pilosebaceous unit. It consist of the hair, hair follicle, sebaceous gland and sebaceous duct.There are many types of Acne but all begin with a simple blockage of the hair follicle..The blockage (caused by dead skin cells and sebum) produce an anaerobic condition which enhances bacteria build-up. The bacterium responsible for inflamed acne breakout is Propionibacterium acnes or P.acnes. It digest the sebum and excrete, a fatty acid waste which irritates and ruptures the lining of the follicle causing redness and swelling. Nodules are hard painful lumps deep in the skin where the rupture of the blockage occurs.The most severe kind is cyst, which are fluid filled lumps and are very painful. Blackheads and whiteheads are non-inflamed blockage near the surface of the skin.

Knowing the science of the matter, we can safely dispel most of the myths about acne causes.With exception to the rules are some dairy products and chocolates which are known to cause acne outbreaks or worsen the case.You can attribute the cause to hormones.According to a published report in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology in 2005, pregnant cows produce hormones which are broken down into androgens in human body and this affects the sebaceous glands. Consumption of 3 cups or more a day can cause a 22% increase in acne and the effect is doubled with skimmed milk!

Hormonal imbalance in both male and female are the cause of adult acne and largely responsible for teens acne breakouts.Androgens are hormones secreted from the ovaries, adrenal glands and testes. Androgen like testosterone enlarges the sebaceous glands, stimulating overproduction of sebum. Excess sebum combine together with dead skin cells to form a sticky mass that increases the chance of clogging the follicles . Oil-based cosmetics such as moisturizer,cleansers and make-ups are also contributing factors to acne breakouts.

The solution to acne are many and different individual responds quite differently to one same course of treatment.For mild cases of blackheads and whiteheads, common over-the-counter topical treatments that has the main active ingredient benzoyl peroxide are readily available.There are a lot of professional skin care treatments in the market but it is advisable to consider about the cost before opting for it or unless it is purely for cosmetic reason. When acne has progress to the stage of nodules or cystic, OTC prescriptions are totally ineffective in controlling the outbreak. You should seek a dermatologist for professional help.

Given a choice, natural acne treatments would be the better recourse.For longer term solution to acne and general well-being, vitamins and sensible food intake goes a long way in the prevention of acne.Vitamins that are essential are niacin, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc -heals blemishes and reduce inflammation, A -helps in reducing sebum overproduction, B6 -decreases outbreaks during menstrual cycles, E - powerful antioxidant taken orally and can be used as topical treatment.

Essential oils like tea tree oil is fast gaining popularity for acne treatment mainly used to reduce bacteria and inflammation.Having strong anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties with no known side effects makes it a worthwhile investment.Taking vegetables and fresh fruits must be cultivated into our eating habits to aid our digestive system.Overall good health is the objective here. Time is needed to achieve noticeable results but so does the treatment of acne, be it OTC drugs or prescription drugs and it is vital to follow the course of treatment fully on advice from your doctor or dermatologist to prevent recurrence.To your health.

William Kon