Acne, according to Ayurveda are papules that resemble the sprouts on the bark of a “Shalmali” tree. Adolescents are the most affected with acne which appears usually on the face. In ayurveda, it is believed that an increase in 'kapha and vata dosha' and 'rakta and meda dhatu ' causes Acne. The most important contributory factors in this condition is diet. Irregular and wrong dietary habits may lead to acne or yavanapidika.

• Adhyashana: Eating food when previous meal is not digested.
• Virudhashana: Eating incompatible food such as fruit salad, fish with milk etc.
• Vishamashana: Eating when you are not hungry or fasting when you are hungry. Eating food in larger or lesser quantity, than required, is also termed as vishamashana.
• Regular consumption of hot (ushna), pungent (katu), penetrating (teekta), salty food such as pickles, papads, spicy food, fried and oily food, junk food, preserved food, fast food etc., weakens the digestive power (jatharagni) and also vitiates dosha, rakta and medadhatu. This also leads to constipation and irregular bowel habits.
• 'Kama' (excessive thinking about sex) may increase the secretion of hormones from adrenaline, and this increased hormone vitiate and aggravates meda dhatu (increased sebum secretion) and give rise to acne.
• Other psychological factors such as grief, anger or psychic trauma (especially in girls) may lead to imbalance in dosha and flare up condition of 'mukha dushika'.

• Usually acne lesions are limited to the face, shoulders upper chest and back
• Your skin often remains greasy
• Black heads or White heads are commonly present
• Inflammatory papules nodules and cyst may be present
• In severe cases, scarring may follow
• Acne conglobate is a severe variant of acne and is with many abscesses and cysts. They are often connected with intercommunicating sinuses. Excoriated acne is seen in early teenage girls and manifest as discrete denuded areas caused by pricking
• Infantile Acne - This is a rare type. Stimulation of infant's adrenal gland through the placenta in some instances may give rise to infantile acne
• Some drugs such as oral contraceptives, androgen steroids or anticonvulsant may induce acne

• In severe cases of acne (fulminant acne) you should always consult a doctoralt
• Correction of diet and regular exercise is necessary to regain regular bowel habits.
• Mild laxatives can be given to prevent constipation
• A paste of lodhra, dhanyaka and vacha with water can be made and then applied to the face
• Apply the paste of maricha and gorochana on the face
• Make the paste of ashwagandha, chandana, manjishta and yashtimadhu with water and then apply it on your face
• The paste of masurdal (lentil) with curd and a few drops of neem oil, if applied on the face will bestow you a good complexion and will cure acne
• Make the paste of haridra and chandana and apply it on your face
  Leave all the above-mentioned local applications on the face for about twenty minutes (till it dries) and then wash your face with luke-warm water