There is a condition of the skin that can affect many parts of the body called acne. The most prevalent areas that are affected include the face, chest, back and neck.

Acne is caused when pores of the skin become plugged with dead skin cells that mix with the oils of the skin. There is also a bacterial that lives in the oils of the skin, which can aggravate the problem.

Hormonal changes in the body can cause production of more oils in the skin. Acne, due to these hormonal changes is found in teens, women as they progress through their menstrual cycle or while they are pregnant, or when they start or stop birth control pills.

Acne that becomes infected can leave scars on any of the affected areas. Facial scaring may affect a person’s self esteem.

There are many treatments recommended for acne. For teens, products containing benzyl peroxide are often effective at drying outbreaks and preventing more outbreaks from forming. Washing the face with a good antibacterial soap can also help to prevent further outbreaks of acne.

For adults, benzyl peroxide is sometimes too drying to the skin. Adults have better results with products that contain salicylic acid.

When you have an outbreak of acne, you should avoid squeezing, picking or touching the skin that is already irritated. This can cause the scaring to become even worse.

If you have tried the over the counter products and your acne is not getting better, see your doctor or dermatologist. They will know further treatment options that can help to keep the acne from becoming infected and causing more scaring.

Prevention of acne is not always possible, however you can take steps to lower the risk of it causing a permanent scar.