Acne is something that plagues both teenagers and some adults alike, in fact, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, roughly 40 to 50 million Americans have acne at any one time. The answer isn't running and hiding in your home, the answer is proper management and treatment of your acne to help prevent it from returning. See below for helpful tips on how to manage and treat your acne.

The Causes

Acne can be caused by a number of things, but it's mostly caused by clogged pores. Your pores are usually clogged with dead skin cells. When bacteria gets into these clogged pores, it can cause acne to occur. When this bacteria multiplies, you can end up with a large outbreak of acne. The bacteria can come from oils on your hands, from your cell phone or telephone, eyeglasses and anything else that touches your face. Other causes include poor diet, lack of water or sleep and stress.

How To Manage Your Acne

• Wash. Wash your face twice per day, in the morning and before bed. Also be sure to wash your face after sweating.
• Be Gentle. Wash your skin with gentle products that are alcohol-free. You want to use products that will help treat your acne, without drying out your skin in the process. Also be sure not to scrub your skin, as this will only irritate it. Gently massage in your face wash using just the tips of your fingers.
• No Picking. Resist the urge to pick or pop your pimples. This prolongs the healing process and can cause acne scars.
• Stop Touching. Stop touching your face, as this is only going to spread bacteria and cause more acne. Also be sure to clean your cell phone, telephone and glasses often to clean off oils and stop them from spreading to your face.

How To Treat Your Acne

Everyone's acne is not the same. Although an over the counter face wash may work for your friend, it may not necessarily work for you. For mild blemishes, you can try an over the counter face wash that contains salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide in it. For more severe acne, you may want to speak to a dermatologist for help treating your acne. A dermatologist can prescribe a stronger face wash or medication to help clear up your acne.

Be sure to wash your face often, never pick at your acne, and see your dermatologist if your acne persists or worsens.