Adolescents hate it and adults worry about how it spoils their beauty - acne is a problem many people have. The primary reason for acne is clogged skin pores and it's a common medical condition. Although it's medically accepted as such, for a person with constant acne problems, it's much more than that. For them, it's embarrassing and annoying and even cause disruptions to their social lives.

Apart from ruining smooth skin, acne can also be a sign of more serious health problems. Either way, most people who have acne problems seek a permanent cure for it by spending lots of money. Acne can be any of the following: clogged pores, whiteheads, blackheads, pustules, pimples or cysts. The main cause for acne is excessive oil production from the skin's oil glands.

The skin is protected by the oil glands, but there are times when the skin cells block the oil from being released to surface layers, which causes the oil to accumulate under the surface. This unreleased oil acts as a culture environment for the skin's natural bacteria, which multiples and causes the surrounding skin to inflame. This is how acne occurs.

Contrary to popular belief, acne is not hereditary and nor is it caused by any food, dirt or sweat, stress, hormones or cosmetics. These are just myths and don't play any direct role in causing acne. However, pressure from helmets, collars, straps etc, drugs containing bromides, iodides and steroids and exposure to certain industrial chemicals can cause or worsen acne. Some people have more oilier skins and it may be hormonal, but there are no real hard facts to prove it.

When should you start treating acne? There's no 'right' time as such. Everyone gets some acne during their lifetime and treatment should be sought when it gets excessive. Excessive acne is when a sudden severe breakout happens or mild acne continues for a long period.

If you wish to cure your acne in a natural way that is both permanent and effective, you will have to make some changes to your lifestyle. When you think about the ways that acne can happen, you will realise that clearing the clogged pores and getting rid of the bacteria is the most effective way to treat your acne.

Not everyone can afford eight hours of sleep or to drink eight glasses of water and eat balanced diets every day. Most people nowadays have rushed schedules and there are a few simple ways to reduce acne and permanently cure it by using natural methods.

Opening the pores requires skin cleansing and proper care. There are no magical remedies to cure acne. Daily cleansing, exfoliating and moisturising are the steps to healthy skin care. Antioxidant food varieties, such as leafy green vegetables, are excellent for improving your immune system, in turn fighting bacterial reactions. Reducing your oil internally is risky, since you shouldn't interfere with your hormones and metabolism. Instead, the focus should only be on reducing the skin surface oil.