Acne: Causes, Myths and Remedies

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 85 percent of people will have acne at some point in their lives. It's not surprising then that people spend enormous amounts of money each year on all sorts of gizmos and cremes and pads to cure their acne. Let's look at what causes acne, what doesn't cause acne and things you can do at home.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and the following is no replacement for the advice of a dermatologist. I do not endorse any acne treatment and do not take responsibly for any potential side effects of these remedies.

 Cause(s) of Acne
Acne is a complex occurrence that can have any number of causes. However, there are three main factors are responsible for the most common forms of acne.

Your skin is covered in pilosebaceous units which consist of a hair, a hair follicle and a sebaceous gland. Also coating the skin is a generally harmless bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes. The sebaceous gland produces an oily substance called sebum that the bacteria feeds on. When sebum produce spikes, such as during periods of abnormal hormone levels like puberty, conditions are ripe for a bacterial population boom. The increase in bacteria gets the immune system all riled up and white blood cells rush to the pilosebaceous unit to killed the excess bacteria. In the ensuing micro-brawl, the enzymes used by the white blood cells cause an inflammation of the follicle.

Another common cause, leads to an interesting and life-changingly gross fact: The visible layer of your skin is just a collection of dead skin cells, fat and sebum. Excess sebum can mix the dead skin cells and make a sort of plug. Under this plug, the bacteria go nuts.

Myths
There are a few things people have given credit with causing acne. Namely, these are greasy foods, chocolate and dirty skin. According to the Mayo Clinic, none of these things causes acne. 

Home Remedies
There most simple option is often the best: Wash your skin with a gentle cleanser. Avoid products such as scrubs and astringents which can irritate the skin and make matters worse. For over-the-counter products look for cleansers and creams with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid as the active ingredient. There are also several alternative "natural" options for acne treatment.

1. Tea Tree Oil - There is evidence that this oil may be as effective as benzoyl peroxide. Tea tree oil tends to work more slowly, however, and has an interesting list of possible side effects including contact allergies and possible breast growth in young boys. This product should not be used by people with acne rosacea.
2. Eucalyptus Oil - This natural oil contains chemicals called flavonoids and chalconoids both of which have antimicrobial, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. The effectiveness of eucalyptus oil against common acne was demonstrated in a 2004 study in "Letters in Microbiology." Allergies to eucalyptus oil are possible and severe, especially in children. Topical exposure to the oil has caused slurred speech and unconsciousness.
3. Cucumbers - The common cucumber is chock full of various vitamins and minerals that contribute to skin health including vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E. A 2010 study in the "African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology" found that skincare products that contain cucumber are more effective than those that do not. However, the study did not test cucumbers on their own so more research is needed.

There are, of course, many other products that may help with acne. The important things to look for an a soothing, anti-inflammatory cleanser.