Some of the ideas for getting rid of pimples are more about not getting them in the first place, and others are about how to get rid of a pimple after it comes anyway. Even if you already suffer from acne, try some of the prevention tips. They might help you control the acne.

Avoid pimples

To avoid pimples, don't touch your face. The oils in your hands can be deadly to an oily face. Also, your hands aren't clean, so they bring dirt and oil to your skin.

Doctors can't seem to agree on whether or not chocolate or oily foods create more acne, but this we know: people who eat a good diet full of whole foods and who drink a lot of water usually have better skin than those who don't do those things.

When you see a pimple developing, don't poke or scratch at it -- doing that can only irritate the skin more, which is exactly what you don't want to do. Leave it alone and then work some magic with removal techniques. But poking and picking will do more harm than good.

When you wash your face, don't rub hard and don't use a rough washcloth. You want to get rid of the pimples and it could seem that rubbing them and using a coarse washcloth will be good, but those actually irritate your skin more and can lead to more acne. Use a soft cloth, warm water and rub gently.

Get rid of a pimple

Here are some tried and true techniques. Some might seem silly or odd, but they have worked for some people. Might be worth a try!

Toothpaste – Try to put a dab of toothpaste on the pimple and let it sit. The toothpaste is drying and will dry out the pimple. If you don't have really sensitive skin, you can leave the toothpaste on overnight (only a small dab of toothpaste, though!), but if your skin is sensitive, leave the toothpaste on for about an hour and then wash off.

Reduce stress – Really! Experts say that acne is often caused by stress, and if you already have acne, it will be hard to get rid of it if you don't learn to relax. Do you notice that you have more acne problems when you're stressed? That's because acne is caused by hormonal imbalances and stress plays with your hormones. Do some yoga, take a walk, or see a funny movie. Whatever will help you to de-stress, do it.

Baking soda -- Make a paste out of baking soda and water. It should be very thick. A little dab will do ya. Just put it on the pimple and go to bed. Often the pimple will be dried up by morning.

Having acne and pimples can be stressful, but there's a lot you can do to prevent pimples or get rid of the ones you do have.