There are many things you can do to get of your acne once and for all. They all take a little discipline on your part. But once you change your routine a little, your acne will surely be gone for good.

Rule #1: You got to keep your hands out of your face! Your hands may contains dirt or other substances that may irritate your skin and cause your acne to flare up or stay for a few more days. Easier said than done, but definitely necessary.

Rule #2: Don’t over-wash your face. Washing your face twice a day using soap and warm water is totally fine. Once in the morning, once at night. Anything more than that does more damage than good. In fact, washing your face too much will strip the surface of your skin of the precious oils that moisturize it. But guess what? The oil that is trapped in the pores stays intact, creating those pesky blackheads and whiteheads your were trying scrub away. When you are drying the skin, pat it dry instead of rubbing it. Why? Rubbing actually increases the likelihood of you irritating the skin. Not good…

Rule #3: Don’t use anything rough to clean your face. You don’t want to scar up your beautiful face before the world gets to see it acne free do you? Noooooo…so that means no brushes, rough sponges, cleaners with granules, etc. Stick with the soft wash cloth, and soon enough your skin will be softer.

Rule #4: Don’t put any oil-based products on your skin. Be careful with hair greases, pomades, moisturizers, and oily cleansers. Ladies, try to find water-based alternatives to makeup. Also when your having fun in the sun use an oil-free sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) to stay acne free while avoiding skin cancer and wrinkles.

Rule #5: Eliminate acid-forming foods like: dairy products, meats, cooked fats (fried foods). When your body can’t digest and excrete the toxins quick enough, it will try to push it out through your skin (a cause of acne for some). Replace those foods with foods like: fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds. These are alkaline-forming foods which help reduce and rid your body of acne.