^^^ for me the main problem is a hormonal imbalance aswell.
A major factor in hormonal imbalances are environmental chemicals found in our food, water and air - heavy metals, herbicides, pesticides, plastics and many other poisons - these mimic estrogen once they enter our body, thus causing an estrogen dominance.
This is especially true for tin cans and plastics (i.e tinned tuna, beans, corn etc and water bottles). You should always try to drink water out of a non-plastic bottle as some of the chemicals from the plastic gets absorbed into the water which you drink, so try using glass bottles or go to a camping store and buy one of the drink bottles there.
Since the liver is the most important organ for estrogen removal and hormone regulation it is good to keep that in mind when choosing which foods to eat.
Increase garlic and onion family foods. (These are sources of sulfur-containing amino acids that may help the liver conjugate/eliminate hormones.)
Also increase what are considered liver-tonic foods such as beets, radishes, artichoke, dandelion greens and all bitter greens (aruggula, endive, radicchio, and kale) as well as daily lemon (fresh-squeezed in spring water).
An excess of oestrogens may sometimes be caused by decreased liver metabolism resulting from vitamin B deficiencies aswell.
(I can't find the source of the following diet plan but it's still a good read)
"Antiestrogenic Diet"
The purpose of this diet is to support the liver in its conjugation role, stabilize your body’s hormonal rhythms and to reduce sources of exogenous estrogen.
DIET:
Decrease fats, especially saturated animal fats and use instead unsaturated fatty acids such as those in cold-pressed vegetable oils.
Avoid/eliminate sugar, white flour and all refined foods. These are all mildly estrogenic.
e.g.: avoid foods high in simple carbohydrates such as refined sugars (read labels and avoid sucrose, fructose, dehydrated cane juice and corn syrup) and avoid fruit juices; very occasional use of honey and maple syrup are acceptable sweeteners. Alternately, sweeten foods or beverages with Stevia, an herbal extract that imparts a sweet taste although it is not a sugar. You need very little stevia to create a very sweet taste.
Eliminate/reduce all methyl-xanthines; caffeine, theophylline, theobromine (i.e. coffee, cola, chocolate and black tea). Methylxanthines trigger inflammation.
Eliminate red meat, fish and preferably eliminate all animal protein. These are sources of exogenous estrogens and animal proteins increase ILGF levels. Fish also contains organochlorines and dioxins.
Decrease/eliminate cow’s milk and dairy products. Dairy products are the most reliable dietary sources of exogenous estrogens and exogenous ILGF.
Increase complex carbohydrates. (Whole grains, beans, vegetables.)
Increase intake of beans and fermented bean products such as lentils, chickpeas, tofu, edamame, tempeh & soy miso.
Increase anti-oxidants. (Vitamins C, E, beta-carotene and selenium). A multivitamin is an excellent source but organic produce (fruits and vegetables) is the best source of antioxidants.
Increase intake of fiber-rich, lignan-rich foods (have one tablespoon of freshly-ground organic flaxseeds daily and try to consume 2 cups of some combination of other lignan-rich foods during the day – these include whole wheat, apples, cherries, carrots, soybean products (tofu & tempeh) and broccoli).
So basically what i'm saying is that diet and lifestyle (cause exercise helps too)are (i feel) the main constituents in regulating hormones and alleviating the common problems seen in hormonal imbalance. What you choose to put into your body is just as important as what you choose to leave out.
And while i dont doubt that the benzoyl peroxide and other acne treatments do work for some, they aren't really adressing the cause, merely giving symptomatic relief.