It's worthwhile to try to understand exactly what this affliction is and what causes it. In order to do that, we need to know a little bit about how the skin works. The skin has tiny depressions that form pouches called hair follicles, and a single hair has a root inside the follicle that is seated in a small bulb. New cells continue to be produced in this follicle and they divide, forcing the old cells upward and out. These cells die eventually, harden, and become the hair shaft. But the important thing to know about all of this is that there are glands within the follicle called sebaceous glands whose purpose is to lubricate the hair so it doesn't get brittle and fall out. When these sebaceous glands become disordered from the action of hormones and other substances, these pores can become plugged and the result is what we call pimples or zits. The face, neck, back, chest, and shoulders are usually the areas on the body that suffer from this disorder. What actually happens is that the oily substance that is supposed to nourish the hair in the follicle and then just spill out onto the skin doesn't do what it's supposed to do. It remains there and, along with the hair and cells that line the tiny follicle, becomes a plug that allows bacteria that normally grow on the skin to move into the plugged follicles. The result is inflammation. Eventually, everything in the follicle spills out onto the skin around it, and you get pimples. Acne may not be a serious health threat compared to some other ailments, but I can tell you from the experience that it causes a lot of emotional distress. Besides, it can cause scarring that never goes away. We've all known adults whose faces are badly scarred from the acne of their teens.

In recent years, this skin condition has been the focus of a lot of research, which has yielded considerable understanding of what it is and very little understanding of what can be done to avoid it or treat it. However, we do know that there are some foods that help your skin to be healthy; and if I had known about these foods in time, I would have started on a raw-foods diet that included these foods long before being a teenager. Maybe I wouldn't have believed it!

Avocados. This green fruit is loaded with essential oils and B-complex vitamins that nourish the skin. Niacin (Vitamin B3) is abundant in avocados. It is anti-inflammatory and is great for feeding the skin from the inside out.

Mangoes. Vitamin A is vital for good skin, and mangoes can provide more than 80% of what you need. This vitamin maintains and repairs skin cells. It's also an antioxidant and fights the damage that comes with free radicals.

Almonds. Vitamin E is another vitamin that your skin must have in order to be healthy, and almonds contain it in abundance.

Mushrooms. Riboflavin is vital to the well-being of your skin, and mushrooms are a good source.

Flaxseed Oil. Omega 3 fatty acids are very good for your skin in addition to all the other valuable things they do for your health, and flaxseed is a good source.

Wheat Germ. This embryo from a grain of wheat is loaded with biotin, a B vitamin. If you have a deficiency of biotin, you can actually get dermatitis. Making sure your diet has adequate amounts will contribute to skin health.

Eating a good raw-foods diet is an excellent way to forestall acne, especially if you balance the nutrients that play a direct role in skin health. However, this is not to say that topical applications are not also useful. Just be sure they are organic and natural. If you go to www.lovelula.com, you can find many of the products you need for natural skin care. www.lovelula.com will also link you to a number of other sites where you can find good, reliable products to help you keep your skin at its optimum best.

By TTS Cofounder Botanical Chef Omid Jaffari