BOOO!!! The evil dreaded ZIT!!!
Nobody likes them, NOBODY! Oh well, that's why I (QUISP) am going to tell you a little something about the hideous daemon which plagues virtually every teenager!
I myself have acne. It's not very severe, but it is REALLY annoying, and throughout the past year I've gone through 3 prescription medications (I'm nearing the end of my fourth one, and it looks like I'll have to go back and get a DIFFERENT prescription [Accutane... ugh!]).
Anyway... there are many ways to help prevent acne. The key word here is PREVENT. These things will not get rid of the acne you already have! Zits flare up, then disappear eventually.
Remember to only wash your face once or twice a day AT THE MOST!!! Doing otherwise can irritate the skin, and cause acne to flare up and be painful (trust me). It can also cause zits to pop, and spread the bacteria to other pores, causing even MORE acne!!!
Which brings me to my next point... NEVER POP ZITS!!! You've probably heard that a million times, but it's true. Popping zits spreads the bacteria inside them and can cause scars. (Ever see someone with little hole/crater-type things in their face? That's what you'll get!)
There are good face/body washes available from Neutrogena that contain salicylic acid, which helps cleanse pores and remove bacteria. I find the easiest way, though, is to use Oxy Balance Deep Pore Cleansing Pads. However, they can dry out your skin (like all acne cleansing things) and cause irritation, so be sure to READ THE LABEL!
Keep in mind, these things only help prevent acne. There is virtually no way to stop it completely. All people have oily skin; some more so than others, and they tend to have worse acne. If you have mild acne, then try using products containing BENZOYL PEROXIDE. Remember, don't use this with other medications (not even preventative medications, unless directed by your physician!). I've found, though, that this doesn't work (mind you, nothing works for me!), but you have to be faithful and use it EVERY DAY for at least a month. For many people, it takes up to three months. But remember to read the instructions!
If this doesn't work, go to a dermatologist/doctor and see what they have to say. Chances are they'll put you on a mild antibiotic. Those are a pain to take, though, as you usually have to take them on an empty stomach. But still, it's better than having acne!
Oh, one more thing -- DIET DOES NOT CONTRIBUTE TO ACNE!!! Or at least there has been no scientific research to prove that it does. (My friend's mother is CONVINCED that nail-polish causes acne -- trust me, it doesn't.)
One last thing -- most acne medications cause acne to flare up and become worse during the first period of treatment. This is perfectly natural. So don't freak out and go suing the medication company, LoL.
Hope this helps. It's time for me to go apply my lovely Stievamycin (Tretnoin and Erythromycin). So yeah, I'm out! Have a nice pimple-free day!
-QUISP
p.s. One FINAL thing... if you are on an antibiotic, remember to use it EVERY DAY (or whenever it tells you to take it) for the entire period recommended by your doctor/physician. If you don't (as with all antibiotics) the bacteria that are not killed will have a higher immunity to that particular antibiotic and it will pass that immunity on to the future generations and when the acne returns, it will not be susceptible to that particular antibiotic!
