Fundamentally, acne occurs when the follicles at the base of the hair become blocked, this causes an infection and swelling of the skin. This condition is usually associated with an incomplete or unhealthy diet, particularly high intakes of sugar and/or yeast, or a shortage of necessary vitamins and minerals. Pimples have also been linked to an imbalance in hormone levels, stress and abrasive clothing.

The media teaches us that the only way to treat acne is to use expensive creams and antibiotics containing harmful chemicals. In fact, simple skincare is the best acne treatment there is. Below, are some essential tips on taking care of your skin and eliminating acne without damaging your skin further.

Basic Skin Care:

* When washing your face, use your hands rather than a rough face cloth and ensure that your hands are clean.

* Warm water should be used to rinse, neither hot nor cold are good.

* Never scrub at your skin when drying it. Rather, pat it dry gently with a soft towel.

* Most soaps are very hard on your face, so it is important to use a soap specially formulated for facial use.

Try the following inexpensive tips to keep your acne under control.

* Tea tree oil – containing Terpenes, tea tree oil is an effective way of reducing the bacteria associated with acne.

* Lemon juice and rose water – mix the juice of one lemon with the same amount of rose water, apply to the face and leave for 30 minutes. Wash off with warm water. Repeat once a day and results should be seen within two weeks.

* A little known fact about aspirin is that it contains beta hydroxide which can help unblock the pores. Apply aspirin dissolved in a little bit of water directly to the affected area and rise with warm water after ten minutes. For extra glow to your skin, add a little bit of honey to the aspirin mixture.

* Keep your fingers away from the pimples and avoid picking at them as this will only increase the redness and swelling.

Fast Treatment:

1. Hold an ice cube to the area where the pimples have presented themselves.

2. Before you go to bed at night, dab a little bit of non-gel toothpaste on the pimples or affected skin and rinse it off in the morning. If your skin is particularly sensitive, check that it won’t worsen the problem by first dabbing a little toothpaste on an unbroken area of skin and leaving it there for a period of time.

Anti-acne Measures:

* Drink plenty of water.

* Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables.

* Do not use too much make-up on your face.

* Keep your bedding, towels, face cloths and make-up applicators clean.

* Ensure that you complete your skin care regimen daily.

* Make sure that you get sufficient sleep every day.

Avoid popping pimples as you can end up pushing the pus further into the skin and cause the problem to worsen. However, if you have a big event coming up and really need to get rid of a pimple, this is the correct way to ‘pop’ a pimple:

1. Start by placing a needle or pin in rubbing alcohol and leaving it to soak until you need it.

2. Place a hot damp cloth on the affected area, holding it there for 20 minutes. Should the cloth cool, heat it again.

3. Ensure that your hands are clean, by washing thoroughly with antibacterial soap and make sure that they are completely dry.

4. Disinfect the area around the pimple with a cotton ball that has been soaked in the rubbing alcohol.

5. Gently lance the pimple using the disinfected needle by pushing the point into the pimple to a depth of about 1/8 inch.

6. Once you remove the needle, pus should begin to excrete from the pimple immediately (If it isn’t, repeat from step 2, excluding step 5. If this doesn’t work, it means your pimple is not yet ready to be popped). Use both of your index fingers to gently push the sides of the pimple together and remove the excess pus (pressing too hard will only cause the pus to sink deeper into the skin).

7. Carefully clean the area of skin using new piece of cotton wool soaked in rubbing alcohol.

Want to find out more about How to get rid of pimples fast?, then visit Dave Arnoldi’s site .