It is really difficult for teens as they make efforts in avoiding acne and having a clear complexion. It seems like it is almost impossible for some teens to get rid of the acne problem. According to this link at WebMD, diet contributes to 25% of the problem.

I have had teenage daughters, who have really suffered with this problem, as well as myself when I was that age.  And, I’ve noticed they have more acne on their faces after having pizza or ice cream. I wish I knew everything about avoiding acne and having a clear complexion, but it’s a complex problem to try to figure out. Dr. Fuhrman wrote a book called Disease Proof Your Child in which he mentions the reason for acne is a faulty diet that contributes to inflammation of the face and bacterial buildup. He recommends a high-fiber, high-nutrient diet.

High-fiber foods help to cleanse the colon and body by carrying out toxins, fats, and excess hormones.

I had one daughter read a book on natural cures for acne. She now knows that the foods that contribute to a dirty digestive system also have a correlation with acne on the face.

We haven’t tried the fast that the book recommends. What good would it do unless she was able to stick with a hormone-free, high-fiber, plant-based diet?  And that seems almost impossible in today’s culture.

One thing that helps with achieving a clear complexion is to drink the right amount of water as found on this site in the nutrition category.

The last resort would be going to a dermatologist since that would involve the high cost of an appointment and the use of drugs. These drugs and unnatural chemicals, which can have detrimental side effects to health are not my first choice.

One daughter still had a problem with acne after her dermatologist put her on a certain antibiotic medicine. If she stopped taking the meds, her acne would flare up again. Then, he gave her a stronger antibiotic. He said that there is a certain bacteria that causes acne, which the meds were intended to eradicate. This stronger antibiotic finally did the trick, and she doesn’t have to take it anymore.

Even adults can have a problem with acne. However, one 60-year-old lady who took my healing diet class, said that her acne disappeared when she switched to a plant-based diet.  So, I know that diet can play a big part. Definitely, eating foods that are higher in vitamins A, C, E and trace minerals in green drinks will help a lot.

You can learn more about the causes of acne at this link.                                                                                                                                                    Here are the six usual culprits for acne.

• Hormones- Teens just have a bigger problem with hormones as they grow from a child to an adult. Plus, there are a lot of hormones in dairy products.
  

  Try having one fresh green salad daily as your start on a better diet.

• Stress – It’s very stressful being a teen in today’s world. But, if teens can learn to deal with stress effectively and get plenty of sleep, it will help a lot.
• Diet – The biggest problem for the the face is eating too many greasy, fried foods. Avoid pizza and fries. It would be better to just put salt and pepper on a potato than all the high-fat toppings or frying the potatoes in oil. I learned that from the neighbor girl who is a teen with a clear complexion.  Her dad gave her this bit of advice. Junk food, dairy products, white flour and white sugar need to be avoided if you want a clear complexion. It’s important to try to eat healthier foods such as whole grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables. Some people have found that it’s good to eliminate regular russet white potatoes, which contributes to their particular acne. However, other types of potatoes are just fine; red, gold, purple, etc.
• Bacteria on the face – Wash your face at least three times a week with some good body wash or cleanser. A running hot water over the face or hot damp towel resting on the face to open the pores and increase circulation helps, then try a clay mask of some kind to bring the infection out. My daughters like to have face parties amongst themselves and whatever friend is there when they start. If you walk into their room, you will see some girls with funny face masks.  Bacteria spreads when the zits are popped. There can also be a problem with not washing the hair often enough or sleeping on an old, unwashed pillowcase each night. There are many things that can help with keeping the face clean and products that kill bacteria. It’s a constant battle.
• Genetics – It can run in families especially when there are the same types of stress and diet that contribute to the problem. Many people have to visit a dermatologist to get this resolved.
• Lack of Exercise – It’s good to get plenty of exercise to get the lymph system going so that your body can fight off any infection. Exercise helps you to use and lose the fat that may be contributing towards zits and acne. Here is a link for an exercise machine that will give you a great workout for your arms and legs. It’s called a smooth elliptical.

Lavender oil is very concentrated. You can dilute it one part lavender oil to 20 parts extra-virgin olive or coconut oil.

One daughter found and shared her favorite link that explains the zones of the face and the cause for acne at each zone. I like this particular face map, because it comes from Chinese medicine material, which I trust. The Chinese have a really good system that has proven true over the centuries.

Here are some possible home remedies that may work for you.

• One of my daughters buys bars of Dove soap. She said that as long as she doesn’t scrub her face and just keeps it gently washed daily with this soap and some water, her face doesn’t break out. She also said that she learned online that lavender oil is helpful for killing the bacteria that is on the face. She likes to dilute the essential oil by adding some extra-virgin olive oil. She found some information to confirm the effectiveness for acne since she already knew lavender oil is healing to the skin and good for burns. (Check out this link to see the lavender oil reviews for those who have tried it. Everybody is different, but many have found it works.)
• And, another daughter said it’s best to not pop pimples until they become whiteheads. Otherwise, you can end up with scars and bacteria spreading.
• If you prefer to save money and want to try some effective home remedies for acne, click on this link that has some recipes using apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar helps to dissolve fatty deposits and restore the proper PH balance to the skin. Studies have been done to show that it is effective. A cotton ball dipped in apple cider vinegar can be used as an astringent to the face. You can also take 1 tsp of AC vinegar to a glass of water each morning or night and drink it for internal cleansing. Even famous people use it.
• And, another thing to try is a honey/cinnamon paste on the trouble spots (1 Tbsp raw unfiltered honey and 1 tsp organic cinnamon – mix and apply for 4-8 hours).
• Apply some fresh lemon juice to the affected areas and let it dry on. Just get a lemon and squeeze out the juice. Then, get a cotton ball to apply it to the face.

This special vinegar can be taken internally as 1 tsp to a cup of water or used with a cotton ball as a toner for the face.

And, finally, if you’ve tried everything and nothing is working, maybe there is a bad emotional climate at home. It’s possible that relationship stresses could have something to do with your face breaking out. Do what you can to get things “cleared up” before it’s too late. Stress can contribute to breakouts.

If you know of something that works for you, I would love to hear about it. Avoiding acne and having a clear complexion is important to everyone that has or is suffering the problem.

Basically, though, all in all, acne is an infection. For any infection of the body, certainly drinking water, getting sufficient rest, and exercise are helpful to aid the body in releasing the toxins. And, whatever you can do to fight the infection like the infection-fighting lemon-garlic drink on this site, keeping your digestive system clean with the healing diet and making sure the face is  clean will all be helpful.