Choose an acne treatment that works for your skin.

Before Jo hit her teenage years she never thought she would have a need for acne treatment. She had had a perfect skin - smooth, slightly translucent and blemish free. Sure, her older sister had gone through a bad spell of acne. She could see her now, stood in front of the bathroom mirror picking the whiteheads, or squeezing on blackheads in an effort to try and minimize their appearance. But now, here she was, looking in the mirror wondering what went wrong.

Top 5 tips for treating acne.

Actually nothing went wrong for Jo. She just grew up. And unfortunately for the majority, boys and girls included, that means suffering from acne. Fortunately for the majority, we pass through this skin condition without any serious consequences. We may have a tough time with acne because it hits us just at a time when our appearance is more important than anything else, but luckily its not life threatening.

So why do we have acne problems right in our teenage years? The problem lies in the hormonal changes that take place in our body once we reach puberty. For some reason, the pores in our skin occasionally get blocked which prevents the sebum from getting to the surface. This encourages the growth of bacteria which breaks out into whiteheads or blackheads on the surface of the skin. While there is no magic remedy for acne, there are certain things you can do to minimize the appearance and prevent new outbreaks. So what should Jo do to treat her acne?

• Wash the face once or twice a day with soap or cleanser

• Steam face over hot water and apply a facial scrub

• Dab at spots with antiseptic cream - never squeeze or scratch at them

• Drink lots of water every day

• Maintain a healthy diet of fresh fruit and raw vegetables

While Jo may still not get rid of her acne completely, at least by the time she is in her twenties, she can be sure she has done the best she can to ensure good healthy skin.

For severe cases of acne, it would be advisable to consult with your doctor for professional treatment.