Skin experts have long known that the Propionibacterium acnes (aka P. acnes) bacteria is responsible for pimples. But it turns out that your skin's type of P. acnes bacteria could be the root of your skin issue.

A study at the University of California Los Angeles indicated that P. acnes bacteria has three strains: two that occur in people with acne, and one that occurs in clear-skinned people. Experts believe that the latter strain actually prevents pimples.

In the future, expect to see acne treatments that increase the amount of "good" bacteria on skin while defeating "bad" bugs and (hopefully) nipping zits in the bud.

Your Rx: Until those high-tech products come out, look for acne washes and lotions meant to attack the P. acnes bacteria that causes acne (unlike acids, which work by drying pimples). Try Murad Acne Clarifying Cleanser, which clears pimples with antibacterial triclosan.

"Reduce your stress." Reading this probably makes you want to drop-kick your computer. If only it was so easy, right? But managing stress goes hand-in-hand with managing acne.

Stressful situations cause your adrenal glands to release cortisol (the "fight-or-flight" hormone), which throws off skin function and triggers the release of sebum. One powerful study shows that people who are subjected to sleep deprivation for just one night have blood cortisol levels 37-45 percent higher the next night.

Dr. Marina Peredo, M.D., founder of Marina I. Peredo Dermatology and Spatique Medical Spa in Smithtown, N.Y., says there's another major pitfall of sleep deprivation. "Lack of sleep increases inflammation, which is a main cause behind acne," she explains. "Breakouts may occur after a night of not sleeping.

Your Rx: Not all causes of stress are within our control, so take responsibility for the things you can do to keep stress in check: Get adequate sleep and exercise. Make eight hours of sleep and 30 minutes of exercise daily priorities.

Milk does a body good, amiright? Well, maybe not -- or at least maybe not your face.

Researchers have noted that acne is virtually nonexistent in non-Western cultures that don't consume milk products. Some experts speculate that dairy consumption stimulates acne by increasing the level of an insulin-like growth factor in the body, mimicking what the body goes through during puberty.

Another possible explanation? "A diet that has a lot of dairy in it is pro-inflammatory," says Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank, M.D., Cosmetic Dermatologist and Director of the 5th Avenue Dermatology Surgery & Laser Center in New York City, N.Y. "It can exacerbate any condition, like acne, that involves inflammation of tissue."

Your Rx: More research needs to be done to prove the link, but in the meantime, consider switching out milk for calcium-enriched, unsweetened almond or coconut milk.

The birth control pill: It kicked off the sexual revolution, millions of women can now get it for free (thanks to the Affordable Care Act) and it can even treat your acne. If you've noticed that your menstrual and pre-menstrual days tend to coincide with crazy breakouts, a birth control pill may do wonders.

"Fluctuating hormones for the week before and during a woman's period can wreak havoc on the skin due to increased acne," says Dr. Elizabeth Tanzi, M.D., co-director of the Washington Institute of Dermatologic Laser Surgery in Washington, D.C. "Birth control pills stabilize the levels of hormones throughout the month so you don't get the wild ups and downs; therefore, it helps avoid breakouts.

Your Rx: If you see a correlation between the onset of your period and when pimples crop up, talk to your doctor. Only three pills are FDA-approved to treat breakouts -- Yaz, Ortho Tri-Cyclen and Estrostep -- but many more, like Alesse, have been clinically shown to improve acne.

It can significantly reduce your acne, it costs less than $10, and holy hell, does it stink: Fish oil supplements may be a cheap way to reduce pimples if you have moderate to severe acne.

A small clinical trial showed 75 percent improvement in those who took fish oil supplements every day. "A diet rich in omega fatty acids, like salmon, is great for the skin, as is fish oil," says Frank, noting that it decreases inflammation. However, fish oil actually made symptoms worse for subjects with mild acne.

Your Rx: "More research needs to be done before I recommend it to my acne patients," says Tanzi. If you are going to try it, try three grams of the supplement daily and give it 12 weeks to work its magic.