The first logical step in caring for acne prone skin is good hygiene. Keeping your skin clean and free from oil is the first step to caring for your acne. Gentle washing with a mild cleanser once or twice a day, but be careful not to over do it. Excessive or too vigorous washing can actually damage your skin or make your acne worse.

Your next step is insuring that you are getting proper nutrition by eating a balanced diet. Your body needs a healthy immune system to stave off infections. The inflammation that accompanies acne is tiny infections within your skin. Having said that, a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean meats and whole grains are essential to clear and healthy skin.

For men, being careful while shaving. Be careful not to shave directly over your blemishes, as this can aggravate your acne even further. The use of a electric shaver is probably a better choice than a razor and certainly better thana face full of band aids.

Women should be careful when using makeup. Select makeups specifically designed for use for acne prone skin. Newer cosmetics are designed not to clog pores and some even contain bacteria fighting medications. Read labels and select cosmetics that are "noncomedogenic" which means that it does not clog pores.

Adding a good face wash designed to fight bacteria or remove dead skin cells is also highly recommended. Many over the counter face washes contain either benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, which is used to combat acne. Both of these acne medications approach acne in a different way.

Benzoyl peroxide acts as an antiseptic reducing the number of surface bacteria and skin yeasts. One advantage of benzoyl peroxide is that the bacteria does not develop resistance to it. Used over and over again, benzoyl peroxide will continue to kill acne bacteria. It will also reduce inflammation and cut down on excess oil.

Salicylic acid on the other hand, slows down the shedding of skin cells. Since acne is formed when the skin cells shed too fast and clump together inside hair follicles, the use of salicylic acid prevent the pores from getting clogged. Its also helps to breakdown both blackheads and whiteheads.

Adding a visit to a dermatologist is a must for people with acne prone skin. Your dermatologist will determine the type of acne that you have and may prescribe oral antibiotics. Tetracycline is most commonly prescribed antibiotic used to treat acne, along with erythromycin and minocycline. Erythromycin has the added benefit of reducing redness, while minocycline has a side effect of pigmented deposits in the skin. As with all antibiotics, the downside is that the bacteria they target may develop a resistance after prolonged use.

Many dermatologists are in the opinion that topical antibiotics are better suited for acne control as they kill the bacteria directly in the pores. Topical erythromycin seems to work well, and others include Benzaclin, and clindamycin. If used as directed acne suffers should see results over time. Remember that in dealing with acne prone skin, no acne treatment will give you instant results. It is persistence and adhering to your acne regime that will ultimately lead you to healthy, clearer skin.