Medical Definition: Acne is an extremely common skin condition with a prevalence of 80% in female and 90% in male teenagers. But it can occur at any age. A growing number of adults are being diagnosed with adult acne.

For most people, acne is a bothersome condition characterized by occasional flare-ups of blackheads, pimples, and pustules. Most often, pimples develop on the face, neck, upper chest, and/or the back. More severe forms can result in inflamed nodules and cysts with scarring.

Hormones called androgens stimulate increased oil production. The oil is broken down into free fatty acids by bacterial enzymes, which causes skin inflammation and abnormal plugging of the oil glands and hair follicle. Pimples eventually rupture.

Acne often worsens premenstrually or mid-cycle;
prescription medications, such as certain birth control pills, steroids, and lithium can aggravate acne, as can being overweight, stress, pore-clogging (comedogenic) cosmetics, sunscreens, moisturizers, greases, and oils, adolescence,
poor diet - excessive sugar, trans fats, fried, salty, and processed foods, insufficient intake of water, healthy oils, fruit and vegetables, and fiber, and
excessive intake of foods such as chocolate, caffeine, carbonated beverages, milk products, and seafood and other iodine-rich foods.

A diet based on whole, unprocessed foods may benefit people with acne. Try to eat at least five servings of vegetables per day and at least one serving of fruit per day. Avoid eating refined sugar. Fried foods, milk, milk products, margarine, shortening, and other hydrogenated vegetable oils should be eliminated. Foods containing healthy oils such as ground flaxseeds and sardines should be increased. Some people find that chocolate, caffeine, carbonated beverages, iodized salt, shellfish, wheat and/or milk products aggravate acne.

Regular bowel movements are important. Drink at least eight glasses of day of water. In addition to eating fresh vegetables and fruit, choose whole grains.