Stepping into adolescence, we face a lot of changes, the worst being acne and pimples. Acne develops due to hormonal changes at puberty, and also during the menstrual cycle and menopause for women. A change in hormonal balances leads to overproduction of oil in the skin follicles. This further gives way to the enlargement of the follicle underneath, which erupts as acne. Unfortunately, there is no specific treatment for acne.

• Gold Standard
  An age-old therapy called gold standard is still considered one of the best acne treatments. It is useful for treating mild to moderate acne. A cleanser like a benzyl peroxide supplemented with sulfur powder helps to combat acne. Retinoic acid is also used for some patients.
• Soap and Water
  One of the other best acne treatments is to keep the skin oil free. You need to wash your face with soap and rinse off with water. This will help prevent excess oil from staying on to the skin. It may not treat the acne but will help in preventing it.
• Cleansing
  Cleansing is perhaps one of the best acne treatments. It is advisable to wash off the grime from your face before going to bed. If you feel too lazy, you can use wiping tissues to clear your skin. Remember, the more dirt accumulates on your skin, more the chances of breakouts. Always wash your face for 30 to 45 seconds making clockwise movements upward. This time is needed to wash off the bacteria completely. The amount of cleanser used should be the size of a coin. Use lukewarm water while cleansing. Hot water makes your skin too dry and cold water will open pores. Both will have adverse effects. Be gentle with your skin while you scrub. Do not be too harsh and rough as it may cause redness and irritation. Make good use of your hands and ensure they are clean. Untidy hands will transfer the dirt back to your skin. You should be careful enough to wash your face early in the morning also. The oil, conditioners, and shampoo from your hair get transmitted to your pillow. You toss and turn through the night thereby transmitting dirt to your face. So, it is advisable to get rid of it as soon as you leave the bed.
• Exfoliate
  Only cleansing is of no use without proper exfoliation. Often cleansing with your hands doesn’t fetch the desired result. So, you can use an exfoliating brush to wash off the excess dirt. It is advisable to use an astringent to exfoliate the skin further. This is done when after cleansing the oiliness persists. Exfoliation removes the dead skin making the skin glow. Alpha hydroxyl and lactic acids are great exfoliating agents. After you have finished cleansing, use an exfoliation cream to shed the extra dead cells.
• Salicylic Acid
  Salicylic acid helps to check abnormal shedding of skin cells, making it another best acne treatments. It is effective in combating and preventing lesions and unclogging pores. It is best if you continue the use of salicylic acid otherwise its effect might stop. It is available in the form of creams, lotions, and other acne products.
• Antibiotics
  Dermatologists prescribe antibiotics as one of the best acne treatments. There are two kinds of antibiotics to prevent acne, topical and systemic. Topical antibiotics are used on top of the skin and come in the form of creams and lotions. Topical antibiotics are administered along with benzoyl peroxide to reduce antibiotic resistance. They alone do not have the power to penetrate deep into the skin follicle. Systemic antibiotics are oral pills and have much more deep-seated effects. It penetrates throughout the body and the sebaceous glands, thereby controlling the oil flow. However, their side effects are more adverse than topical antibiotics.
• Healthy Diet
  A healthy balanced diet plays the key role in the best acne treatments. Eating too many chocolates and junk food is the main cause of acne breakouts. You have to cut down the refined carb intake and prefer food with the low GI (Glycemic Index). Dairy products like milk can cause acne. So, reduce the intake of milk to one glass per week. The increased sugar content in the fat-free milk is a prime reason for the outbreak of acne. Salt is another culprit for the breakout of acne. The sodium in salt and other seafoods aggravates the acne breakouts. Limit your use of salt to not more than 1,500 mg a day.