The good news, I think, is there are better methods for dealing with acne breakouts. You don’t have to take hormones or start taking prescription medications. You just need a good skin care routine: cleaning you face with a gentle cleanser and lukewarm water twice a day, keeping your skin from drying out thanks to moisturizers, and using over-the-counter treatments at the first sign of a breakout.

When I was younger and started having acne problems, I did blame myself a lot. I thought there had to be something wrong with the way I took care of my skin. But now I realize it’s not that unusual for both sexes to get tons of acne breakouts around adolescence.

During all the research I did on fighting acne, I found that one of the most useful things you can do is get into a healthy skin care routine. Washing your face with a mild cleaner twice a day is a start. Just remember not to use products that will dry out your skin and not to hot water – always opt for warm. Hot water will dry your skin, too.

The other day I was browsing in the cosmetic aisle looking for a new lipstick color when I overheard a mom telling her teenage daughter that her pimples were caused by all the junk food she insists on eating. I really can’t believe people still believe this myth. The whole idea is just crazy!

Ziana is the hot new acne medication on the market, but it can cause some serious side effects such as bloody diarrhea and peeling of skin in the area being treated. You can also have itching, skin discoloration, and cold symptoms. Why go through those problems when you can find great OTC products that will take care of the problem?

Here’s something I didn’t know: dry skin can lead to acne, too. Now I haven’t experienced this myself – everything is still good here. But one of my co-workers and I were discussing acne and she told me that she has outbreaks all the time but she doesn’t have oily skin. So I asked her how that could possibly be the case.