Don’t you just hate it every time a pimple pops up on your face? I do too. You know you’ve hit puberty when it becomes difficult to see pimples on your face. Acne hits almost everyone at some point in life. The causes may vary, but the main reason is because of hormones. Don’t worry though, hormones can be controlled.

Contrary to popular belief, acne breakouts don’t necessary mean that your skin is dirty. Over cleansing can also lead to acne.

What is Acne?

Acne, medically known as Acne Vulgaris, is a skin disease involving a malfunction of the oil glands which are at the base of all hair follicles in the body. Commonly occurring during puberty, acne is triggered by the male hormone testosterone, produced in the bodies of both males and females.

Acne is not dangerous. It is just unpleasant because it leaves scars at the site of occurrence.

Controlling Acne

1. Use the right face wash: Since oil and bacteria trigger acne, make sure you use an oil-free face wash. Also, don’t forget that prevention is the best way to go about this matter. Don’t wait for a breakout to use the right face wash. Use an oil-free face wash that contains salicyclic acid. Salicyclic acid kills bacteria and helps exfoliate away dead cells.
    
2. Always apply moisturizer: If you leave your skin dry, the body will compensate for it by producing sebum. Sebum will trigger acne. In order to prevent this from happening, gently moisturize after every time you wash your face in the morning and evening.
    
3. Honey: Honey isn’t just delicious to the taste buds but also to the skin. It is a naturalantibiotic which makes it all the more wonderful for treating pimples and breakouts. Want an added bonus? The stickiness of the honey helps remove excess dirt from skin. Make a mask out of two tablespoons of honey and a teaspoon of cinnamon and apply it to your face. It’ll be messy but definitely worth a shot.
    
4. NO popping! I won’t lie-I’m guilty of popping too. The urge may be difficult to resist but you must fight it! As satisfying and gratifying as it may be, you must resist. Popping makes it all worse: It causes the area to inflame, and the bacteria to travel to adjoining pores. The newly infected pores will result in new pimples.
    
5. Cucumber: Cucumbers are popularly used to reduce puffiness in the eyes. This effect is brought about by the natural anti-inflammatory ability present in cucumbers. A similar effect is seen when applying grated cucumbers mixed with few tablespoons of lemon juice on pimples.

1. Toothpaste: If you have a mammoth pimple you want to get rid of quickly, toothpaste is theanswer. Toothpaste has been known to reduce the size of and dry out pimples overnight. Simply apply some before sleeping and wash it off in the morning.

1. Exercise regularly: Exercise does a lot to reduce acne. When you exercise, the body produces endorphins which reduce the level of stress. In addition to that, it also makes you sweat helping clean out dead cells in the skin. If you have acne on your chest, shoulders and back, a 30-minute daily exercise may help clean it out.

1. Don’t touch your face: Many people are habitual of resting their hands on their face and scratching and picking at pimples. Resist the urge to and save yourself a lot of trouble.

1. Eat healthy: Your diet has a great impact on your skin, especially acne. Foods that are processed and contain a lot of oil will obviously increase the amount of acne on your body and face. Best would be to eat more fruits and vegetables.