Acne is a major skin disease which afflicts both teenagers and adults although it's usually more common in teenagers. The culprit is our hormones and acne is triggered by the action of hormones on the oil glands of the skin. These oil glands are commonly known as the sebaceous glands. When these glands are disturbed, the skin gets a greasy look and when this occurs, our skin is more proned to acne. It can also get itchy increasing the chances of getting acne more. The skin pores will become blocked and clogged by the oil or sebum and this condition is highly susceptible for acne as the pores can open as hard plugs. The end result is acne.

Teenagers usually get acne because of hormonal changes in their bodies during puberty while for adults it still has to do with hormones but not like for teenagers. Stress, poor nutrition and lack of exercise can result in acne for adults. Teenagers are not immuned from these too. These 3 factors notably stress can affect the hormones and result in an overproduction of hormones which can lead to acne. Hormone imbalance and acne are closely related. Hormonal changes can be something out of control but nevertheless, if stress is dealt with effectively, proper and healthy nutrition are considered, regular exercise is done and proper skin care is administered, the effect of acne can be lessened and can be cured with time. Same for adults.

Here are some tips to reduce hormone imbalance and acne.

Diet Tips - Avoid too spicy foods and foods which are high in saturated fats. Eat at least 2 fish dishes per week and use healthy cooking techniques eg boiling. Don't forget oily fishes like salmon, herring, sardine and trout which contain omega-3 essential fatty acids. Lack of these nutrients can lead to eczema, an inflammatory condition of the skin causing redness, itchiness and which can trigger lesions outbreak and other skin problems. Don't eat too many chocolates. Drink alcohol moderately. Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Try drinking fresh fruit juice and raw vegetables juice to regulate bowel functioning and remove toxins from the body. Drink lots of fresh clean water daily about 8 glasses and more.

Stress Tips - Cope with stress effectively because stress is a major cause for hormone imbalance. When you're stressed out, your system produces more hormones and the oily skin look is inevitable, thus irritating the skin and making it more proned to acne. Engage yourself in relaxation exercises eg yoga, taichi. Do sports like swimming, running, cycling. Sweating is good to reduce stress and expel toxins from the body. Also your body will release endorphins which are natural substances in our bodies to supress pain and makes us feel good. Don't forget to shower a few minutes after exercising and cooling down to clear your body from the sweat and toxins which can cause acne outbreak. Take a warm bubble bath and relax and forget about your problems for a moment. Make a blank in your thoughts. Take time to do what you have to everyday without always hurrying and stressing yourself. This is possible if you wake up a few minutes earlier say in the morning before going to work. Inhale and exhale deeply because deep breathing techniques provide more oxygen to the brain making you less stressed. Get adequate sunlight as it can revive your mood and reduce stress.

Skin Care Tips - It's important that you take care of your skin and keep it clean from dirt and oil which can trigger acne. Cleaning your skin regularly with mild soap which contains acne healing ingredients like aloe vera or green tea can be helpful plus aloe vera and green tea acne cream application to your affected anatomic areas will also alleviate and refreshes your skin. Using herbs like calendula and herbal teas like dried green tea leaves boiled down and taking the extract have proven to dry and cure acne.