Nearly everyone deals with acne at one time or another in life. Whether it be in your teenage years when your skin is changing, or when you're an adult as a result of stress, acne is a normal part of life. If you're trying to get rid of acne, understanding its causes will help you understand the best treatment for you.

There are many causes of acne. The most common one is hormones. As you go through puberty, your hormone levels are constantly changing, which can lead to acne. Puberty can also cause dry skin to shed more quickly, which can also cause acne. Stress is another cause of acne. Studies suggest that the chemicals released by your body when you're stressed are what cause acne.

Despite what you may have heard, washing your face more often does not help get rid of acne. In fact, it can even exacerbate the situation! When you wash your face, you strip it of natural oils that protect the skin. When that happens, your skin is more vulnerable to bacteria, which can cause acne. And some people's skin compensates for washing away those oils by creating extra oils. This can make your skin overly oily and can clog pores, also leading to acne.

On the other side of this, though, poor hygiene also leads to acne. If you don't wash your face enough, bacteria and oils can accumulate in pores leading to acne.

The biggest thing you can do to treat your acne is to take good care of your skin. The first step in skin care, of course, is cleanliness. You should use a gentle face wash, and avoid scrubbing too hard when you use it. Irritating your skin will be counter productive, after all! How often you wash your face should depend on your skin. If you wash twice a day, for example, but your skin feels overly dry or gets irritated, try a gentler face wash or only washing once a day.

A moisturizer is also important. Even if your skin gets oily, you should use a daily moisturizer. A good way to determine if you need more moisture is to see how your skin feels about twenty minutes after you wash it, or after you shower. If your skin feels dry and a little (or very) tight, you need more moisture. If you use a moisturizer and your skin gets very oily, try using a lighter moisturizer, or using less when you apply it.

Staying healthy is important, too! If your skin is healthy, it will be much less likely to break out. Eating the right amount of fruits and vegetables, and cutting out junk foods that are high in fat and grease, can go a long way toward clear skin. Also be sure you're getting a good night's sleep.

The key to healthy skin is to listen to your body. One product may work great for one person, but not work at all for you. You may have to try a few things before you find what works for you, but if you pay attention to how your skin reacts, you'll be able to find the best regimen for you. Just remember that as you age, your skin changes. Be flexible, and if something stops working, try something else.