There are seven main factors behind an outbreak of facial or body acne.

Genetics: If your mom or dad had acne as a teenager, there's a good chance you will too.

Hormones: During adolescence, hormones called androgens become active and stimulate oil glands in your skin, increasing oil production. This, in turn, clogs pores, causing pimples and blackheads. Hormonal changes that occur during your period or when you start or stop taking birth control pills can also cause an acne flare-up. In some cases, however, certain birth control pills are prescribed as a treatment for acne.

Stress: Although stress doesn't actually cause acne, it will potentially aggravate this or any other skin condition you may have. Diet. Dermatologists aren't sure whether or not what we eat plays a critical role in acne. Some experts do believe, however, that food allergies can trigger acne outbreaks.

Washing your face too often. This can aggravate the skin, causing acne to occur.

Using greasy skin care products and oily cosmetics: Any product that clogs oil ducts may cause acne.

Medications: Acne can be a side effect of some drugs, including barbiturates, seizure medication and steroids

Acne Myths

Myth #1: Acne is caused by poor hygiene. If you believe this myth, and wash your skin hard and frequently, you can actually make your acne worse. Acne is not caused by dirt or surface skin oils. Although excess oils, dead skin and a day's accumulation of dust on the skin looks unsightly, they should not be removed by hand scrubbing. Vigorous washing and scrubbing will actually irritate the skin and make acne worse. The best approach to hygiene and acne: Gently wash your face twice a day with a mild soap, pat dry--and use an appropriate acne treatment for the acne.

Myth #2: Acne is caused by diet. Extensive scientific studies have not found a connection between diet and acne. In other words, food does not cause acne. Not chocolate. Not french fries. Not pizza. Nonetheless, some people insist that certain foods affect their acne. In that case, avoid those foods. Besides, eating a balanced diet always makes sense. However, according to the scientific evidence, if acne is being treated properly, there's no need to worry about food affecting the acne.

Myth #3: Acne is caused by stress. The ordinary stress of day-to-day living is not an important factor in acne. Severe stress that needs medical attention is sometimes treated with drugs that can cause acne as a side effect. If you think you may have acne related to a drug prescribed for stress or depression, you should consult your physician.

Myth #4: Acne is just a cosmetic disease. Yes, acne does affect the way people look and is not otherwise a serious threat to a person's physical health. However, acne can result in permanent physical scars--plus, acne itself as well as its scars can affect the way people feel about themselves to the point of affecting their lives.

Myth #5: You just have to let acne run its course. The truth is, acne can be cleared up. If the acne products you have tried haven't worked, consider seeing a dermatologist. With the products available today, there is no reason why someone has to endure acne or get acne scars