OK let's get one thing straight from the outset, you cannot cure acne. No-one can. So if someone tells you they can, you'd be wise to question their motives.
The good news is whilst you can't cure acne, you can treat it and keep it under control.
There are a number of acne treatments available on the market these days. Some will work well for you and some won't. It's as simple as that.
The secret to success is choosing a treatment that suits your skin type. It's no good using something that dries out your skin, if you already have a dry skin. Clearly, this is only going to make matters worse and your skin will become irritated, will redden quite quickly and start to flake. Not a good look in anyone's books!
Most people who suffer with acne will have an oily skin. Primarily because the majority of acne sufferers tend to be teenagers and in the teenage years your hormones go way off balance. This has a knock-on effect of over-producing an oily substance called sebum. This is what makes your hair greasy. It also clogs up the pores of your skin.
When your pores are clogged with excess oil they are far more prone to infection from dead skin cells and the bacteria that lives naturally on your skin. The infection gets attacked by white blood cells, many of which die in the ensuing battle and end up as pus. Guess what? You now have a painful and ugly zit!
Whatever you do, try to resist the temptation to squeeze the joker. I know it's hard, but you could end up scarring your face permanently, or make the infection worse. It will subside naturally as your body's immune system copes with it.
So since we can't cure acne, we need to prevent the series of events that form a zit in the first place. We need to reduce excess sebum, remove dead skin cells and kill the bacteria, i.e. do our best to completely eradicate a zit-friendly environment.
The result of years of research show the most effective agent for reducing excess oil is benzoyl peroxide.
Similarly, a naturally occurring element found in citrus fruits, salicylic acid, kills off bacteria. A gentle exfoliating lotion will remove dead skin cells.
Several forms of Green Tea in solution have also proven to re-moisturize skin (once you've removed the oil and the dead cells and bacteria from your face) without being greasy and adding more oil into your pores.
It follows then, that a strict regime of applying a product that includes these three ingredients should prove effective. Let me tell you, I've tried them all. One product works well for me and I have put up a review on my website if you're interested.
Finally, the myths. In my experience, none of the following has ever worked for me as an effective acne treatment:
* Drinking more water
* Eating less chocolate
* Eating more fresh fruit
* Eating more salad
* Getting more sleep
* Chilling out more
However, what has helped is:
* Not touching my face too often
* Keeping hair from hanging in face
* Avoiding oily hair products
* Staying out of the sun
So hang on in there. Whilst a spotty skin is an irritant and particularly annoying, treated properly it can be controlled and it will pass eventually. Most people outgrow acne by their early to mid-twenties. So there is reason to stay up beat.