Get Zit-Free Skin in Time for School

By BeautyRiot DivaI've always had first day jitters, especially when it came to the first day of school. I'd spend hours creating my schedule, memorizing the locations of all the buildings, and of course, planning my outfit. But nothing is worse than waking up with a huge zit on your forehead, nose, or any other part of skin that will greet people for the first time -- in place of your face. And if you're acne prone (here are some reasons why you might be) you probably know this situation all too well.

Luckily, there are things you can do to prevent breakouts. For some basic, but super helpful advice, check out this list. (You need to start doing these things ASAP.) But what if you already have an eruption on your face? We talked to a few leading dermatologists and got their expert opinions on what to do during every stage of your pimple's evolution. That info is right here. You can thank us later. 

In the meantime, we pulled the best acne advice and created this gallery for you. After you finish looking through the gallery, make sure you log-on to Facebook. Like BeautyRiot.com, and you'll have access to The Ultimate Clear Skin Guide, which contains even more exclusive tips from leading dermatologists. Pretty sweet deal, huh?

Now, time to go back to school. The first day of school will always have its stresses, but hopefully acne won't be one of them.

Get into a routine

Step 1: Use a rinse-off cleanser, like Olay Total Effects Cream Cleanser Plus Blemish Control, $12.49. If your skin feels tight after you rinse, it means you've stripped away your skin's natural barrier, so try a gentler product.

Step 2: Use a hydrating toner if you want or go straight for a light moisturizer.

Step 3: Then apply an acne treatment with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide over any acne-prone areas and an extra spot treatment on current breakouts.

Sounds simple right? That's really all it takes in most cases, but there are a few other things to keep in mind