For all those who love their beautiful and radiant skin, there are some very simple yet very effective ways to keep that skin clear and acne-free as well. Acne or acne vulgaris in medical parlance is a skin condition characterized by the eruption of small to medium sized lesions on the surface of the skin. Usually the result of increased oil production, acne often appears on the skin on the face during adolescence and tends to go away on its own.

Adult acne on the other hand, is also the result of increased production of sebum or natural oil from tiny glands in the skin called the sebaceous glands. What usually happens is that the pores get clogged and the whole thing simply erupts. It is a chain reaction- inflammation follows after the clogging, and the anaerobic bacteria begin to spread on the surface of the face.

In more severe cases, arms as well as the chest are afflicted with acne. Treatment is in the form of OTC or over the counter medication (topical and oral) and prescription medication from registered health practitioners.

Preventive measures are often the best ways to take care of the skin. If you don't have acne yet, then that's great news, you can prevent that from happening. If you already have acne, the following steps would help your skin heal faster, alongside an effective and safe treatment of your acne. Remember to always consult with a doctor if you are unsure if something might irritate your skin or aggravate the condition of the acne.

1. Moisturizers help ease chaffed and itchy skin, especially acne-ridden skin. Though moisturizers help in relieving symptoms of itchy skin, always use moisturizers that have the least amount of oil present. Remember that adding oil to the sum total already present on your skin can backlash, leading to more lesions.

2. As for makeup, make sure that you use the proper creams to completely remove your makeup at the end of the day. Never, ever make the mistake of sleeping with all your makeup still on because you felt too lazy to wash them off. Dried, caked makeup is a hotbed for more acne. Take note that if you pores get more clogged, you increase the chances of getting acne.

3. Keep your brushes clean. This should be the same also for the various sponges that you use to apply your makeup. Sponges and brushes, dry as they may be, still harbor bacteria. Washing them properly with soapy water decreases the bacteria level and lessens the chances of aggravating already tender skin.

4. If your acne is not improving with OTC or over the counter medications you are currently using, you really have to consult with a dermatologist. A dermatologist would be able to run the necessary tests to see where the acne is coming from.

If all ends well, but the OTC treatments still fail, a specially formulated oral antibiotic regimen might be prescribed to treat your acne. Never take chances with your skin- consult the right doctors when you think an OTC medication has done something to your skin.