I was watching Eddie Izzard the other night and he was asking, why is it when puberty comes along and you are looking at the opposite sex, and instead of going Uugh, you start saying Mmmm.  But just at this crucial point of your life when you want to look you best, your body decides, no, I am going to cover you in zits and pimples?

Of course, it is puberty that has all your hormones in overdrive, and your body is taking many changes, one of which is hair growth.  It is hair follicles which are the root of acne problems, which become blocked, and result in spots and pimples, normally on the face, neck and back, although pimples can be anywhere over the body.  If they remain under the skin, these whiteheads can hardly be seen, but if they appear above the skin, can look black, hence the term blackheads.  If the spots become inflamed, the can look yellow and we know these as a pimple or zit.

So how do you get rid of blackheads and zits?  My best advice is to use an over the counter cleanser twice a day.  Washing more often than this can irritate pores and actually aggravate the problem, so best to wash gently with your bare hands, every more and at night.  There are no overnight treatments for acne, and it will take a couple of weeks to see results, but persist.

If you do need to get rid of a large pimple in a hurry, you can resort to zit popping.  Gently place you fingers either side of the pimple and then move them closer together, squeezing the zit til it pops.  So,what comes out of pimples when you pop them?  Well it’s not an aphrodisiac and should be disposed of carefully.  It’s simply old blood cells which have accumulated in the area infected.  Popping your pimples will reduce the appearance of them but will not make them totally disappear, so you may want to consider a cosmetic solution.

Many of you have asked what home remedies are out there to cure acne and to be honest I can’t recommend these, as they would have to be strenuously tested.  Some ideas of acne treatment that have been put to me include using toothpaste to get rid of pimples, or spreading yogurt or olive oil on the affected area.  I feel these are effective as the other myth of eating nothing but apples for three days to clear acne.

Dirty skin is not the cause of acne.  Nor for that matter is it chocolate, greasy foods, stress, sex, and a litany of other fables and myths.  Bacteria is responsible for acne.  By cleaning your skin and opening your pores once or twice a day you can help keep a healthy and clear skin.