Another effective method of dealing with pimples is to attack the problem at the source which is usually bacteria related. Bacteria will naturally occur within your skin and body, and one of these bacterium is called the Propionibacterium acnes, which is not harmful at all. However, when your pores become clogged more of this bacteria grows within the pore than is normal which then leads to the breakdown of the pore wall itself. When this happens, it’s usually the beginning formation of a pimple and using any type of common gel, soap or cream that contains benzyl peroxide applied directly to the skin at least twice a day will usually help to alleviate the pimple depending on the potency of the product itself.

When most people are discovering how to get rid of pimples, they often find that benzyl peroxide products are one of the best and quickest treatments for acne. One drawback to keep in mind however, is the fact that these products tend to cause dryness, redness, and general irritation of the skin, which needs to be supplemented with a gentle non-comedogenic moisturizer. You may have to adjust the concentration you use of the benzyl peroxide product if you find that your skin is still irritated after moisturizing.

1.  Eating Healthier.
This is by far the best foundation that you can provide for your body to create the healthiest skin possible. As the largest organ in the body, our skin can benefit from the same nutrition we get from foods that have a positive effect on our heart, liver and other major organs. As a starting reference the simplest way to maintain a healthy, balanced diet and ensure the skin is getting optimal nutrition from the foods we eat is to follow the recommendations of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Daily Food Guide, commonly referred to as the food pyramid.

2. Drink plenty of water.
Following on the heals of eating a healthy diet is drinking plenty of pure water. Drinking  water will provide your skin with much needed moisture for a healthier glow and it will it also enhances the body’s own natural detoxification process. As your body is killing the toxins that cause acne, all of that water that your drinking is going to flush the toxins right out of your system instead of the toxins being pushed out of your pores in the form of pimples and black heads. To make drinking your water easier to get down consider adding a piece of fresh fruit such as peaches or lemons to you glass.

3. Lemon Juice as an Astringent.
Speaking of lemons, gently rubbing your face with lemon juice will help remove excess oil that may potentially be trapped inside your pores. Lemon juice can help tighten pores and reduce blemishes. Rub lemon juice into the skin at night and rinse with cool water. Give yourself a lemon juice facial whenever you are feeling tired and it will give your skin a quick pick-me-up.

4.  Steaming Your Skin.
Steaming cleans the skin from dirt and excess oil that might not be removed by regular cleansing alone. Steaming stimulates the circulation, unclogs blocked pores and helps you to achieve acne free skin. Add fresh herbs to the water to create a fresh scent such as mint or rosemary and for acne-prone skin use lavender, eucalyptus oil or green tea.

Not only are these treatments inexpensive but they are also a natural way of achieving healthy and acne free skin.

The American Academy of Dermatology states that acne vulgaris, or simply called acne, is the most common skin disorder in the United States.

Acne, at its most basic, starts when the oil and dead skin cells clog up the hair follicles or pores in your skin.  Sometimes germs also get trapped in the pores and the result is redness and swelling (inflammation).  These clogged pores can become blackheads, blemishes, whiteheads, pimples, the slang word zits, or in its most severe form cystic acne.

Acne can appear just about anywhere on the body but most of the time you will find acne on the face, neck, back, shoulders and chest and even the inside of ears and nose.  Because there are no hair follicles or pores on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet, acne will not appear on these areas.

As to severity, acne can range from a mild case which is just a few blackheads, pimples or a small number of red spots to a severe case which includes hundreds of pimples and blackheads covering the face, neck and back.  An even more severe case could include large red bumps deep under a person’s skin that are painful cysts, called cystic lesions.

Acne typically starts in the teenage years for most people.  When we hit puberty hormone changes make the skin oilier.  It is safe to say that most young people will get at least a mild case of acne during their teenage and even preteen years.  But don’t fret, most of the time this mild form of acne starts to clear up and does get better once we become a young adult.

But acne is not just a teenage problem and I can speak from experience.  The American Academy of Dermatology reports that 80 percent of adults between the ages of 20 and 30 suffer from mild to moderate acne. And that over half of all women, regardless of age, suffer from some form of acne. In my life this has been a frustrating problem, especially when I thought I had left those skin problems behind in high school.

Personally, I had very mild instances of acne in my teenage years.  When I hit the age of 26 I was plagued with a moderate onset of adult acne unlike any of the acne I had in my teenage years.

The good news is I was not left a victim to this condition and neither are you.  We’re going to explore the causes of acne and even more importantly the treatments to help us be acne free.