These tips will help you get the best from your cleansing routine:

* Avoid abrasive soaps and exfoliators, both of which might indeed remove spots but usually at a cost of replacing them with open sores and possibly scarring also. Additionally avoid toners, astringents, also facial masks, except recommended by your medical advisor or pharmacists. This is because many non-prescription applications include chemicals that irritate the skin and can exacerbate an acne problem.

* Do not think cleaning the skin means squeezing sticky matter out of pimples and spots or scrubbing surplus oil from the skin. Both make acne worse and can lead to long-term suffering and potentially lifelong scarring.

* Cleanse affected areas twice daily or as recommended by doctors and medical advisors. Water and soap cause the skin to dry which might be beneficial in small doses, but washing with soap and water many times each day can cause the skin to become too dry and ultimately to flake and clog the pores and have a worsening effect on an existing acne condition.

* Do not use hot water on the skin which can burn and cause the skin to flake and block already clogged pores.

* Apply medication about ten or fifteen minutes after washing as early application can irritate the skin and lead to itchiness and ultimately exacerbate an acne problem.

* If you wear make up, use oil free preparations and apply it to scrupulously clean skin no less than ten minutes after cleansing.

* Apply acne medication before make up.

* Keep the skin sweat free through careful cleansing and hygiene procedures. Wearing a hat can lead to acne on the head which sufferers can avoid with regular cleansing with oil free shampoo.

* Follow a rigorous skin care regime after the skin becomes clear and healthy and do not reintroduce whatever sloppy or undesirable habits may have caused an earlier outbreak. This means you should keep skin clean and follow other good practices of hygiene and skin care during and after an acne outbreak.

* Once the acne clears you might continue using medication designed to treat acne to help prevent reoccurrence. Your doctor may continue providing prescriptions or might suggest a suitable over-the-counter medicine to help you remain acne-free.