I sent him back a message stating that if he wanted to be successful with Proactiv, he must begin to be consistent with the program. This goes for any acne program that you're trying. If you want your acne to clear, you must be consistent with the program in which you're using.

That's my get rid of acne tip of the day. :)

Common Acne Mistakes - Facial Washing

• Not washing your face - If you're not washing your face at all, how do you expect your acne to go away? It's common sense. Start washing your face.
  

• Washing your face too much - Many people think that the more they wash their face, the clear their skin will become. This is not true. In reality, you should only really be washing your face once or twice a day. Any more than that will likely strip your skin of it's natural oils causing it to dry out. In turn, this causes you to get more breakouts.
  

• Using a product that isn't strong enough - Maybe 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide is too weak for you. Try a product with a higher concentration. But remember, the higher the concentration, the more likely of a chance that your skin will become irritated.
  

• Using a product that is too strong - On the the other hand, if you're using a product that is too strong, then you should try a similar product with a lighter concentration of the main acne fighting ingredient.
  

• Not using moisturizer - If you're fighting your acne with anything that "may cause dryness," then you need to use a moisturizer. Otherwise, your skin will become dry, itchy, red, and irritated. I recommend Proactiv's Green Tea Moisturizer.
  

• Not using the right kind of moisturizer - Back in the day I was using Lubriderm lotion to keep my face moist. The problem: Lubriderm lotion is way to thick and oily for the face. Again, Proactiv makes a great moisturizer that I greatly recommend.
  

• Giving up on a product too early - This is another common mistake. Many people think that because a product doesn't work within 3 days that it's not going to work at all. In reality, products can take up to one or two months to work. Some products may even make your acne worse before making it better.
  

• Not being gentle with your skin - Don't scrub your skin. It will irritate and dry it out. This is especially true if you have the "beaded stuff" in your acne treatment. With that being said, gently and lightly brush your acne medicine - medication over your face.

• Adding other products - If you're using Proactiv, don't use Neutrogena also. Stick with one product. Don't mix products together. The only thing that I would allow you to mix is your acne treatment with a different brand of moisturizer. That should be fine.
  

• Not reading and or following the instructions - So many people think that I am a genius when it comes to using Proactiv correctly. The truth is, I simply read the instructions. If you follow the instructions, you will be that much more likely to be sucessful in getting rid of your acne.
  

Common Acne Mistakes - Diet

• Believing diet doesn't play a role in acne - Your diet does play a role in your acne. Simple Equation: If soda causes dehydration and dehydration is a cause of acne then soda would be an indirect cause of acne. Thus, soda can cause acne and last time I checked, what we drink is also considered being part of our diet. Thus, our diet contributes to our acne.
  

• Drinking Soda - This is a definite no no. Instead of drinking that garbage, drink a glass of water. To be exact, drink 8 glasses of water a day.
  

• Not drinking enough water - Like I said above, drink 8 glasses of water a day.
  

• Drinking too much Milk - Now, I don't know for a fact that this is true. However, I have heard rumors that if you drink too much milk, your acne will worsen. But for me, I always drink milk and I am just fine.
  

• Not following a balanced diet - Remember, too much of anything is never a good thing. Be sure to follow a healthy diet and keep a food log of what you eat in contrast to when you flare up.
  

Common Acne Mistakes - Environment

• Touching your face - For me, this hasn't really hurt my acne too much. However, it's definitely not helping it either. With that said, don't touch your face if you don't have to.

• Taking Long Showers - Taking long showers can dry out your skin. If you absolutely have to take a long shower, always be sure to moisturize your face afterward.

• Wearing hats or helmets - This is usually a major cause of forehead acne. Try to cut back on wearing your hat as much as you can. Obviously you should still wear your helmet for safety purposes, but try to keep it as clean as possible.
  

• Not washing your pillow - I have actually heard of people who decided to start washing their pillow cases once a week. In result, their skin became clearer. With that being said, you may want to begin to wash those pillow cases before they make your acne worse.

• Working around Chemicals - I read about this a long time ago, but I apparently, working around harmful chemicals can make your acne worse. However, I am not completely sure about that. That's just what I read.
  

Understand these Common Acne Mistakes

Please understand these common acne mistakes. Again, the most common mistake is probably washing the face too much or too often. If you can understand these common acne mistakes and follow a good acne regimen, you will begin to get rid of acne.

Other than changing your diet to get rid of acne, Benzoyl Peroxide is the next best way to do it. Benzoyl Peroxide is in a lot of acne products these days.

Some companies that contain Benzoyl Peroxide to get rid of acne:

• Proactiv
• Acne dot Org
• Neutrogena Skin ID

Those are the only ones that I know of, but I am almost 100% sure that there are many more companies that also contain Benzoyl Peroxide as the main ingredient in their acne fighting medications.

Recommended products that get rid of acne...

Out of the two products below, I have tried Proactiv. I still use it to this day and it works quite well. On the other hand, many people have had much success with Acne dot Org so I definitely recommend checking them out also.

1. Proactiv
2. Acne dot Org

Benzoyl Peroxide Side Effects

Please be well aware of the side effects of Benzoyl Peroxide for it can cause dry, red, and flaky skin. With that being said, be sure that you're using a good moisturizer. I personally like the Proactiv Green Tea Moisturizer.

You can get rid of your acne!

You just have to stick with whatever regimen you decide to use. Also, make sure that you stick with it long enough so you can actually see if it works.

Tips to combating skin redness.

Skin redness can be combated in a few different ways.

1. Using less of your acne product.
2. Washing your face less than you normally would.
3. Spending less time in the shower.
   
4. Using moisturizer or more moisturizer than normal.
   

Product to combat skin redness / patches

I personally like using Proactiv's Green Tea Moisturizer. I apply it twice a day and right when I get out of the shower. For me, this works quite well when it comes to getting rid of my skin redness.

Skin dryness, redness, patches can be prevented.

By following the tips above, you should be able to combat skin redness, dryness, and patches. Doing so will give your skin the glow you've always wanted it to have.

Causes of forehead acne:

1. Hat - Helmet (does wearing a hat cause acne)
   
2. Hair

If you simply eliminate these two elements, then your forehead acne will begin to go away.

Can't eliminate the causes of forehead acne?

Here's the true deal: If you really want to get rid of acne, you need to begin to make some sacrifices. That means that you may have to cut your hair or stop wearing your favorite hat.

If worst comes to worst and you can't eliminate these items because of a sporting even or for some other reason, then you should do the best you can to get on a good acne fighting regimen to get rid of acne.

The thought behnind Benzoyl Peroxide is simple:

1. You apply the B.P. to your face.
2. Then your face drys out.
3. Your first layer of skin and sheds it off.
4. You have no more acne after a few weeks.

From my understanding, this is how it works and it obviously makes sense. The problem with Benzoyl Peroxide is, as of late, it's been receiving a bad rap. Many people actually believe that Benzoyl Peroxide causes cancer. Could this be true? If so, how will acne companies redeem themselves? Benzoyl Peroxide is practically an acne cure.

Could the end of Benzoyl Peroxide based products be coming?

Drinking water is one great way to get rid of acne and many people actually miss out on the amazing things that water can actually do for their skin.

Simply by drinking 8 glasses of water a day you'll notice

• Hydrated skin.
• and clearer skin.

Seriously. Give it a try and I almost promise you that it will help you get rid of your acne.

Benzoyl Peroxide linked to cancer tumors

I continued doing more and more research around the net. Most of the articles are the same. I read this article titled, Can Proactiv cause Cancer and it basically discussed how Benzoyl peroxide was a "tumor promoter" and also a "tumor progression agent" in a number of animal studies.

This is pretty messed up. I want to keep my skin clear, but is this seriously worth it? It may be time to look for more natural methods.

Also see Get rid of acne with Benzoyl Peroxide.

Now I know, you're thinking, "That's not possible. You're full of it." But really, this stuff works and it works well. The main reason it works is because of the stronger 6% Benzoyl Peroxide instead of the weaker 2%. With that being said you may want to make a note not to apply this stuff over your entire face. Otherwise, your skin will likely become really dry which is never fun.

This is definitely a recommend product! Cleared my pimple overnight!

With that being said,

• Try to wash your pillow case at least once a week.
• And try not to smash your face into your pillow when you sleep.

Why are dirty pillow cases bad for acne

Well, because they're dirty. They're full of oils from your hair. These oils are said to make acne worse. So just be sure to keep your pillow cases clean for clear skin.

I have actually tried using this little toothpaste acne trick, technique, or whatever you want to call it many times and all it did for me was make me smell a little minty and make my skin a little dry and irriated.

So can toothpaste get rid of acne? No. Toothpaste will not clear your acne.

I began to do some research on the internet like I usually do and I found that if you actually reduce your intake of or stop drinking milk altogether, your skin will actually become clearer.

Why is milk suspected to cause acne?

Well, just as I guessed, it has something to do with the hormones derived in cow's milk. Now, I must admit that I am not expert in this area so I would definitely recommend searching Google a little on the subject.

Protein A may cause Person A to get acne.
Protein A may not cause Person B to get acne.

However,
Protein B may not cause Person A to get acne.
And Protein B may cause Person B to get acne.

For me, I never have really had bad acne because of a protein shake. On the other hand, heavily weight training could cause testosterone to build up in your body and cause more acne. But I am not completely sure on that.

All in all, acne is different for different people. Keep a food log in tact and see what makes you breakout and see what doesn't. That's the only way to know for sure.

So do Protein shakes cause acne?
It all depends on the person and the type of protein shake / supplement that they're taking.

From my personal experience, as long as I am washing my face and following a legit acne regimen, then my skin will stay clear anyway. However, on occassion I may receive a pimple or two because of the sweat buildup under the hat. So in a sense, hats and football helmets can sometimes make acne worse.

Tips for hat wearers and acne

• Keep your hat clean and fresh.
• If you don't have to wear a hat then don't.
  
• Try to wear a hat which is a little looser around your head.
• Don't wash your face more because of your hat.

Remember, it's important to only wash your face once or twice a day because washing your face too much could make your acne even worse.

Based off of personal experience, dehydration is one of the major causes of acne.

When I drink 8 glasses or more of water a day my skin is

• Smoother
• Healthier
• Moister

When I drink less than 8 glasses or water a day my skin is

• Dryer
  
• Rougher
• with more Breakouts

The Experts Seem to agree in acne - dehydration link

Experts believe that drinking more water will actually release toxins that would otherwise be harmful to ones skin and or body. Experts even note that people who drink the recommended daily amount of water have clearer and more beautiful skin.

With all of that said, I think we can assume that dehydration does in one way or another, contribute to acne.

Does the Proactiv Green Tea Moisturizer work?

Not only does it work well, it goes on thin so you don't even know it's there. It's awesome because it really does moisten your face but like I said, it's so thin that you don't even notice it. This is definitely a prodcut that I recommend.

However, as this is true, if you be sure to keep your face moisturized, I doubt long and hot showers will really have any effect.

Why do long showers make acne worse?

Long hot showers usually remove your skin's natural oils making it harder to keep in the moisture. This causes the skin to become dry and dryness usually makes acne worse.

How can I keep my acne from worsening but still shower?

You can either

• Shower in cooler water.
• Shower for less time.
• Keep your face moisturized.

My recommendation would be to

• Do all of the above.

If I touch my face will my acne worsen?

Let's just put it this way, if you don't have to touch your face, then don't. From my personal experience, facial touching hasn't caused me acne however, I can't really say that it helped my acne either. See what I mean?

With that being said, it's best if you simply don't touch your face. It can't help your acne and if it can't help your acne, then I probably wouldn't do it.

You may also want to see

• Does wearing a hat cause acne?
• and Pillow worsens acne
  

According to your specific preferences, Neutrogena will build this acne product fit specifically to your personal needs. It seems like the best way to clear your skin right? A custom made acne product just for you for only $40.00.

Does Skin ID work?

I have not personally used Neutrogena's Skin ID, but I have read two pretty understandable reviews for it. What I mean is, both reviews make very good points and I can see the positives and the negatives of Skin ID.

Skin ID does not work!

Negative Review - According to the review by Team Sugar, Skin ID is not a good product. Specifically saying that Skin ID caused the users skin to become rather dry. Apparently, the same user wasn't too fond of the Benzoyl Peroxide and Salicylic Acid which were the two main ingredients in their custom made acne products. Just so happens that you can find Benzoyl Peroxide (B.P.) and Salicylic Acid in most in store products for a lot cheaper of a price.

Negative Review Verdict - To me, it doesn't sound like this user gave Skin ID a chance. Sure, their skin dried, but maybe they didn't follow the instructions. Remember, it's important to know how to use your Acne Treatment correctly, otherwise it may not work how it's supposed to.

Skin ID made my skin smoother.

Positive Review - This reviewer had a better experience with Skin ID. They said that Skin ID was refreshing and they noticed that their skin had looked healthier and smoother. The only problem they had with Skin ID was with the cleanser. Apparently, the cleanser didn't wash their makeup off too well. Aside from that, Skin ID was a success.

Positive Review Verdict - It sounds to me like this review was also thrown together quite quickly. However, it also seems like this person liked Skin ID enough to hold onto it and continue to use it.

Should I get Skin ID?

Here's the deal, until you try something, you'll never know whether or not it will work. You've heard both the good and the bad of the product, but really, it's all up to you. I would recommend trying 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide acne treatment from Walmart. If the Walmart stuff doesn't work for you, you could go ahead and give Skin ID by Neutrogena a try.

As you can see, obviously I used to have really bad acne all around my chin area. However, now that I have used Proactiv, my acne is all gone. Yeah!

Need help with Proactiv?

If you've previously tried Proactiv and it didn't work for you, check out my post on how to use Proactiv correctly. It's got stuff in there that you must understand in order for Proactiv to actually be effective.

Use my video on your site for FREE

Copy the code below and paste it onto your blog or site to show others how effective Proactiv can actually be.

Personally, I love to use Proactiv.

However, it seems to me that the best and most popularly used acne products in the world consist of the following three.

3. Acne.Org's products

I have not tried Acne.Org's products, but I have heard wonderful things about them. Daniel Kern, the owner of the website, is really intelligent when it comes to making acne decisions. Another great thing about Acne.Org are the forums. In my opinion, the forums at Acne.Org have some of the best acne information on the net. Finally, Acne.Org has some of the best acne clearing instructional videos. (Besides mind of course :) Seriously though. Even if you don't want to purchase a product from Acne.Org, I do definitely recommend their forums.

2. Murad Acne Clearing Products

From my understanding, this product is in high competition with Proactiv. I believe their slogan goes something like, "If Proactiv didn't work, our product will." Anyway, Murad is said to be one of the better acne clearing products on the market, but I personally do not have any experience with it.

1. Proactiv - My Favorite!

See the before and after picture of me at the top of this page? Yeah. The after picture is a result of using Proactiv Solution so you better bet that this is a Product favorite! I hear that many people have problems with Proactiv and as this may be true, my best bet is that these people simply need to learn how to use Proactiv correctly. When used correctly, Proactiv can be the ultimate acne killer.

Get Rid of Acne Online

Finally, I have to mention my own website.. lol. I hope you guys are liking Get Rid of Acne Online. Be sure to subscribe for free acne advice below. I hope to see you all back soon!

How to use Egg Whites for an Acne Mask

Well, you obviously have to get the eggs. Then, you slightly crack them and let all of the clear stuff out. Don't let out the yellow stuff. Then, using a magic bullet or some sort of blender, mix all of the clear stuff until it looks nice, creamy, and foamy like it does to the left.

Then, apply the cream to your face. Leave it on for about 20 minutes. During this time your face will tighten. After 20 minutes, gently wash off all of the Egg Whites with lukewarm water.

Egg White Acne Mask Review

I personally love using egg whites for an acne mask. Did it give me results? Yeah. I would say that my skin looked way better after I used the egg whites. Do I recommend using Egg Whites for acne every day? No. As it will cause far too much irritation.

Overall, Egg Whites for acne is a pretty decent home remedy. However, this doesn't mean that you should stop using your regular acne medication to get rid of acne.

Proactiv may cause...

• Dry skin
• Red skin
• Itchy skin
• Scaly skin

Avoiding Proactiv Side Effects

Avoiding the side effects of Proactiv and other acne products is quite easy to use. Simply do not overuse the product. See my post on How to use Proactiv correctly.

By following a lighter face washing routine, you're less likely to get

• Dry
  
• Irritated
• and or Red skin.

Nobody likes that stuff.

Things you should know about face washing

• Not necessary after you workout.
• One time in the shower and one time before bed is enough!
  

Finally, if your skin still becomes dry, irritated, or red and itchy, try using your acne product only once a day instead of twice a day. This will cause all of these side effects to fade out. A great moisturizer will also get rid of the above side effects.

In ending note, if you really want to get rid of acne, then you must be consistent without overdoing the whole face wash deal. Remember, it's not how many times a day you wash your face, it's the quality of the two times a day that you do.

Why does Proactiv make acne worse at first

Much that I have read states that Proactiv and other products with Benzoyl Peroxide will actually worsen your skin before making it better because the product is actually made to bring up all of your acne at once.

I guess that makes sense though. I mean, the sooner your acne comes up the sooner it will go away right? Get rid of acne online thinks so and I believe it totally makes sense.

Does Proactiv make acne worse?
Yes. But only before making it better.

Why? I have no idea why, I just know from personal experience. See my post on how washing your face too often makes acne worse.

As stupid as this may sound, face washing isn't about quantity, it's about quality.

With that being said, stop washing your face too much for you're only making your acne worse.

Moisturize your Face

One great way to counter the dryness that Proactiv causes can be done by simply moisturizing your face.

Face Moisturizing tips to combat dryness

• Moisturize your face before and after you shower.
• Moisturize your face 10 minutes after you apply Proactiv.

Use Proactiv only once a day

Another great way to combat face dryness caused by Proactiv is to simply cut back and use Proactiv only once a day. I realize that the instructions on Proactiv say to use it twice a day, but in truth, the amount of times you should use any acne product is really based off personal preference.

Proactiv Healthy Skin

If you use Proactiv correctly, your skin will become healthy. Again, the amount of times you should use any product should be based off of personal preference.

With that being said, Proactiv does not cause dry skin.

However, the inexperienced user of the product does.

Also see: Get Rid of Acne Redness

Shaving and Pimple Tips

When you have pimples there are two things you know about shaving.

1. Shave around your acne.
2. Don't try to shave off your acne.

Shaving and Face Wash Tips

This is the regimen that I follow. It's important to follow this regimen whether or not you have acne because it will keep your face the smoothest and healthiest possible.

1. Shave
2. Take a shower
3. Use your acne face wash
   
4. Apply Moisturizer (I use Lubriderm)

By following the above routine, your skin will go through the least possible damage.

Clear that Acne

In final note, the best way to avoid shaving with acne is to get rid of your acne altogether. I personally like to use Proactiv, but it all depends on who you are.

Blue Light acne therapy review

I purchased my blue 420nm light on Ebay for about $120.00. I figured that I should go ahead and give it a try. The instructions that came with the light stated that I was to use it every night for about 8 to 10 minutes a night. As the process continued I was to slowly stop using the light.

As the process also continued my acne was getting worse. (because I stopped using Proactiv.) Apparently, this was all a part of the blue light acne treatment process, but my acne never got better.

Does Blue Light acne therapy work? I wouldn't count on it.

Two ways to clear skin.

1. Eating healthier
   
2. Use Products

Clear Skin Recommendations

I recommend using both of the above ways to clear your skin if at all possible. I personally like to use a little bit of both. It just depends on the person. I know many people who don't like products because they're unhealthy for the skin then I know many people that will do whatever it takes to get clear skin.

Consistency is key to Clear Skin

Whether you decide to eat healthier or use product to clear your acne, you must be consistent.

• You can't eat healthier 3 / 7 days of the week and expect to see an improvement in your acne.

• Just like you can't only use your product 3 / 7 days of the week and expect to see an improvement in your acne.

Acne is complex. If you want to get rid of acne, correct product or diet is key next to executing your regimen with consistency. You asked me how to clear acne and that's the basic idea.

• Many people think that once their skin is clear they're in the clear from using their acne medication which cleared their skin in the first place. This is totally untrue.
  

• Many people complain that a product doesn't work because their face got worse after they finished using the product. You can never be done with a product. You must continue to use the product even after your skin is already clear.

Keep your skin clear!

So again, if you want to keep your skin clear, then never stop using your acne product because your acne will come back to haunt you!

Determining your pimple type

Popping a pimple with a needle isn't really all that hard to do and it doesn't really take much skill at all. Depending on what type of pimple you have is what will determine whether or not you should try to pop it. If your pimple has a whitehead then it is ready to pop.

Things you will need to pop the pimple...

1. A pimple.
   
2. A white head.
3. A sterilized needle.
4. A damp warm towel.
5. 2 Q-tips
   

Instructions on popping a pimple with a needle.

1. Dampen a clean towel with warm water.
2. Gently place the towel over the pimple you're about to pop for one minute.
3. Take the sterilized needle and gently prick at the top of the whitehead.
4. Take the 2 q-tips and gently squeeze out the pimple.
   
5. Gently wash your face with your acne medicine.
   

Success! You've just popped your pimple!

I hope everything went well. Sometimes you may have more success than other times. Be sure to check out the rest of Get Rid of Acne Online for more acne tips! Thanks for coming!

How to Was a dirt dirty face!

Washing your face really isn't too hard to do, but again, it's a lot harder when it's covered with a lot of dirt or more. However, this is what I do to wash my face when it's actually dirty.

1. Turn your water on warm.
2. Gently splash your face 4-5 times.
3. Pat your face dry with a soft and clean cloth.
4. Put on any moisturizer if need be.
   

Doing this should be enough to get the dirt off of your face. Again, you're trying to splash your face the least amount of times possible. The more you splash it, the more irritated it will become. This is especially true for those who have sensitive skin.

Again guys, if you want to get rid of acne you can start by not washing your face as much. For the people who wash their face 3+ times a day, you're just making your skin worse!

Why Seasonal Acne?

This is simply a theory, but my best bet is that this would have to do with the temperature and the sun itself.

• A dry and cold winter suggests dry and more sensitive skin.
• A summer may suggest too much sun for your face, causing acne problems.

Keeping acne clear year around.

The best thing you do is

• Moisturize your face in the winter time.
  
• Use sunscreen and protect your face in the summer time.

This should help get rid of your acne during the seasons you get it the most.

Clearing acne takes time

Clearing acne isn't an overnight thing. The worse your acne is, the longer it will take to clear. Just understand that if you were looking to get rid of your acne in one day, you won't. (image credit: flickr)

There's not much else to say here. A dab of toothpaste on your face overnight will NOT clear your acne. If anything, it will makes things worse.

If you want to truly get rid of acne, it will take time. All of those "overnight methods" are completely garbage. There's no way to clear your acne overnight. Again, acne is something that takes time to clear!