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To begin with let us examine the growth pattern of acne. It starts when hair follicles are clogged with sebum, dead skin cells and bacteria. Blackheads which are impossible to see with the naked eye lie dormant under such skins waiting for the right environment to grow in to an inflammation. When the skin continues to produce more oil, the environment is just right for bacterial growth with the swollen follicle. There is increased inflammation around the skin and the skin's natural immunity is affected badly. To treat acne or pimples, which take various forms depending on the skin type, you ought to be familiar with certain terms used for acne treatment, so that you would know immediately whether you need some medical advice:

· Closed blackheads or whiteheads are follicles which are clogged and stay under the skin surface which appear at the appropriate time as tiny black or white lumps. The black head would show up when the pore enlarges and pushes out of the skin surface.

· Papule is the mildest form of acne which shows up as tiny pink bums. They are tender to touch and are treated as an in-between stage between inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions.

· Pustules are small round-shaped lesions which contain pus. They are usually red at the base with a yellow or a white center. It is inflammatory and irritable.

There is a misconception that acne is a teen-related ailment. It is not and adults are as much vulnerable to acne as teenagers. Statistically speaking one in every five women between 25 and 40 suffer from adult acne. There are several reasons for adult acne, a few of them are:

1) It recurs especially if you have had bad acne during adolescences.

2) It can happen due to hormonal changes or imbalance, for example during pregnancy.

Adult acne would normally begin with small blackheads which are not actually dir but an underlying pimple which has broken out of the skin. Red pimples are actually blackheads which are in an inflamed state. Whiteheads are pimples which have not yet broken the skin and is infected and hence the white milky substance.

The first and most important thing to remember to treat blackheads is to treat it gently and not by using rough scrubs which only cause inflammation. There are also peels which strip off the blackheads. These peels are commercially available. Over and above the reasons cited above, adult acne can also be caused by stress, poor quality cosmetics and medications. Stress is an important factor in the outbreak of acne as it usually causes hormonal imbalance and causes the oil glands to over secrete. Poor quality cosmetics also cause pores to be clogged by bacteria.

It is a misconception that eating nuts and chocolates cause an outbreak of acne. This is not true; though eating such foods may trigger or aggravate an existing acne. In case you have developed acne for the first time during adulthood, it is best to consult a dermatologist to know the underlying cause and then get appropriate treatment.