Puberty is probably one of the most difficult stage of life. During puberty, a lot of changes are happening to the human body. One of the most annoying things about puberty is getting acne. During my teenage years, acne have been my major problem and it came to a point that I became depressed and I lost the confidence to face people. That disgusted look in the eyes of people every time they look at my face full of acne is so horrifying. Acne made my confidence went down the drain. That feeling when one pimple disappear today yet upon waking up the next day, there's another pimple attack. And what's worst is that they usually attack my face during special occasions and special days!

Pimples made me feel ugly and I'm always self-conscious, when people look at me, I always think that they're looking at my pimples! It made me ashamed and utterly devastated that most of the time I just want the ground to open and eat me up so that I could escape the embarrassment.

What is Acne?

Acne is a complex skin disorder which is characterized by blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, red swellings or even cysts. It usually occurs on the face but it can also be found on the neck, arms and shoulders and at the back.

Sometimes it only last a few days or weeks, but for others it becomes a serious skin disorder that no matter what they do it just won't disappear. Acne plagues people of all ages, but teenagers mostly suffers from it.

The Causes of Acne

The common factors that causes acne are excessive oil, bacteria, dirt, sweat, make up and genetics. But why does this mostly affects the teenagers? It's because of puberty. During puberty, the activities of the skin glands increases. This is what the world book encyclopedia says about it:

" Each gland empties into a hair follicle, the little bag surrounding each hair. Normally the oil would drain out through the pores of the skin, however, at times a pore was clogged so the oil couldn't get out quickly. The trapped oil then oxidizes, turns black and dries and becomes a blackhead. But when the pore is so clogged and no air could get to it, a whitehead is developed instead. When pus forms, a pimple would appear. Pimples doesn't leave a scar unless it is squeezed or picked."

Why then pimples usually appear during important or special events? Is it just a coincidence or does pimples have a sixth sense that they would appear on such days or occasion? The reason is that emotional upsets and tension could activate the skin glands. That's why sometimes a large pimple would blossom just a day before the important event.

How To Cure Acne

There is no single treatment or cure for acne. When I was a teenager, I tried all the acne medication advised by family and friends. I tried natural ways such us using moringa, baking soda, papaya leaves, honey and lemon but to no avail, my acne seems undaunted. In my early 20s, I had the courage to use soaps, astringents and rejuvenating sets and changed my lifestyle and the way I view my pimples. I was so happy with the little changes I see in my face upon waking up each day and thankfully, at twenty-three, 80% of my pimples are gone. Now I'm maintaining a more healthy lifestyle to totally be free from acne.

Some ways to get rid of acne:

• Do not prick, rub or squeeze your pimples. This is what I did wrong as a teenager. I'm ashamed of the pimples on my face, so I thought that squeezing them would be great to remove it. But this actually increases the production of sebum and also ruptures the membrane below the skin. The infection and sebum then spreads underneath the skin and causes more pimples and worst, it leaves scars and marks on the face. This is the reason why there are some people who have small craters on their face.

• Wash your face twice a day. Before, I was always feeling lazy to wash my face, I even forget to do it at night and the next day, I can see pimples blooming on my face. Take note that over washing could also stimulate the sebaceous glands and produce more sebum which will increase your acne, so do not over wash your face.

• Water therapy. Drinking more than right glasses of water every day can help remove the toxins and waste material out of our body, it purifies the body and thus helps prevent acne flare-ups.

• Take care of your diet and eat healthy foods. Stay away from oily or greasy foods. When I was younger, I liked dry foods the most and this means that my meals is mostly made up of anything fried. I still like fried foods up to now, but I take it in small portions and it's the same when it comes to junk foods. As much as possible eat more organic foods and consume more vegetables and fruits. Remember that, what is best for our body is also best for the skin.

• Get enough sleep. Before, I used to stay up all night reading books, watching dramas and movies or making my projects. But this actually leads to pimple breakouts the next day. It was hard at first but I can now manage to sleep before 11 p.m. Getting enough sleep doesn't only help eliminate acne, it also helps me feel great and vigorous the entire day.

• Avoid cosmetics or beauty products that are too strong for your skin which causes aggravation. Oil based make-ups usually makes the skin oilier and thus makes acne flare up.

• Check with a dermatologist. If your acne is severe, it's better to consult with a professional than use self prescribed treatment or medication.

Some stops with their acne treatment plan when they don't see initial improvement. Always remember that patience is the key to successfully treat your acne. Don't expect your face to be pimple free and clear overnight just because you used something to treat it.

It can really be devastating when acne just won't leave you, like I was before, you may also feel that people are always noticing your pimples and mocks you for that and as a result you may lose your confidence and you may even become introverted. But don't focus on your acne, it doesn't mean that you have acne, you're already ugly. And remember that not all people are noticing your pimples, when they look at your face, they may have noticed your pimples, but they might also be adoring your beautiful eyes, the shape of your lips or your pointed nose and not really focusing on your acne. So be a little more confident and cultivate your outgoing attitude. A couple of years ago, a decided to be a full time volunteer in teaching all sorts of people about the bible, then I tried to learn a new language, I was really enjoying all that and totally forgot about my pimples. Because, I was always busy in helping other people, I developed a more positive perspective about myself.

There are cases when acne will leave scars on your face and you might feel bad about it, but also remember that inner beauty is what matters the most. There are people who will appreciate you for your kindness, helpfulness and pleasant personality. - @esciisc 💕