Whether you are someone who gets the occasional break-out, the odd spot here or there or someone who suffers from chronic acne, there are a few things we can do to try and relieve and reduce the symptoms.

Acne essentially forms when there is an over production of sebum by the sebaceous glands. Dead skin cells are unable to reach the surface and readily shed due to the sticky nature of the sebum. This therefore starts to create a build up of waste under the skin forming a plug-like structure. Over time as follicles become more clogged with dead skin, oil and other bacteria, they will eventually rupture resulting in a spread of waste in the skin. Immune responses respond to this in the form of inflammation causing redness of the skin. Pus may also form as it is the result of white blood cells trying to get rid of the waste. There are, however, many types of acne so we would recommend you seek medical assistance when trying to manage your skin.

Cleansing your skin is essential when dealing with acne or breakouts. Regular cleansing will help to remove the excess build up of oil and help to remove the dead skin cells so that they don't clog the pores (also important if you are wearing makeup throughout the day). It will allow your skin to breathe so that things will flow with a little more regularity.

It is important to remember to avoid using harsh products on your skin. It is natural to think that if you have oily skin, to go for the products that are going to strip your skin of it. This however may only aggravate your skin more and stimulate even more oil production. Avoid products that make your skin feel tight after using them, and remember to still moisturise your skin to replenish moisture loss that may have occurred during the cleansing process.

Try using products with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Look for ingredients like tea-tree oil (that can be found in our Pore Minimiser) or green tea extracts (can be found in our Vitis Vinifera Rejuvenating 3-Step System) in your products as these can help reduce the severity of your acne.

The breakouts on your skin can more often than not be a sign of hormonal imbalance. We again would recommend that you seek medical assistance if you feel that this is you. Naturally during puberty, hormones go crazy and that is normal. They will usually settle by the time we reach adulthood. However, this may not be the case for everyone. For women, our monthly cycles may be enough to set off our skin, but there are ways like taking oestrogen based birth control pills which can help manage it.

Breakouts and acne can be a fickly thing to have to deal with, but know that it is not the end of the world. Get to know your body a little better and give the above ideas a go. We'd love to hear how they work out for you or if you have any remedies that have worked for you, share them below in the comments. Don't forget to check out our Pinterest as well for more skincare ideas.

Good luck!

Photo credit Myles Formby