Acne occurs when tiny holes on the surface of the skin, called pores, become clogged. Each pore is an opening to a canal called a follicle, which contains a hair and an oil gland. Normally, the oil glands help keep the skin lubricated and help remove old skin cells. When glands produce too much oil, the pores can become blocked, accumulating dirt, debris, and bacteria. The blockage is called a plug or comedone.

The top of the plug may be white (whitehead) or dark (blackhead). If it ruptures, the material inside, including oil and bacteria, can spread to the surrounding area and cause an inflammatory reaction. If the inflammation is deep in your skin, the pimples may enlarge to form firm, painful cysts.
Acne commonly appears on the face and shoulders, but may also occur on the trunk, arms, legs, and buttocks.

Acne is most common in teenagers, but it can happen at any age, even as an infant. Three out of four teenagers have acne to some extent, probably caused by hormonal changes that stimulate oil production. However, people in their 30s and 40s may also have acne.

Acne tends to run in families and can be triggered by:

·         Hormonal changes related to menstrual periods, pregnancy, birth control pills, or stress

·         Greasy or oily cosmetic and hair products

·         Certain drugs (such as steroids, testosterone, estrogen, and phenytoin)

·         High levels of humidity and sweating

·         Despite the popular belief that chocolate, nuts, and other foods cause acne, research does not confirm this idea.

Scope of Homeopathy in Acne

Homeopathy treats the person as a whole. It means that homeopathic treatment focuses on the patient as a person, as well as his pathological condition. The homeopathic medicines are selected after a full individualizing examination and case-analysis, which includes the medical history of the patient, physical and mental constitution etc. The homeopathy remedies given below indicate the therapeutic affinity but this is not a complete and definite guide to the treatment of this condition. None of these medicines should be taken without professional advice.
Homeopathic Remedies:

Sulphur, Sanguinaria, Kali bromatum, Antimonium crudum, Asterias Rubens, Belladonna, Hepar Sulphur, Calcarea Silicata, Nux vomica, Arsenicum iodatum, Causticum, Chelidonium majus, Graphites, Psorinum, Sabina, Calcarea phosphoricum, Thuja occidentalis, Ledum palustre, Nitricum acidum, Bovista, Tuberculinum

Skin care to prevent acne

·         Clean skin gently- Gently wash your face with a mild cleanser (accoring to the type of your skin), once in the morning and once in the evening, as well as after heavy exercise. It is also important to shampoo your hair regularly. If you have oily hair, you may want to wash it every day. Wash your face with plain water frequently.

·         Avoid frequent handling of the skin. Avoid rubbing and touching skin lesions. Squeezing, pinching or picking blemishes can lead to the development of scars or dark blotches.

·         Shave carefully- Shave gently and only when necessary to reduce the risk of nicking blemishes.

·         Choose cosmetics carefully.

·         Self-care measures and over-the-counter medicine have not helped after several months; Your acne is severe or getting worse; then contact your homeopath specialist or dermatologist.

·         Products such as facial scrubs, astringents and masks generally aren't recommended because they tend to irritate skin, which can aggravate acne. Excessive washing and scrubbing also can irritate skin. If you tend to develop acne around your hairline, shampoo your hair frequently.

·         Avoid irritants. You may want to avoid oily or greasy cosmetics, sunscreens, hair-styling products

·         Protect yourself from sun. For some people, the sun worsens acne.