We all remember the feeling. The feeling when we wake up one morning, begin to get ready for another day in middle-or high- school, when all of a sudden you’re hit with a huge zit upon your face.

Okay, so it’s not the end of the world.

But if you’re like a majority of the hormonal, pre-teen population, it’s never just one zit. It’s constant pimples and breakouts; it’s the ever-present layer of concealer and foundation to hide it. All of which you attempt to combat to no avail. I was one of those kids, I still am one of those kids. Acne comes around and hits me hard from time to time. Although irritating, I am glad to say that my skin care routine has changed drastically since I was 13. As I grew up, I learned many of the do’s and don’t’s of fighting acne. I’ve made mistakes along the way too, but it has helped me realize what works best for my skin. So here’s everything I’ve learned in the past 18 years:

1. Salicylic acid isn’t always your friend.

I know it’s tempting to buy every face wash/scrub/toner with the words “salicylic acid” or “benzoyl peroxide” printed on the active ingredients list on the back. For some people, it works. It worked-to an extent-for me when I was 13, but be careful. I learned that products that are heavy in salicylic acid should sometimes be left in middle school. My skin is less oily now, so by using it I was over drying my skin to the extreme, creating a harsh case of combination skin. Plus, the overuse of it can strip away your skin’s natural oils, which will only cause it to produce more to replace the oil you washed away.

2. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.

That being said, in the fight to get rid of your acne, your skin can become a casualty. Don’t neglect your skin by leaving it out to dry-literally. Find an oil free face cream/lotion and use it everyday, twice a day. Morning and night. Failure to do so can leave your skin dull, dry, and tired looking. Your face will thank you later.

3. NEVER sleep with makeup on.

Okay, I know that this sounds self-explanatory, but lots of people fail to do this one every night. Even if it’s 3 am and you’re incredibly tired, the least you can do is drag yourself out of bed and swipe a makeup removing cleansing wipe across your face. Quick and easy.

4. Antibiotics are only temporary.

As a frequent flyer to my dermatologist, I thought I found the cure to my acne when I began taking antibiotics to treat it. I was elated to think that something so simple as swallowing a pill could finally make the acne disappear. Over the course of 2 years, I was prescribed both minocycline and doxycycline. Both worked for about 8 months, until my body built up an immunity to the antibiotics. Simply put, the bacteria that’s responsible for the infection (aka the acne) will soon become resistant. Eventuall,y the bacteria adapts and fights the drug that is being administered. So don’t get too excited by the tempting lure of bottles of pills to solve your pimple problems.

5. Exfoliate.

Again, like washing your face, it seems like another no brainer Exfoliating a few times a week will wash away dead skin. The purpose of this is to keep your pores unclogged. Our skin produces something called sebum; if the sebum gets trapped under dead skin with other things like sweat, dirt, and makeup, then the pores clog and the gross red inflammations that we call zits emerge. Aim to exfoliate at least three times a week.

6. Dietary changes can be made.

First things first, hydrate. Water is pure, water is life, and it helps cleanse your body from the inside out. Dairy products have been linked to acne, so maybe cutting out dairy from your diet is the solution you never thought of. Omega 3 fatty acids, found in fish like salmon, have shown to reduce inflammation. Lastly, food allergies can trigger acne, so get tested and find out. These remedies don’t work for everyone; cutting out dairy did nothing to help my acne, but maybe one of these could work for you.

7. Let your skin breathe.

I know that it is tempting to cover up acne by slathering makeup on your face, even I still do it. But try to find at least one day during the week to go completely makeup free all day. In addition to that, let your skin breathe for a least a couple hours per day. You’ll be surprised how nice it feels to be bare and fresh for a full 24 hours… even if you don’t leave the house.

8. Change your pillowcase.

Do you know how much grime is left on your pillowcase? A lot. Things like makeup, sweat, tears, mucus, dust, dead skin, and residue from hair and face products are all left on a pillowcase. Would dry your face with the same towel you’ve been using after a shower for 2 plus weeks? I don’t think so. Depending on the severity of your acne, switching up the pillowcase every week or two can help keep your skin clean.

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So this is all my sage wisdom and advice from one acne sufferer to another. I’m not a doctor, but I can share my personal experience. Over the years I have found some things that have worked for me. Going on birth control helped a lot and I’m a huge fan of the natural acne solutions from Burt’s Bees. I swear by their herbal blemish stick and peach and willow bark deep pore scrub. Their gel cleanser, though it was great for my hyperactive oil glands when I was younger, is now a bit too drying for my more mature skin. My acne is by no means chronic, but it is persistent and for that I can sympathize with other fellow acne sufferers. I hope that this list can possibly help at least one person out there. Good luck.