Causes of Acne and Acne Treatments That Work

A large percentage of teenagers and even some adults suffer from acne. Acne is a skin condition that usually manifests as a person reaches puberty. Acne has several causes and treatments are usually based on these causes. Acne has three levels of severity: mild, moderately severe and severe acne. To find the right acne treatments that work, one needs to first understand the causes and the level of severity.

Mild acne is when there are only white and black heads due to an occasional clogging of the pores. Moderately severe acne is the formation of what are commonly known as pimples that are usually red and inflamed. Severe acne is when the formation of painful nodules and cysts takes place. Severe acne results in scarring and is a painful condition. Treatment should be swift to avoid scarring as much as possible.

Acne can be caused by several factors, but is mainly due to the clogging of the pores around the hair follicles. Hormonal imbalance can also cause acne. This is especially observed in women who get a pimple or two just before their menstruation starts. Bacteria in the hair follicles can also cause acne. Regardless of the cause, acne treatments that work should be administered as early as possible to avoid scarring.

Five Acne Treatments That Work
There are several acne treatments that work and that do not involve heavy medication, surgery or any medical procedures that may be harmful.

1. Tea Tree Oil: Tea tree oil is one of the acne treatments that work wonders. Tea tree oil applied on the affected area can help to reduce the acne because the oil contains terpinen, a chemical that kills bacteria. This treatment is especially useful for treating white heads and black heads.

2. Vitamins: Taking various vitamins in their natural form or as supplements is another one of the acne treatments that work, especially Vitamins A, E, C and the B family. Vitamins are taken orally, and they help cleanse the blood and work as antioxidants that are responsible for the health of the skin. This is why you will find that the results are also reflected on the skin.

3. Lifestyle Changes: All skin trouble is directly related to the way you live, what you eat and how much exercise you get. Stress and tension play an important role in the formation of pimples, especially when coupled with caffeine and nicotine use. Proper rest and full exercise are important.

4. Natural Remedies: Some acne treatments that work are available right inside your home, such as honey and cinnamon paste, ripe tomatoes, fresh mint juice, turmeric and mint juice paste, and lemon juice applied to the affected area. All these can be easily found at home and are very effective in treating mild to moderately severe acne.

5. Zinc: Zinc intake helps with the treatment of acne as well. Since zinc helps in the production and regulation of hormones in the body. So the intake of zinc prevents outbreaks, since it balances out hormone production.

There are many acne treatments that work, but these ones are the best and the most reliable ways to treat acne. Ideally, acne treatment should start at the first sign of an outbreak to avoid scarring and to control the severity of the outbreak.