Zits. The mere mention of the word brings terror to teenagers and grown-ups alike. They have a knack for appearing when you least like them to -- a day before prom night, hours before a blind date, and minutes before your center stage performance. This dreadful skin problem has neither mercy nor respect for anyone -- whether you're a hot celebrity or a regular teenager, getting a big, fat, pus-filled bump can happen to you. But instead of freaking out whenever you see one of these monsters creeping up your face, you should do something about it.

The bad news about acne is that there are about a dozen of reasons why they just pop almost out of nowhere. According to the skin care specialists at Healthypores.com, acne occurs when a pore breaks down and blocks the oil within which causes the inflammation that results in acne.

Some of the well-known culprits of acne include improper diet, stress, overactive hormones, bacteria, vitamin deficiency, evolutionary biology, or a combination of all. The good news is that there are also about a gazillion things that can help you fight off acne and other unwanted skin problems. Since acne starts in the pores, keeping the pores clean is one of the best ways to keep acne from plaguing your skin.

Why do you need to keep your skin clean?

First and foremost, the skin is the outermost layer of the body and is essentially its first line of defense against various elements. It covers approximately 19 square feet, so it's more or less the largest organ of your body. What's more, the skin (particularly that on the face) is the first thing people see when they look at you, so it's really important that you keep it clean, smooth, and acne-free. The only way you can do that is if you follow a good skin regimen.

The truth is that there is only one good skin regimen and it includes three (sometimes four) steps: cleansing, toning, and moisturizing. These three skin care steps are the basics, and they should be done everyday if you really want to maintain your beautiful skin. Experts at Healthypores.com even recommend that you do this skin regimen twice a day, right after you wake up and right before you sleep.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Proper Cleansing

1. Remove your makeup before washing your face.

Most cleansers work better and more efficiently if your face is thoroughly wet. Removing your makeup ensures that the oils in the cosmetics would not repel water and allow the cleanser to reach a good lather. You can do this by using baby oil or makeup remover on cotton balls and rubbing the makeup lightly off your face.

2. Wash your face thoroughly using lukewarm or room-temperature water.

Never wash your face with water that is too hot or too cold. Extreme temperatures can break capillaries, dehydrate skin, or even aggravate pimples. Studies also show that there is a marked improvement between the effectiveness of cleansers used with water of the right temperature over those that were applied with hot or cold water.

3. Use a gentle anti-acne cleanser specially formulated for your skin type.

If you have hypersensitive skin, you should choose a product that is mild and hypoallergenic. Meanwhile, if you have very oily skin, you might want to choose something that's slightly stronger than your regular cleanser. If you're uncertain about what kind of product to use, you should consult your dermatologist first or just go for one of those dermatologist-tested products that are good for any skin type like the Healthy Pores acne system.

4. Apply a small amount of cleanser on your face.

Pour a pea-sized amount of cleanser on your wet palms and lather it before applying on your face. Since most cleansers are concentrated, they can dehydrate your face and strip it of necessary moisture. Diluting it with water activates its ingredients and allows it to be spread evenly on your face.

Cleansers like Healthy Pores have microbeads loaded with antibacterial agents that act like scrubs so let it work for you. Most people think that the more they scrub, the more dirt they can get off their faces. This is wrong. Not only do they risk breaking capillaries, but scrubbing can also aggravate acne by pushing dirt and bacteria deeper into the pores. What you should do is massage the lather or foam onto your face in a gentle circular motion. This facilitates the blood flow in your face which improves your complexion while allowing the ingredients of your cleanser to penetrate deep in your skin.

5. Rinse your face completely and pat it dry.

Rinse your face with lukewarm running water thoroughly. Although trusted cleansers like Healthy Pores have easy-rinse formulations, it is best to ensure that you thoroughly wash your face of any trace of foam or lather. Not doing so might leave residues behind that can block your pores and aggravate your acne. After rinsing the cleanser off, use a soft, clean towel to dry your face. Never rub the towel on your face as though you are removing stubborn dirt. Just pat it dry with a non-abrasive towel.

If you are using a skin care system like Healthy Pores, you could follow this cleansing ritual with a special toner and moisturizer. Remember that when choosing a toner and a moisturizer, you should go for the ones that are compatible with your cleanser and your skin. However, if you are using a skin care system such as Healthy Pores, product incompatibility should not be a problem.

Now that you know how to properly cleanse your face, acne would surely become the least of your worries. Always keep in mind that a clean skin is a beautiful skin.