Pimples. They leave teens devastated, certain their social life is over. And for many, they don't stop when puberty does, continuing to plague men and women alike into their twenties, thirties, and beyond. You might be tempted to treat those pimples with a home remedy, but just the thought of you putting toothpaste on your pimples is enough to make a dermatologist shudder.

Newsweek recently covered the four worst home acne cures, and they include:

• picking at it or popping it
• applying an antibacterial ointment, like Neosporin
• covering it with toothpaste
• avoiding grease, chocolate, or spicy foods

Avoiding certain foods won't harm your acne situation, of course, but it doesn't help either. (Though, this is a health and fitness website, so we'll tell you to avoid greasy and sugary foods anyway).

So what should you do to alleviate your pimple problem?

• Reduce stress.
• Balance your hormones (See your doctor for this one, of course).
• Try over-the-counter washes with benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid (2% or less), or Retin-A Micro.
• Visit a dermatologist.

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A study conducted at the UK's Bath University concluded that people who have a problem with acne are less likely to excel in sports or other physical activities. It's not because of any lack of ability, it's strictly because acne can affect someone's self esteem to a point that they will avoid signing up for sports. The study followed 50 adults who were part of an acne support group.

I wasn't at all surprised to read this. In my opinion it's not a result of the acne necessarily, but a result of the reduced self esteem. (Which, for those included in the study, was largely a result of their acne.) Other triggers for self esteem issues -- obesity, etc -- can also be cited as the reason for not joining sports or working out. Whatever the impetus, it's unfortunate that anyone sidelines themselves because of social anxiety.

How about you? Have you ever had a problem that made you nervous about joining a sport?

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Many prescription drugs have been connected to birth defects, and millions of prescription drug patients are most likely very careful about what they put into their bodies.

But, a reprieve has come for some of them (in a manner of speaking), as the U.S. government announced this week that acne medication for women -- while still under the auspices of being linked to birth defects -- may be at least a little easier to come by.

The Accutane product is not supposed to be prescribed to pregnant women, and those taking it must have a month-by-month pregnancy test in order to have the prescription refilled. But, with more than 100 women becoming pregnant while taking the drug, the FDA announced this change: women of childbearing age who don't fill a prescription within seven days of a pregnancy test will be allowed to get another test and then fill the prescription - with the exception of the initial prescription.

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In many cases, the call for a low glycemic diet is an easy decision to make for many of us. Those swings in metabolism caused by high-carb and refined foods can go drastically down as a result -- something I personally found out years ago when I integrated that lifestyle as an experiment.

But low glycemic diets are not just for those wanting to have a bodily balance throughout the day. In addition to helping diabetics due to the gradual blood sugar increase (not rapid), those with skin problems like pimples may be helped as well.

Australian dermatologists say that 20 pimply-faced young men had 22 fewer acne lesions after 12 weeks on a low glycemic diet than they had seen before the diet was started. The control group in the experiment, on the other hand, saw only 14 fewer acne lesions.

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Glowing, youthful skin tends to rate pretty high on the list of beauty must-haves for a lot of women. So you drink as much water as you can stomach and you pay for expensive moisturizers, but you've still got pimples and all that H2O means you're spending the greater part of your life in the toilet.

Ever wondered just how true all of that info on how to get great skin is? Me too. So without further ado, may I present you with 5 common skin care myths:

• Vitamins make skin look healthy -- While taking vitamins may be great for your overall health, and while a healthy person usually has healthy-looking skin, just taking vitamins won't equal a gorgeous glow. A well-balanced diet is the way to go.
• 8 glasses of water is great, 15 is better -- 8 glasses of water a day will keep you hydrated so your skin will look its best, however you still have to eat well. You can drink all the water you want but it's not going to help if you eat greasy fast food at every meal.
• Expensive creams are the only way to go -- Spending a fortune on pricey skin creams does not equal healthy-looking skin. A doctor discussed in the article recommends Olay Regenerist and Provage, which you can get for about $20 at the drugstore.
• Acne is just for teens -- Acne and pimples don't just strike teenagers; women in their 20s are just as likely to get hit with a zit. If you're well past your teens and suddenly have begun to break out, talk to a dermatologist about how to deal with it.
• Lots of moisturizer makes skin look better-- Moisturizing all of the time can actually make your skin look worse if it's naturally oily, so avoid anything with the word oil in it. Talk to your dermatologist about what would work best for you.

What's one tip that is true? Wear a moisturizer with SPF to help prevent skin cancer and also wear a sunscreen to help prevent wrinkles. For more information, Take a look here.

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We all have skin issues, and we all spend a lot of money and use a lot of chemicals trying to get rid of them. Summertime is especially hard on the skin with sunburns and bug bites on top of year round issues like breakouts and eczema, leaving your medicine cabinet full of tubes and ointments for everything you can think of. But did you know you might be able to do away with many of them just by heading to the kitchen when you need something? By combining simple ingredients you might already have you can not only treat issues like cold sores and blisters successfully, but in an all natural way.

Read this article for home remedy ideas you probably would have never thought of on your own, like using apple-cider vinegar on a sunburn or taking digestive enzyme pills to help heal eczema.

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Let's face it: sometimes stress can manifest itself in embarrassing ways, like acne. Treatment options for acne can span from controversial drugs to ancient wives' tales. But here is an interesting take on six natural methods for battling that sensitive subject.

Leading the crusade against dirty pores is garlic. Whether you eat it raw or take pills, garlic can kill bacteria under the skin which causes acne. Just remember to brush your teeth. Another method that may throw us for a loop is Kombucha tea. Never heard of it? Welcome to the club. After giving it some research, this elixir seems to be the hidden fountain of youth! All that aside, this ancient beverage is believed to promote healthy skin (among a slew of other things).

A couple of other treatments include eating foods with oxalic acid (almonds, beets, cashews) and keeping your body clean from toxins. To accomplish the latter, try upping your fiber intake or grab some yogurt which contains beneficial intestinal flora. Read on to learn more on these natural remedies for acne.

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When going through that certain stage of life when everyone's face starts showing signs of maturity, sometimes all you want to do is crawl into a dark cave and wait it out. Washing your face with soap won't always do the trick either, so it's no surprise that many people have opted for the controversial medicine called Accutane.

It's usually the last resort after alternative acne treatments have failed. As with most drugs of this nature, it can have some adverse affects (like drying of skin), and a new study is conveying that it could also raise your cholesterol.

About 14,000 people who were on the drug were tested, but the good news is that blood levels went back down to pretreatment levels in most after they got off it. Researchers are still trying to scope out the long-term affects though to see if there are any cardiovascular implications. As someone who has personally taken this medicine, I can say that I hope they find some good results in that area.

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