How to manage my Acne

... and eat lots of carrots! Carrots contain vitamin A which strengthens the protective tissue of the skin, reducing acne, as well as sebum production. However, only consume a maximum of a couple a day as it is possible to see your skin turn orange if you eat too many! This is known as Carotenosis. Other great vegetables for acne include: kale, spinach, red peppers, and pumpkin.

As tempting as it might be, don't pick your acne!! Sometimes, you might be distracted and not even realise you're doing it, but definitely try and break the habit as you could be left with scarring once it clears.

Too much dairy can cause your oil glands to go into overdrive, so try to cut down on cheese, cream, butter and anything else that contains milk. Some good substitutes include coconut butter, tofu, vegan yoghurt and soy milk.

As mentioned in the introduction, there is nothing to suggest that bad hygiene can cause acne and in fact, it is possible to be toooo clean. The NHS recommends you don't wash affected areas more than a couple of times a day, as washing can aggravate acne. Try not to wash with harsh cleansers or water that is too hot or too cold, as this can also cause skin to flair up.

Apart from waking up to a ruined pillow smeared with yesterday's war paint, going to sleep with make up doesn't allow your skin to breathe, and makes for an ideal breeding ground for acne. Always make an effort to clean make up off before bed, and as mentioned above, use cleansers that are kind to sensitive skin. Look out for products that contain at least one of the following ingredients: glycol acid, salicylic acid, or benzoyl peroxide, as cleansers containing these are particularly good at un-clogging pores.

If you smoke, it's definitely a good idea to stop now! Not only will this improve your overall health, but you're likely to almost immediately notice improvements in your skin condition. Apart from triggering acne, smoking can cause premature skin ageing, wrinkles, and discolouration.

Studies have shown that consuming zinc can help improve acne. Foods that contain high levels of this mineral include: shellfish, poultry, mushrooms, beans, green vegetables, and sunflower seeds.

There are a number of herbs which can work brilliantly in reducing acne. Try applying small amounts of tea tree oil (2-3 drops) to a cotton ball and dabbing it on the skin, or applying 5-6 drops of jojoba or juniper oil in the same way. Bear in mind that these can cause skin irritation, so best speak to a dermatologist about these before use.