<p>Here's what I've found from experience:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Shaving does work. If you're a guy chances are you'll never get a zit where you shave in most cases. I only get them on my forehead and sometimes on the skin where facial hair doesn't grow. I use an electric razor.</p></li>
<li><p>I also don't like going to dermatolagists. Using my doctor to get me prescriptions, I've been calling all the shots and prescribing my own acne medications over the past five years. Here's what I've used and what I recommend:</p></li>
</ol>
<p>TOPICAL CREAMS</p>
<p>a. Tazorac (2000-2001): This cleared me up for a while, but I seemed to become immune to it. It also dries skin out a lot, so I only used it once a day (always at night).</p>
<p>b. Clyndamycin (2000-2002): I used this in conjuction with Tazorac and later Benzoyl Peroxide. Basically an antibiotic that I used in the morning that doesn't help or hurt acne. It just prevents it.</p>
<p>c. Benzoyl Peroxide (2001-2002): I replaced Tazorac with this because many others had reported success. It did indeed work, but I later replaced it with a better alternative. I used this at night.</p>
<p>d. Benzaclin (2002-2005): This has both clyndamycin and benzoyl peroxide in one cream. It does work but must be applied twice a day. My other complaint is that it runs out too quickly.</p>
<p>e. Duac (2005-present): This is very similar to Benzaclin but seems to work better--not just on me but on others. It only needs applied once per day, which is one of the main reasons I switched to it.</p>
<p>SOAPS</p>
<p>a. Regular Bar Soap (2000): It gets your skin clean but is somewhat rough on it. It's not the best and may in fact cause acne based on my observations. This includes stuff like Safeguard, Lever, Ivory, etc. Keep this soap for the rest of your body and use something else on your face.</p>
<p>b. Cetaphil (2001-2004): You can find this as both a liquid and a bar. It works pretty well but should be used at least three times per day--your morning shower, around 4PM, and at night. There are many types of Cetaphil now but they all work the same.</p>
<p>c. Brevoxyl (2004-present): This is a prescription that I highly recommend. It's a face wash that includes Benzoyl Peroxide. I use it twice a day and it's helped greatly. One tube usually lasts one month. This works especially well with Duac.</p>
<p>ORAL MEDICATIONS</p>
<p>a. Dynacin (2000): This one is apparently pretty good. Since I don't swallow pills (I'm not able to because of a narrow esophagus) I used to break this open and put it in peanut butter. Since that got to be too inconvenient I stopped using it.</p>
<p>b. Vibramycin (2002-2005): This was available in a liquid form. Really didn't do much of anything in the later years, but did help early on. I quit because I was sick of dropping a $20 copay every other month for something that wasn't helping me. It's a short term solution, in my opinion, that should be used when acne is at its worst.</p>
<p>c. Accutane: I have never used this and never would. Too many risks--dry lips, suicide, personality changes, etc. Some people love it, but I personally wouldn't even come within three feet of this stuff.</p>
<p>OTHER REMEDIES</p>
<p>a. Stress management: This is very important. You break out more if you are under stress.</p>
<p>b. Food and hair: The rumors are bogus. Eat all the chocolate or whatever they say is bad you want. Food does not cause zits. Neither does hair from what I've heard, so all you girls can wear bangs and not panic.</p>
<p>c. Suntans: It seems that tans really help acne. Not sure about artifical ones you get from a tanning booth, but a real tan seriously does help.</p>
<p>d. Chlorine: A friend suggested that swimming pools help based on his experience. He was right. Chlorine seems to do something to break down acne. Plus you typically get sunlight with that. This is especially good on back acne, which people typically don't waste their topical medication on.</p>
<p>e. Fingers: Do not put your fingers on your face. This causes acne. This includes gloved fingers, since those gloves could have been anywhere a regular finger could be (in my case, this is usually my steering wheel).</p>
<p>A general note: Many topical medicines (especially those with Benzoyl Peroxide) come in different strengths. Always get the highest one. This is especially true with Brevoxyl--it's harder to get the 8% but it works better. Some drug store chains like Eckerd are good about calling this in at another local store.</p>
<p>It's been a lot of research and a lot of trial and error over five years, but these are my results. Please note that I am NOT a dermatolagist nor am I studying to become one. I am also not related to a derm. I'm just an amateur zit zapper.</p>
<p>MY CURRENT PLAN OF CHOICE
-Brevoxyl soap, 8% concentration (use twice a day)
-Duac (use at night)</p>