Acne is one of the most prevalent skin problems, with almost everyone encountering it during teenage and affecting up to 20 to 30% of adults. Because of genetics, the susceptibility to acne varies from person to person. That’s why some people never get it, but 1/2 glass of milk is enough to trigger severe breakouts for others.

Because it’s genetic, acne cannot be cured, but it can be effectively managed with proper topical treatments and diet and lifestyle changes.

What to expect

While acne is a skin condition, in many cases its roots go deeper than the skin. There’s good evidence to show that diet, stress, genes, hormones and other internal factors affect acne – as described elsewhere in this course. Topical treatments can be helpful in minimizing and managing acne, but for best results you may also have to address the internal factors affecting your skin.

Acne can be reasonably resilient, so please don’t expect overnight miracles. Most studies show it takes 3 to 4 weeks for topical treatments to kick in and 2 to 3 months for full results.