As common as it may be, acne can be one of the most irritating aspects of a person's life. In this guide, I will provide you with valuable facts, tips and an ingredient list that will change the way you shop forever!

Acne is caused by several factors. If your parents had acne, you have a good chance of developing it as well. Hereditiy is a major part in determining whether a person will develop acne in life. Diet also plays an important role, but the biggest factor in dealing with acne is how you care for your skin.

If a person develops acne in life and doesn't know how to treat it properly, there is a good chance that the acne will become worse and eventually lead to scarring. That's why it is so important to treat it properly in the early stages.

First, let's talk about products that are used for the treatment of acne. Most people will go to the store and purchase any product that says it is for the treatment of acne. What most people don't know is that the product they are purchasing could actually make their acne worse! It is important to know the ingredients that are both helpful and harmful to acne. There are two products that you can purchase over the counter (without a prescription) for the treatment of acne: Salicylic Acid and Benzoyl Peroxide. Both products work by drying the outer layers of skin and they should never be used together. Both are fairly effective at treating white head pimples, but did you know that some of these over the counter remedies may actually make your acne worse? It's not the benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid itself, but all the fillers (extra ingredients) these cosmetics companies put in it to make the product thicker, thinner, whiter, creamier or even smell better.

Below is a list of common ingredients that are comodegenic (acne causing). You should print or write down these ingredients and take them with you every time you go to the store to purchase a product (whether it's a topical treatment, facial cleanser, toner, makeup, etc.). I admit that it's annoying to have to check a list every time you want to buy something for your skin, but the reward is worth it: No more Zits!

If a product does not contain any of the following ingredients, it is safe to use on acne prone skin. For your convenience, this list is in alphabetical order:

• Acetone
  Acetylated Lanolin
  Acetylated Lanolin Alcohol
  Algae Extract
  Algin
  BHA
  Benzoic Acid
  Butyl Stearate
  Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA)
  Cajeput Oil
  Caprylic Acid
  Carrageenan
  Cetearyl Alcohol + Ceteareth 20
  Cetyl Acetate
  Cocoa Butter
  Coconut Butter
  Coconut Oil
  Colloidal Sulfur
  Cotton Awws Oil
  Cotton Seed Oil
  Crisco
  D & C Red #17
  D & C Red #21
  D & C Red #3
  D & C Red #30
  D & C Red #36
  Decyl Oleate
  Dioctyl Succinate
  Disodium Monooleamido PEG 2-Sulfosuccinate
  Ethoxylated Lanolin
  Ethylhexyl Palmitate
  Flowers of Sulfur
  Glyceryl Stearate SE
  Gyceryl-3-Diisostearate
  Hexadecyl Alcohol
  Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
  Isocetyl Alcohol
  Isocetyl Stearate
  Isodecyl Oleate
  Isopropyl Alcohol
  Isopropyl Isostearate
  Isopropyl Linolate
  Isopropyl Myristate
  Isopropyl Palmitate
  Isostearyl Isostearate
  Isostearyl Neopentanoate
  Laureth 23
  Laureth 4
  Lauric Acid
  Mink Oil
  Myristic Acid
  Myristyl Lactate
  Myristyl Myristate
  Octyl Palmitate
  Octyl Stearate
  Oleth-3
  Oleyl Alcohol
  PEG 16 Lanolin
  PEG 200 Dilaurate
• PEG 8 Stearate
  PG Monostearate
  PPG 2 Myristyl Propionate
  Polyglyceryl-3-Diisostearate
  Potassium Chloride
  Propylene Glycol Monostearate
  Red Algae
  SD Alcohol 40
  Shark Liver Oil
  Sodium Chloride (Salt)
  Sodium Laureth Sulfate
  Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
  Solulan 16
  Sorbitan Oleate
  Soybean Oil
  Steareth 10
  Stearic Acid Tea
  Stearyl Heptanoate
  Sulfated Castor Oil
  Sulfated Jojoba Oil
  Syearyl Heptanoate
  Tridectyl Neopentanoate
  Wheat Germ Glyceride
  Wheat Germ Oil
  Xylene

Now that we know all of the ingredients that can make our skin worse, let's focus on how to effectively use the ones we can use.

It is important to cleanse your skin daily to avoid oil build-up and remove dirt from the surface of the skin. Use a mild foaming cleanser or lotion cleanser with cool or lukewarm (never hot) water morning and night before applying your topical products.

Here's a tip: Acne products work best when they are kept in the refrigerator. They also last longer and it prevents bacteria from contaminating them!

Did you know that a pimple takes 90 days to form? It's true! Even though you can't feel it on the surface, that pimple that appeared this morning has been waiting to pop through for almost three months ! This is a good reason that you should treat your entire face instead of just spot treating individual pimples. Just spread a very thin layer of your treatment on your entire face to prevent new blemishes from forming beneath the surface of the skin.

When you are using an acne product over a period of time, you may notice that your skin is getting dry and you have flaky skin in certain areas. I recommend that you exfoliate your skin once or twice a week to keep it smooth and soft. This will also help your topical products to absorb more efficiently, giving you even better results! When you have sensitive, acne-prone skin, it is important to be gentle when exfoliating. If you prefer to use a lotion or cream exfoliator, make sure the grains are very small. If it contains large bits of walnut or silicone beads (common exfoliating compounds), it could scratch the surface of your skin and cause severe irritation. I personally recommend investing in a Microdermabrasion Cloth, found in several eBay stores. The fibers are soft, yet they perfectly exfoliate your skin without irritating it.

If you still can't find suitable acne products in a department store, another option is to visit an all natural health food store. They usually have lots of products that you wouldn't be able to find in Wal-mart or Walgreens and they have lots of ingredients that are good for your skin, but check your list just to make sure! =)

My personal favorite product is  Nelson's Homeopathic Acne Gel , a drawing gel that lifts the white head right out of your skin instead of drying it up. The best part is that it doesn't leave a dry red spot after the blemish has healed! This product is a great alternative for those who don't find salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to be effective.

Lastly, remember that makeup plays a role in acne development too. Check this ingredient list when you purchase any new product for your skin. That new foundation may provide flawless coverage, but if the ingredients are bad, you'll have lots more to cover after using it!

I hope you have enjoyed this guide to treating Acne! Remember to print out this ingredient list, follow the simple guidelines and you are well on your way to having clear, beautiful skin! =)