Acne pimples plague many teenagers to a life altering extent. It can lead to self-consciousness for all but the most confident and self-assured individuals. For those with persistent acne, the hormones that bring about the onset of puberty, and that bring about the onset of acne can be a double-edged sword.

Fortunately there are effective treatments out there for it – many of them available over the counter. And while it may take a little time for these potions to get control of your acne, a little perseverance should yield positive results. And quite possibly, the use of these medications will minimize the emergence of any new lesions after you start using them.

But every bit as important as the use of the right medicine is employing the proper skin care regimen. For some acne sufferers, this can make the difference between a face full of pimples, and one with few or none. But skin care for acne is about more than just keeping your face clean by washing it a lot. In fact, washing your face too much can make acne worse by drying the skin and creating a lot more dead cells that can clog pores. So it’s important to practice intelligent skin care.

You should keep your face clean, but don’t overdo the washing. If you have existing lesions, you should wash your face gently. Scrubbing your face roughly can irritate acne, and even worse, rupture the pimples you already have. This can add to your pimple problems as scarring can result from breaking them. And you don’t want to use anything rough textured when washing. Grainy cleansers or terry washcloths can also pop your zits. You should use your (clean) hands along with a gentle scrubbing motion. And just as important, rinse well to remove any soapy residue.

The cleansers that are specifically made for acne are the best choice for washing skin that is prone to it. They contain acne-fighting ingredients (like benzoyl peroxide) and can help fight acne by keeping your face clean, and by the inclusion of these ingredients that target the disease.

Use only non-comedogenic cosmetics and face creams, as other kinds may contain products that can aggravate or cause acne. Non-comedogenic means that it doesn’t cause comedones (acne lesions), like many makeup and cosmetic products do. In fact, there’s a mild but persistent type of acne specifically cause by cosmetics called, appropriately enough, acne cosmetica. Some of the ingredients in makeup that can cause acne are lanolin, mica, isopropyl myristrate, as well as many the fragrances used. So in choosing cosmetics, choose those that are labeled oil-free, fragrance-free and non-comedogenic. This applies to moisturizers as well.

Make sure that anything that comes in contact with your face is clean. Keep sheets and pillowcases clean and change them frequently. The accumulation of dirt and oil on these bedding items can aggravate or cause additional acne. The same applies to your hair. If it is long enough to contact your face, pull it back so this doesn’t happen. This is especially important when sleeping.

And keep your hair clean. It can collect and accumulate both dirt and oil, and readily transfer them to your face. Also, be careful of gels and oils used around the hairline. This can cause acne in those areas even for those not prone to it. It’s best to go lightly on the mousse if you’ve an acne problem.

Acne can be a challenge to control but in almost all cases it’s possible to do so. Even if doing so means a visit to the dermatologist, the fix for your acne problem exists and it starts with proper skin care.