Everyone knows that one of the biggest keys to getting rid of acne is keeping your face clean.  Not everyone knows exactly what constitutes proper skin care.  How often do you wash your face?  What cleansers should you use?  What about exfoliating?  By learning how to care for your skin, you can easily reduce or even eliminate your acne.  

The first step to keeping your skin clean is, of course, washing it.  The problem is, most people either wash their skin too much nor not enough.  Washing your skin too much will cause your skin to start creating more oil to make up for the over cleansing.  Ideally, you should cleanse your face twice a day, upon awakening and before going to bed.  Don't scrub too hard and use a mild cleanser that is scent free.

After your face is clean you can use a topical acne medication such as tea tree oil.  You can also apply a sensitive skin facial lotion with suncreen.  

Exfoliation should also be part of your skin care routine and should be done twice a week.  Exfoliation helps get rid of dead skin and deep cleans your face.  Be sure not to do it more than twice a week or you could end up with dry, irritated skin.

For added skin health, think about adding a weekly to bi-montly skin mask treatment.  There are many different kinds including ones specifically made to help with acne.  

A proper skin care routine can make all the difference in your skin health and your acne.  By simply knowing how to take care of your skin and following a proper skin care routine you can take control of your acne.  

Of course, if you still have acne problems after adopting good skin care habits, it may be time to look into other options to manage your acne.

Do you have your acne under control but still suffer from acne scars?  There are many types of acne scars, from scars with a tint of redness to deep scars that look like pits in the skin.  After working hard on eliminating your acne or getting it under control, the last thing you want is reminders in the form of acne scars.  Some deep scars may need more advanced treatment by a dermatologist, but there are many homemade treatments that can help get rid of your acne scars.  Try these different home remedies and see which works best for you.  Unless otherwise stated, you can apply these treatments and leave them on for 20 minutes and then wash off.

Honey is well known for improving the skin and can be very effective when treating acne scars.  Apply a bit of honey to your acne scars but just make sure to use pure raw honey that has never been heated (heat kills the medicinal effect of honey).  Let the honey sit on the scar for a while, but wash it off before it gets sticky and attracts dirt.

Apply lemon juice to your scars.  Squeeze juice from half of a fresh lemon.  Dip a cotton ball into the juice and apply to your skin covering all the affected areas.  Let the lemon juice dry on your skin which takes about 10 minutes.  Note:  If the lemon juice causes severe discomfort or stinging wash it off immediately.  You can use the lemon juice wash twice daily.

Make a paste out of turmeric and apply it to the scars.  Mix 8 tablespoons of turmeric powder and 5 tablespoons of olive oil in a clean bowl.  Stir well until the mixture turns into a creamy paste.  Apply the mixture 1 hour before going to bed.  Massage into your skin for about 10 minutes and let dry overnight.  Remove the paste in the morning.  You can remove the yellow tinge from the turmeric with facial toner. 

Use a cotton ball to evenly apply egg whites to your scars.  This can be left on overnight or for a half hour during the day and then washed off.

Apple cider vinegar eliminates infection and prevents recurrence.  It should be used externally and also taken internally. 

Mix 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with an ounce of water.  Apply with a cotton ball after washing your face with your regular cleanser.  You can also repeat a number of times throuhout the day.  If your skin is acne prone, use it as a toner.   Apple cider vinegar works as an astringent and will disinfect the skin and kill surface bacteria.  It also removes excess oil and helps the skin maintain a normal pH balance.

To use apple cider vinegar as a health tonic mix 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with 1 cup of water.  Adding a little bit of honey will make it taste better.   You can drink this mixture 3 times a day.  You can also mix the apple cider vinegar in green tea instead of water.  

Most people see some positive results within 2 to 3 weeks.

Sandalwood paste also works wonders.   Apply sandalwood paste and rose water to your skin and leave it on overnight.  Wash it off in the morning, being careful not to scrub too hard.  You can do this everyday. 

Olive oil can help reduce acne scars while also making your skin very soft.

Cut a slice of tomato and let it sit on your scar for a while.

Try different remedies and figure out which works best for you.  Everyone's skin is different.  Along with these different treatments, there are also lifestyle changes that can help such as drinking plenty of water to help detoxify your body and keep your skin healthy.  Eating plenty of fruit and vegetables has also been shown to lead to healthier skin.