Many people have trouble with acne, generally as a result of clogged pores in the skin. Contrary to popular opinion, these people are not all in their teens; many of them are older. Whatever your age, here are some helpful tips to reduce your acne problem or eliminate it altogether.

Try to relax. Many experts actually agree that your mood is in direct correlation to acne breakouts. Stress can cause real and considerable damage to your skin. Recognize stress factors that are present in your life and work to eliminate them. Learn to take it easy occasionally, and your skin’s condition could improve dramatically.

Try using strawberries to combat your acne outbreaks. Some people have some success using facial masks to prevent or even get rid of acne. Try making strawberries into a face mask. Puree and mix them with a bit of sour cream. Leave it on for a few minutes before washing it off. Repeat the process weekly.

A clear cut way to keep your face clear of acne, is to make sure that you wash your face daily, to keep your skin clean and refreshed. Make sure to wash with warm water and soap. Using hot water will burn the skin and cause damage.

A great home remedy for clearing up acne is apple cider vinegar. It may not smell so good, but if you just put a tab on a cotton ball and rub it into the problem areas, you will have a clearer face by the time you wake up in the morning.

Try to avoid using oil-based cosmetic products if your skin is prone to acne. The oil in heavy oil-based moisturizers or foundations can block pores leading to the formation of whiteheads, blackheads and pimples. Oil-based products can also provide a good environment for bacteria to breed on your skin which could result in an acne outbreak.

One thing that can help your acne is to actually sweat it out. When you exert yourself and cause your body to produce sweat, you are actually flushing out the toxins in your system, which is great for preventing breakouts. Just make sure to wash your face after you sweat, so you don’t clog your pores.

Another simple, inexpensive, and rather tasty treatment for acne can be found in oatmeal. Make an oatmeal mask by simply combining 3/4 cup oatmeal and 1/2 cup water and cooking it for a few minutes. After it cools, apply to the face and allow to sit for 10 to 20 minutes. The oatmeal exfoliates and absorbs excess oil.

One widely known skin care treatment for acne is Aloe Vera. Aloe Vera comes from the innards of the aloe vera plant. The gel like substance contains many amino acids and vitamins that are beneficial to skin repair, such as Vitamin E. Simply apply to the skin after regular cleansing and watch the results.

Try to avoid going to bed with makeup on ever again. Sleeping in your makeup clogs pores and doesn’t allow the skin to breath, causing acne that could have been easily avoided. It also rubs off onto your sheets and pillows, leaving behind bacteria and oils that you’ll more than likely lay back in the next night.

The most expensive facial cleanser in the world, will not get your face any cleaner than the cheapest one, that does the job for you without irritation. Money will buy fancy labels and beautiful bottles, but the fact is, your face is a skin barrier, with only a finite number of cells that can be penetrated. No cleanser can go past that point. So if you find an inexpensive cleanser that doesn’t irritate your skin, even if it’s the Cetaphil knockoff from Walgreens, use it and save yourself a ton of dough.

Just as important as chemical and physical treatment of acne is emotional treatment. Stress is widely known as a trigger for acne breakouts. In order to prevent breakouts it is important to reduce the amount of stress in your life. If you can actively manage the levels of stress you could reduce the amount of episodes of acne.

If you’re struggling with acne, remember that you’re not alone. An overwhelming majority (ninety percent) of teenagers deal with breakouts. The far-reaching effects of acne don’t stop there, though. Half of all women and a quarter of all men will also battle persistent acne at some point. This is a common dermatological condition, so don’t be ashamed of what you can’t cure!

As you can see, problems with acne are not totally incurable. If you follow the tips that were discussed in the article, your acne problem will be aided, if not cured. But please see your physician or a dermatologist before doing anything very extreme, as they may have useful warnings or cautions.

Stop Acne In It’s Tracks With These Tips was originally published on Spring