People with acne consider it to be an annoying problem, one that frustrates them to the point of hopelessness.

Acne skin treatment does take time once acne has developed, but the truth is, if acne hasn't already started, then it is fairly easy to prevent its occurrence.  If it has started to appear, then following your prescribed acne treatment should bring positive results in a short period of time.

No matter what your predicament, you can have healthy skin if you will keep a few guidelines regarding proper skincare in mind.

Keep your skin clean

Perhaps the most important part of your daily skin care regime is keeping your skin clean.  It should be washed twice daily, morning and night, with a mild hypoallergenic cleanser.  In addition, it should be cleaned after any activity that causes you to sweat an abnormal amount, such as strenuous activity or exercise.

Of utmost importance is the type of cleanser you use on your skin.  Scrubbing your skin with a harsh, abrasive soap will only make your acne worse.  If you don't know of a good cleanser for your skin type, then consult your dermatologist for advice.  Once you have washed your skin (gently), then rinse it and pat it dry.

If your hair is oily, like your skin, then it should be shampooed daily because oil from your hair can easily find its way to your face and cause problems.

Shave carefully

Shaving is a problem generally affecting only men.  As far as choosing which type of razor to use (electric or safety), it depends upon which is the easiest and most comfortable to use.  When using safety razors, the short blade should be the only one used on acne-prone skin.  Before apply the shaving foam, the beard should first be softened using soap and water.  Shave very carefully and lightly to avoid irritating the blemishes that might be present.

Keep your hands off of your face

Manipulating (squeezing or popping) the bumps on your face will only cause them to spread or form ugly acne scars.  Keep your fingers completely off of your acne blemishes or you run the risk of interfering with your acne treatment.

Cosmetics

Check your make-up products to ensure that they are hypoallergenic and do not contain oil.  If they do, or if they are old, you should toss them out and buy new products.  Be sure to read the product labels to ensure that they don't contain ingredients that will conflict with your acne treatment.  Until your treatment progress, it may be difficult to use foundation or other liquid make-up products on your skin.

In addition to checking your make-up, you should also look at the shampoo and conditioner you use on your hair.  If they contain oil, acne could start appearing on your forehead.  Make sure all hair products are non-comedogenic.

Stay out of the Sun

Even if you think tanned skin makes your blemishes look better, beware of exposing your skin to the sun, especially throughout your acne skin treatment period.  Prolonged sun exposure will age your skin rapidly and put you at risk for skin cancer.

In addition to the harmful effects of the sun on your skin, the acne medication you are using can react negatively when exposed to the sun's rays, making you much more likely to get sunburned.