Most of us have suffered from acne at sometime in our lives. Often just before that important date or when you need to look your best.

So what causes acne? Acne is mostly caused by natural oils, hormones and other substances on the skin's oil glands and hair follicles. These can lead to blocked pores and consequent pimples. These hormones are in abundance during our teenage years. Acne lesions can occur almost anywhere on the body but those on the face and neck cause the most distress.

There are many over the counter or prescribed medications available, both topical and oral. Unfortunately these cures have to be used long-term and some can be both expensive and have harmful side-effects.

Fortunately, there are many excellent natural treatments available. Here are some tips to reducing your acne.

1. Drink plenty of water. At least 4 pints a day. This will have the added benefit of helping to keep your complexion looking young and healthy throughout life.

2. Include plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables in your diet. For bad cases of acne try eating only fruit and drinking only water one day a week.

3. Wash your face gently with a mild cleanser twice a day. Avoid scrubbing the skin with an abrasive - this can actually make the problem worse. Be sure to wash your entire face from neck to hairline. Wash your hair daily.

4.Cosmetics should be oil-free and used sparingly. Look for those labeled "noncomedogenic " - this means they do not contribute to blocked pores.

5. Avoid touching your face. This includes resting your chin in your hands and pressing a cellphone against your face.

6. Take a muti-vitamin and mineral supplement daily. Studies have shown that vitamins A and E and the mineral zinc reduce or cure acne.

7. Apply a watered down solution of lemon juice to your face after washing in the evening. If it stings, water it down more!

These tips only touch on fast natural acne cures. For more information visit http://1acnetreatments.com/natural.php

There are many over the counter and prescription treatments for acne but most of these are very expensive and some may even have undesirable long-term side effects. If you are looking for some homemade natural acne remedies, read on.

Start with careful cleansing of the skin. It is easy to forget this basic step and start applying some potion or lotion. A clean bacteria-free skin really is the most important step. Was your face twice a day - no more, no less - with a gentle cleanser or soap. Use your hands to wash and avoid rubbing too hard. Do not use anything abrasive such as a wash-cloth. For an extra deep clean, use a weak alcohol solution which is available at any pharmacy. This has the added bonus of killing bacteria. Avoid using alcohol too often as this can dry out your skin.

Once a week, mix a little honey with some diluted lemon juice. Apply this to your face twice a week and leave for 10 minutes. Remove gently with warm water. This mixture has natural anti-bacterial properties.

If you have a naturally oily skin - often the case with acne - mix some oatmeal with water to form a thin paste. Apply this to any oily areas of your face and leave for 20 minutes. The oatmeal will absorb oil from your skin without leaving it too dry.

Avoid oily cosmetics - use only those that are water based and hypo-allergenic. Look for those marked noncomedogenic if you can. These should not block pores. Use any cosmetics sparingly in acne-prone areas. Remove all makeup thoroughly every evening.

Avoid picking or squeezing pimples. I know it's tempting but all you do is force the bacteria deeper into your skin and this can also leave you with permanent scarring. To reduce the size and redness of a pimple, hold an ice cube directly on the spot and leave it there for 30 seconds or so. In fact, you should avoid touching your face at all unless you are washing.