Dealing with acne is a tough problem for anyone, whether you're a young teenager who has never had to deal with the problem before, or an adult that's still fighting a problem normally reserved for the young. Aside from the emotional implications of having everyone always focusing on your blemishes, instead of who you are; there is also a lot of discomfort that can result from acne-prone skin -- itching, swelling and even pain in more extreme cases.

Things that can help:

* Regular cleaning with a mild soap will greatly help in dealing with acne. Cleaning the oil and bacteria from the pores on your skin will help reduce clogging and exfoliate dead skin.

* Benzoyl Peroxide has been found to be particularly helpful in dealing with acne. It helps to disinfect and oxygenate clogged skin pores. This treatment can cause mild dry skin symptoms for some people, as it does strip the bacteria-laden oil from the skin surface.

* Laser procedures are becoming very popular, though still more expensive than over-the-counter treatments. The laser kills surface bacteria, shrinks the oil pores and exfoliates acne scarred skin.

* Prescription medications are another alternative. Most will come in the form of pills that reduce the over-production of skin oil and effectively dry out your pores. These medications are generally taken until your body stops creating too much of these bacteria-causing oils.

The Emotional Element

Emotions are probably the toughest hurdle to overcome when dealing with acne. If we never had to look in a mirror, or feel the gaze of others looking at us -- acne would be less of a problem for everyone.

Having a positive outlook is very important. Many people who have suffered through acne breakouts claim it made them a stronger person and even more beautiful on the inside. Like any hurdle in life, acne will not defeat you and for most of us: It will go away with time.