Acne remains one of the most misunderstood and somewhat mysterious skin conditions a person can develop. There are thousands of myths that surround the condition of acne and these myths can greatly confuse people who are seeking a legitimate way out of their problem. Common myths such as only teenagers can get acne or that eating certain oily or sugary foods can cause acne all contribute to misunderstandings as to how to treat the condition. Many people also beleive that pimpels are always caused by poor hygeine. These people begin washing their face harshly 4-5 times a day, even though this will not have any effect on the presence of acne on the skin. In fact, it will only serve to make the problem worse. So, rather than wallow in a number of these myths, it is best to dispel them and present a few acne treatment tips that can greatly help with the proper treatment of acne.

Avoid using the sun as a treatment for acne. Yes, there are those who advocate using the sun to dry up acne and pimples. This is why so many with problem skin will sunbathe or visit a tanning salon. However, this treatment really is not a treatment at all. In fact, it is a surefire way to make the condition potentially worse! Yes, the sun may dry up the oils in the skin which will reduce the presence of pimples on the skin. But, this is only temporary as the underlying problem of oily, clogged pores does not go away. Worst of all, the dryness of the sunburned skin can cause MORE acne to appear within a few days after tanning.

Shower or wipe off sweat after any period of heavy physical exercise. The collection of sweat on the body will lead to the expansion of bacteria and the expansion of clogged pores. Someone who already has acne, likely has glands that are producing too much oil. Keeping extra sweat and grime on the surface is only going to make things worse. It is best to clean off any sweat that may be present on your face, shoulders, or back since it does present an acne risk. You will also want to avoid trapping the sweat and oil on your skin by wearing tight fitting clothing. When you wear tight clothes made from synthetic materials, you are not allowing oil to escape from the pores and dry out.

Plain soap just is not enough to curtail the spread of acne. While standard soap most definitely has its benefits, if you are dealing with the presence of acne you will want to use an acne soap that is antibacterial in nature. Since bacteria are the prime cause of acne, any soap that eliminates its presence will help reduce the spread of acne significantly. It is also necessary to wash your face and other affected areas at least three times a day. This way, the spread of the bacteria will be greatly limited.

While it has been said scores of times in the past the following is well worth repeating: do not pick, scratch or squeeze acne lesions or pimples. This may provide a little temporary physical and psychological relief, it will only make the condition worse in time. First, aggravating the skin will only lead to the pimples spreading further on the body. Second, you will probably end up with blemishes and scars as a result. A pimple can go away within a couple of days when left alone. An acne scar can take upwards of a year to fade away. Really, would you want scores of acne scars on your face, arms, and back that last months? Avoid this problem by avoiding agitating the skin.

Know when it is time to visit the dermatologist. If you have tried every over the counter topical solution available and are not seeing any results, you should definitely explore your options with a dermatologist. Stubborn and severe acne may require antibiotics or cortisone to treat. A dermatologist can make such an evaluation and help a patient reverse the problems associated with problem persistent acne.