If you or someone you care about has an acne skin problem, you probably want to know what is a good, basic skin regimen that's easy to follow. Consider this, individuals with acne should live by the physician's creed - first, do no harm. While your original inclination might be to scrub away those pesky spots and zits - or worse, pop them - that is essentially the worst thing you can do, because irritating your skin will only make the zits that much more noticeable. Your goal should be to soothe your frazzled skin, prevent future outbreaks, and that will help to keep potential scarring to the minimum. That means regularly (twice a day - no more, no less) cleansing, lightly exfoliating, treating your spots and moisturising your skin (yes, moisturising!).

Choose your cleanser carefully, and by cleanser we're not talking soap, which is far too drying and irritating for a problem skin. If your skin isn't too sensitive, a cleanser containing alpha-hydroxy or salicylic acid that is gentle enough to unclog your pores and slough away the dead skin cells would be great. A doctor or facial care specialist can advise you on what will work best based on your personal skin care needs, and that might also include a toner, anti-inflammatory cream or ointment, and a moisturiser.

Now, you might be wondering, why a moisturiser - after all, you're trying to get rid of the oil, right? True. But, if your face becomes too dry then your own glands are going to overcompensate and just pour on the natural oil and your problems will worsen. You don't want a thick, heavy moisturiser; all you need is a simple, light lotion that is readily absorbed into your skin. Look for something non-comedogenic (which means it won't plug up your pores) and hypo-allergenic.

When using the cleanser, don't be stingy with the water, or with the cleanser. Don't apply the cleanser to dry skin, wet it first, lather up well and use the pads of your fingertips to gently cleanse all of your skin. Then splash off the cleanser well with fresh, tepid water. Gently pat your face dry and apply your moisturiser.

A good basic skin regimen for people with acne is pretty simple, isn't it? Yes, what's not simple though is following through with it, consistently. Your natural urge will be to hurry it along, cleansing more often, being a bit harsher than you need to be. Resist those urges! In time, you'll be rewarded with a clearer complexion and less acne breakouts.

For more help with your acne go to http://Acne.ie where you can download a FREE Report called 'The Facts About Acne and What You Need to Know'.

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