This is a very common skin condition during puberty, although it may continue into later life for some people. Increasing levels of hormones during adolescence lead to greater activity of the skin's sebaceous glands, and if this becomes too great, excessive amounts of sebum, our natural oily skin lubricant, are produced. This in turn can cause the glands and hair follicles to become blocked and infected.
Many essential oils are not only antiseptic but also promote healing or generation of new healthy skin cells. Some of the best are Bergamot, Geranium, Lavender and Lemon; these may need to be used in varying combinations depending on the state of the skin and the person as a whole. Bergamot, for instance, is an effective antidepressant, and this emotional quality may be helpful at times as acne can understandably make the sufferer feel low (adolescence is a time of fluctuating self-esteem at the best of times), and as an astringent, antiseptic oil it is excellent for greasy, infected skin. Do not, however, overuse this oil as it increases the skin's sensitivity to the sun; moderate amounts of sunlight are generally good for drying and healing the skin too.