Perfect skin is an almost impossible goal. While practicing good skin care and using sunscreen can minimize changes to the skin, aging and genetics play a strong part in how your skin looks. Treatment to fix common skin problems is an entire industry, so it's helpful to understand what the most common problems are before trying the latest "miracle" cure.

Acne

While acne is most common during the years that your hormones are settling, and again for many women during pregnancy, it can occur throughout your life. Acne ranges from blackheads, whiteheads and pimples to nodules and cysts. Severe acne, such as nodules and cysts, can cause scarring, but most will eventually resolve itself without intervention.

Acne is caused by a pore becoming plugged with sebum, the oil that is a natural part of your skin. If the hair follicle of the pore then becomes infected, the pore becomes enlarged, causing anything from a small pimple to a more severe cyst under the surface of the skin. Blackheads are simply trapped sebum in your pores that are oxidized, causing the pore surface to blacken. Whiteheads are the same as blackheads, except that the pore is not open.

Age Spots

Called hyperpigmentation, age spots are patches of skin that are darker than the rest of the face or hands. They are caused by sun exposure and genetics. While you can treat most with bleaching cream, larger age spots, or ones that are particularly dark, can be treated with a laser. Age spots are benign and can be thought of as similar to a large freckle. There's no medical purpose to removing them, though many prefer to have them removed for cosmetic reasons.

Wrinkles

Wrinkles appear in the places where the skin commonly folds and creases. Over time, the wrinkles deepen and become more permanent. While genetics plays a large part in determining how wrinkled your complexion will become, smoking and sun exposure also play a significant role. Using sunscreen and wearing protective clothing can help keep wrinkles at bay, as can using a regular exfoliant to keep your skin refreshed.

Fine lines around the eye are best treated by a combination of essential oils, vitamins A and E and a heavy moisturizer such as shea butter or safflower oil. Because this area does not contain oil glands, under-eye puffiness and fine line development can be minimized by keeping the area constantly moisturized.