Millions of people around the world suffer from acne skin problems. It’s easy to lose hope when you suffer from acne. However, rather than just throwing in the towel and “hoping that it will just go away,” you can take some proactive steps towards getting rid of acne.

First, how does acne form? Acne is caused by too much sebum oil in the skin, which mixes with dirt and bacteria which form into the blackheads. The area surrounding the blackhead can get infected, causing swelling and redness – known as acne, pimples or zits.

The primary means of eliminating acne from your face is to decrease the amount of sebum present in your skin. This can be achieved through a variety of ways such as a skin care regimen, diet, the use of acne skin care products, and proper diet. Sometimes, treating your acne effectively requires all three at the same time -- failure to do so will make it almost impossible to get rid of acne. If you really want to know how to get rid of acne,  here are some effective tips that are proven to reduce acne breakouts and clear up the skin.

Wash Face

The first thing you should do is wash your face twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. By washing your face, you remove dirt, oil, dead skin cells, and excess bacteria from your face. Now, it’s best to use some sort of mild soap when you wash your face. It’s important that you chose non-comedogenic soaps –these soaps don’t clog your pores. There are even some acne soaps that are specially formulated for acne-prone skin and  won’t inflame your irritate your skin or clog your pores. I personally find Tea Tree oil soap my favorite type of soap to use – the tea tree oil contains some powerful antibacterial effects.

Exfoliate Face

You should make a point to exfoliate your face twice a week. Exfoliation removes dead skin cells, bacteria, and helps unclog your pores – essential for getting clearer skin. You need to be careful not to rub your face too hard. Most exfoliants have small beads or particles that are abrasive to the skin. Rubbing too hard could irritate or  inflame acne-prone skin. If you suffer from acne, you can get special acne exfoliants that are designed specifically for acne prone skin.

Use Effective Acne Skin Care Products

If you have an acne problem, you will probably already by using some sort of acne skin care product. There are so many acne products out there that it’s hard to sift what works from what doesn’t. Acne skin care products come in many forms: machines, acne creams, acne medications, acne pasts, acne soaps, acne face wash, acne toner, etc. In general, any sort of over the counter acne skin care product should have one of the following ingredients:

1. Benzoyl Peroxide

2. Salicylic Acid

3. Tea Tree Oil

These are all scientifically proven to help clear up your skin. Now, depending on your skin type, you may find different results. Benzoyl Peroxide is the most common, pretty much in almost every acne product you’ll find on the shelf. It comes in several formulations 2%,5%, and 10% (prescription). Benzoyl Peroxide often dries out the skin at first, so be careful not to use too much for the first two weeks.

Salicylic Acid is also another common acne medication. It’s not as effective as Benzoyl Peroxide, but some people do find it works.

My favorite is Tea Tree Oil, since this is completely natural – extracted from the Australian Tea Tree bush. It contain powerful antimicrobial properties and has been scientifically show to be as effective as 5% Benzoyl peroxide.

Any product that doesn’t have one of the ingredients, be very skeptical about. When using on of the acne treatments, make sure you continue to use it for at least a month. It often takes a month to see tangible improvements in your skin.

Eat a Healthy Diet

Most people draw the line at facial hygiene and acne medications. They don’t realize that diet and lifestyle is just as important to getting rid of acne as any medication. To cure acne, you should eat a healthy diet, avoiding food containing lots of staturated fat and trans fatty acids. This means avoiding fast food, processed food, and sugary products (pop, candy, etc).

Consider going on an acne diet, which is basically a diet that focuses on lean proteins, complex carbs (brown rice, brown past, yams, sweet potatoes, etc), and leafy vegetables. By eating a healthy diet, you will not only lose weight but will give your body all the nutrients it needs to stave off acne. You will also have less oily skin since you will have less fat in your diet. Less oily skin means less breakouts.

You should also drink 8 cups of water a day to help keep your skin moist and your body free of toxins.

There are also some acne treatments that people find helpful. Chemicle Peels (especially the glycolic acid peel), microdermabrasion machines, and facial steamers are the most common skin care treatments that also can be used to reduce acne blemishes.

These skin care treatments, however, tend to be pricier than over-the-counter acne medications. In general, they can be more effective than over the counter acne medications though -- especially if you are looking for immediate, short term results.

However, these skin care treatments are very popular and you can get so good results out of them.

Do Proper Fitness

You should also do 30-45 minutes of exercise each day. This keeps your body running in top shape and you also sweat more, which cleans out the pores of your face, preventing zit breakouts.

Use Oil Free Skin Care Products

Oily products can really cause bad breakouts. This includes makeup and cosmetics and other products such as suntan lotion. Make sure to choice skin products that are water based and no oil based. Oil clogs your pores causing blackheads and pimples.

Other

Always wash your sheets several times a week and change your pillow cases every two days. The reason is that you rub your oily face into your pillow, smearing grime an bacteria into the fabric. This can contribute to breakouts.

This will help to remove the excess oil in your skin, keep pores clear and speed up the time it takes for acne breakouts to heal. And, since time is a premium resource for many people today, your daily routine does not have to be extravagant, requiring a lot of time.

Conclusion

If you follow the guidelines above, you will begin to see dramatic improvements in time. Keep in mind that getting rid of acne takes time. There are NO instant acne cures available. There are acne treatments and there are acne medications, but none of these is instantaneous in their effects. Often getting rid of your acne requires a lengthy period of time and a complete overhaul of your diet. If you are willing to work and not give up, you can get rid of acne.