Acne is a chronic complexion affliction characterised by excess production of oil from the sebaceous glands, located within the hair follicles. The balance of fats from the oil produced is also abnormal, which encourages the lining of the hair follicles to become defective, producing excess scale. This triggers comodone formation plugging the follicle.

The abnormal oil also enables the overgrowth of bacteria which starts the inflammation commonly found which causes the hair follicles to grow to be blocked. The results are pimples, papules, pustules, comedone cysts (black heads and white heads), infected abscesses, and scarring that demand therapy. It's not something to be disregarded. If left untreated, the hair follicle ruptures and the infection can spread to the blood or lymph systems, requiring professional intervention.

What causes the oil to be abnormal is still open to debate.

Acne is divided into various stages, dependent on the number of comedones (whiteheads, blackheads) on the face.

Minimal:A Few comedones, only around the face;.....rare papules;......no nodules or scars.

Mild:mostly comedones (less than 20);....A small amount of inflammatory papules (less than 15); .....a few to no pustules; no nodules.

Moderate:Predominance of papules and pustules (15-50 lesions);... rarely any cysts; ...no nodules on face ....Scars may well be present.

Severe:Just a few comodones, papules or pustules;..mostly inflammatory nodules and cysts;...total lesion count much more than 125 on face; .....scars on face/chest and back.

Treatment

This article will only look at treatments for minimal, mild and moderate cases. You do not usually have to have a doctor's order for preparations in this group.

You'll find a multitude of 'cures' on the internet, using merchandise with natural ingredients or synthetic chemicals. Some are expensive and some much less so. The fact that there are hundreds, if not thousands of 'cures' confirms that no one therapy works in every case. 

Regardless of the source of the products, you can find three steps that must be taken to control the acne.

Step 1.Removal 

Remove any excessive oil, bacteria and dirt by cleansing twice a day with a gentle, low ph, non-ionic liquid cleanser, not soap. Cleansing should be done again after periods of excessive sweating.

The importance of low ph(acidic) is that most soaps, especially bar soap, are high ph (alkaline), which causes extra oil production within the sweat glands. This will aggravate acne and overdry the skin since the extra oil produced cannot reach the epidermis surface. The main advantage of non-ionic, low ph cleansers is that they do not dry the epidermis as much as regular soaps do.

Complexion cleansers should have the following properties:-

: non-ionic surfactants

: a ph approaching that of normal skin, physiological ph 5.5

: be hypoallergenic or fragrance free.

: must contain emollients and moisturizers.

Spectra Jel and Cetaphil are two of the recommended items list.

Step Two. Restoration.

Restoring the skin and the complexion requires opening the blocked follicles and keeping them open. To do that use materials that have what is called a keralytic action. They help remove the dead skin that plug the follicles.

Tea Tree Oil.--For a "Natural Approach" you could try Tea Tree Oil. For normal to oily skin a dilution of one part tea tree oil to nine parts water has been used with some success. Use aloe-vera gel, instead of water, if you have sensitive skin. You may use a stronger solution after two weeks if your skin can handle it.

Salicylic Acid.-- A chemical approach. Another ingredient used to open the hair follicles is Salicylic Acid in low percentage, two percent appears to be the norm. Salicylic Acid will sink into blocked follicles but it has no antibacterial activity. Stronger preparations might be sometimes used where tolerated but they can cause more drying.

Benzoyl Peroxide. Benzoyl Peroxide is said to have three actions:- 

               antibiotic against p.acnes  
               comedolytic (it dissolves comedone plugs)
               sebum secretion depressant.

Step Three. Minimize Skin Damage

Moisturize! Moisturize! Moisturize!
Nothing will restrict the skin damage caused by acne and its treatment than a good moisturizing lotion. There are many on the market. Select one that is noncomedogenic, fragrance free with an SPF of at least 30