Acne is a problem that affects nearly all boys and some girls during their adolescence (and some adults also suffer with the condition). However, just because the majority of people will have to deal with acne to some extent, it doesn't mean that we can't investigate ways of overcoming or lessening the problem.

A severe outbreak of acne can ruin somebody's life, particularly if they are already suffereing with low self-confidence. And while it may not be possible to completely erradicate the acne, there are certainly steps that can be taken to reduce the problem.

The acne tips contained in this article should help to give you some ideas of things you can do to stop acne dominating your life. 

Prevention is better than cure they say. Well, that's all very well, but it's not very helpful for a person who's already experiencing an acne outbreak. We will be looking at tips for clearing acne later in the article, and it must also be noted that these acne prevention tips can be applied by those who currently have acne to reduce the spread or exacerbate their condition.

Although it is thought that genetics play a large part in determining whether or not you will get pimples - acne runs in families, there are things you can do to help to prevent acne. Without getting too technical, acne is caused when hair follicles and skin pores get blocked by oils produced by the skin. This leads to an increase in bacteria, which in turn causes a spot outbreak. It stands to reason that maintaining standard facial hygiene - washing your face twice a day - will help. Spots are not caused by dirt, but cleansing the face could help to remove built up skin oils. There are lots of acne soaps on the market, and, depending on your skin, these might suit you better than standard face soaps.

Another tip to prevent acne is to keep a check on your diet. A few years ago it was though that the idea that diet (particularly chocolate) causes acne was a myth, but now those ideas are being challenged. It seems that there are links between diet and incidence of acne (although it might not be the overriding factor).

In order to maximise your chances of avoiding acne, try to eat a balanced diet and drink plenty of water. Particularly, try to avoid sugary foods and drinks, as these may encourage the production of hormones that lead to an increase in skin oils.

One of the best tips to prevent acne spreading or getting worse is to leave the pimples alone. If you keep touching the with unwashed hands you are increasing the risk of the spots getting infected. The infected pimple will take longer to clear than an uninfected one.

 Although I'm not going to investigate acne treatments in detail in this article, there is one acne treatment tip that is key to getting rid of acne. If you are suffering with severe pimples, then go and seek medical advice. Get referred to a dermatologist and follow the advice that they give you. They will be able to pass on to you acne skin care tips and acne treatment tips that will be right for you and your skin type. There are lots of acne products on the market, and lots of these are excellent, but they should only be used on severe acne after consultation with a medical specialist.

If you are suffering with a relatively mild outbreak of acne, and are trying an acne product, another good acne cure tip is to read the instructions carefully and to give the product enough time to work. Lots of people seem to shift from one approach to another, often using two acne remedies at the same time. This is not a good idea for two reasons. First, the acne products may neutralise each other, and secondly you won't be able to properly analyse the effectiveness of the product to get rid of pimples on your skin.

The top acne tip is to try to stop worrying about it. Most teenagers (and many adults) battle acne everyday. If you think your acne is serious outbreak, seek medical advice and follow their acne tips they provide you with. With the improved technology and medical advances, this is the best time ever to get acne! You have a better chance of clearing acne today than you did five years ago.