Acne is the most common skin condition in the United States and perhaps the most widely bemoaned. Our self-esteem is often tied up in what we look like, and a breakout can often trigger feelings of dissatisfaction with our appearance. If a healthy, glowing complexion is what you dream of, how do you get it?

If you have a breakout, resist the urge to scratch or “pop” any pimples. This could cause an infection, scaring, or maybe even both. Try over-the-counter medications, creams, and astringents first. If your acne worsens, consider making an appointment with a dermatologist who can suggest something more effective.

You can prevent acne by making sure that your cell phone is clean and disinfected. We all put our phones directly to our cheeks when we talk and we don’t want all that extra bacteria transferring from our cell phones to our faces. If not cleaned, this will cause instant pimples.

To help rid your face of acne get plenty of sun and fresh air. Healthy skin needs the Vitamin D that the sun helps to stimulate. Vitamin D is essential for healthy skin. Stress can also be reduced by getting fresh air and sun, stress is said to be a cause of acne.

Regular exercise can be helpful when you’re dealing with re-occurring acne problems. Exercise is a great way to release toxins, cleanse the pores (through sweating), and it also helps to relieve stress (which some believe contributes to acne). Stick to natural cotton exercise gear however, as synthetics can trap sweat and bacteria.

Prevent breakouts with this easy tip. Clean your cellphone (and desktop phone at work) thoroughly with an alcohol wipe each day to take off excess oils. When you press your face against these objects, your pores can become clogged with old residue. When you don’t clean these devices, you put yourself at risk to breakouts.

During the summer, you want to protect your skin from the sun as well as breakouts. To do this successfully, make sure to browse the sunscreen aisle for “oil-free” products. It should say this clearly on the label. A product that says “sheer touch” does not necessarily mean it does not contain oil. Sunscreens that do not have oil will be less likely to cause breakouts.

To keep from developing breakouts, you should regularly clean your makeup brushes. When you use a makeup brush, oil and dirt from your face are transferred to the brush. Over time, the brush can build up bacteria and clog your pores. Taking the time to clean your brushes will keep them from damaging your skin.

To get rid of pimples and scaling around your mouth, use an unflavored toothpaste. Flavors in toothpaste can cause a skin condition known as perioral dermatitis. This condition is very common, and a plain toothpaste is the quickest way to clear it up. Switching your toothpaste will help your skin to look as healthy as your teeth do.

Something very important to keep in mind about skin care is to not use too much makeup. It clogs the pores of your skin, making it more difficult for your skin to breathe, and exacerbates blackheads, whiteheads, and other inflammation. It is best to wear as little as you can.

If you are suffering from acne and are hesitant to engage in social interaction, understand that blemishes look much worse to the sufferer than to the people around him and her. Therefore, do not exaggerate how bad your acne is, which can lead to increased levels of stress and more pimples.

For natural acne remedies, try using a honey mask, once a week. It may be hard to believe, but honey contains natural antibacterial properties. It’s a cheap way to pull irritants from your pores and leave your skin glowing. Better yet, it tastes a lot better than any masks from your local department store would!

You should wash your pillowcases several times a week. If you do not have a washer and dryer at home, make sure you have plenty of pillowcases on hand between trips to the laundromat. Dead skin cells, hair products and other body products, get trapped in your bedding and can block and irritate your pores. Your pillowcases may not always match your bed-set, but you can rest assured your bedding won’t be contributing to future breakouts.

Avoid wearing tight clothing during workouts or heavy activity as heat and friction combined will cause acne anywhere on your body. A hat or sweat band, even snug fitting yoga outfits may instigate a rash of acne, especially anything made from synthetic fibers. Switch to loose, comfortable clothing and accessories that are made from cotton or other natural fabric to reduce such inadvertent breakouts.

The steps to take that are necessary for clear skin are not difficult or time consuming and often require just a little bit of work on your part. Having glowing skin can be a tremendous boost to your self-steem and can have a big influence on how people perceive you.

Advice For How To Reduce And Eliminate Acne was originally published on Spring