The pores of skin become clogged if there is too much sebum and too many dead skin cells and bacteria (especially a bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes) get's trapped inside pores and multiply, thus causing swelling and redness - start of acne.

Reports show over 90 percent of all adolescents and almost 25 percent of all adults are acne sufferers. And though acne affects about 50 percent of all adult women, acne affects males and females worldwide, regardless of nationality.

Acne has a significant impact on a person's outlook on life, and recent studies have detected following as common among people with acne:

• Social withdrawal

• Decreased self-esteem

• Reduced self-confidence

• Poor body image

• Embarrassment

• Feelings of depression

• Anger

• Preoccupation

• Frustration

• Higher rate of unemployment

Kim is a Registered Nurse working for a large Hospital Trust in the UK,

Add more fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts to your regular diet. Add salads, dried fruit and nut snacks, juices and other healthy treats to your daily diet plan

Decrease your intake of caffeine, sugar and refined carbohydrates. Some studies show caffeine can increases levels of stress hormones inside your body, provoking or worsening acne conditions.

Sugar and refined carbohydrates, such as that in white bread, rice, flour, pasta, etc., can result in an insulin surge, resulting in an excess of hormones stimulating skin to discharge lots of sebum.

Decrease your dietary intake of red meat and dairy products. Since they are more difficult to digest, it's thought their acid-forming properties are linked to our bodies's health. It's thought when body puts effort into digestion of high levels of animal protein, waste products are not completely processed as quickly as they should be, i.e. they shed slowly, blocking pores which causes acne.

Red meat and dairy products may contain high levels of hormones that may generate higher levels in humans thus causing acne.

Use natural products on your skin. Avoid unnecessary chemicals in skin/body products that may be harmful. Use non-pore clogging or noncomedogenic products like make-ups and tanning lotions. Look for any combination of these terms on labels: natural ingredients, antibacterial, antiseptic, anti fungal, anti parasitic, antiviral and / or antimicrobial agent.

Taking these basic steps can help you control your acne.

Kim Standerline is a Registered Nurse working for a large hospital trust in the UK.