The cause (s) of acne is still under debate. Pimples develop through a very complex process and the pore is blocked when it collapses unto itself. Since the cause of acne is not fully understood, skin care manufacturers must work half in the dark to find effective acne care treatments.

Some ideas about what causes acne include such things as, hormones, diet, genetics, vitamin deficiency and stress.

Acne affects young and old, teens, men and women of all races. The outbreaks are painful, annoying and embarrassing.

Teen acne:

Eating lots of chocolate, other sweets or greasy foods does not cause acne.

Poor hygiene does not of itself cause acne.

Although it sometimes seems that boys get acne in a greater proportion that girls do, this situation is reversed when girls get into their 20's t0 40'S.

Adult acne:

Adult acne affects 25% of adult males and 50% of adult women at some time in their adult lives.

Although the causes of acne in teens or adults, is largely unknown, in adults acne is often attributed to hormonal imbalances.

Get your hormones checked to see if this could be a reason for your acne outbreaks or flare- ups.

Overall the best acne treatments for teens and adults is very much the same. Follow some general guidelines for keeping the skin clean and find and use acne skin care products and treatments that work for you.

What to do:

Get a dermatologist advice and follow it.

Some things you can do that will help prevent breakouts and handle them when they do happen.

Don't over-scrub your skin as this can leave the skin dry which will encourage it to produce more oil and clog more pores.

Don't use alcohol base products, as these will cause the same condition as the drying out of skin above.

Take a shower immediately after exercise or any kind of activity that causes sweating, as this causes the body to heat up and perspiration can encourage bacteria to form on the skin leading to more acne break-outs. If you can't shower immediately after exercise use a medicated pad or a clean towel to wipe yourself down as gently and thoroughly as you can. Remember rough scrubbing isn't going to make you any cleaner and this may actually irritate existing acne scars and encourage new skin breakouts. There are acne treatments and products that help to relieve and control this prevalent skin condition.

But as with all treatments, not every product will work universally. Fortunately, there are almost as many acne skin care products as there are acne sufferers. You will surely find one that helps with your acne condition.

Above all do not let acne and acne scars inhibit or restrict your enjoyment of your life. Find acne treatments that work for you and put your best self forward, everyday!