How do you get rid of pimples

Pimples are one of the many form of acne. Pimples are the result of excess oil on the skin that clogs pores.

Pores are tiny holes on the skin, and acne can affect the size of your pores. Acne in the form of whiteheads can increase the size of your pores, which actually makes your face age faster. As you may not know, Acne Vulgaris(acne) is a type of skin disease that affects the adolescent. Postules, or pimples are the most noticable--and an enemy of the teenager.

Often times to avoid embarrassment pimples are "popped" as soon as they are noticed. This is not always the best way to treat them. This can cause vicious ugly acne scars.

Along with oil clogging pores on the skin, acne or pimples can be caused by a lot of things. You may have heard that eating certain foods like nuts or chocolate causes acne--This is NOT TRUE. But consuming certain drugs like steroids, testosterone, estrogen, and phenytoin can. Some of those drugs can also be found in dairy products, so make sure you read labels for all your dairy products.

Acne is typically something that "runs in the family" and can always haunt you. Hormonal changes like periods, pregnancy, taking birth control pills, and even stress can cause acne. The main cause for pimples however, is the skin producing too much oil. Eating sugary and greasy foods can cause your skin to produce more oil.

If you are suffering from acne and can't find a great way to get rid of it, follow these steps carefully.

1. Try washing your face a couple times a day with a soap that's not going to dry your skin(i.e. Dove, Basics). The more you wash your face, the more susceptible you are the oil production on your skin.
2. Keep other oils away from your face that may come from your fingers or hair. Wash your hair daily, your hair can get oily and can end up on your face. Keep your hands clean and wash them several times a day, touching your face(something you probably do a lot without noticing) can get the oil from your fingers on your face.
3. Popping, scratching, or picking pimples can lead to scarring, and infections which cause MORE acne. If you should pop a pimple by habit, wash the area on your face immediately after.
4. Also try to wash makeup off before going to bed, a lot of makeup is oil based and will cause you to wake up with pimples.

Following these steps is a very effective way to rid yourself from acne, but for some it may not work. If you find yourself with blemishes even after, it's time to get medical help. There are a ton of acne medications out there that help the fight against acne. Over-the-counter medications are often creams/lotions that contain: benzoyl peroxide, sulfur, resorcinol, or salicylic acid. These work by killing bacteria and dry oil on the skin causing you to peel.

If you still find yourself with acne after following those steps, you may need to see a doctor and get a prescription. A Dermatologist is a skin doctor that will be able to explain why YOU are suffering from acne and basic treatments don't work. A Dermatologist can prescribe many kinds of medicines including:

• Oral Antibiotics(pills taken by mouth). Doxycycline, Minocycline, and Tetracycline.
• Topical Antibiotics(skin cream). Clindamycin or Erythromycin.
• Retinoic acid cream or gel (Retin-A) and Isotretinoin pills(Accutane). Which should be avoided by pregnant or sexually active females because it can cause several birth defects.
  
• Prescription Benzoyl Peroxide, Sulfur, Resorcinol, or Salicylic Acid.

There are also types of Birth Control pills out there that can either affect acne positively or negatively.