Cleanliness, as the key prevention/treatment for acne, is usually very successful because acne is basically caused by the blockage of one or more skin pores.

Cleanliness, though, does not necessarily mean the use of various cleaning products such as soaps, lotions, scrubs or exfoliants.

Indeed, most if not all of those cleaning products are regarded here as unhelpful at best, except for general soap used for cleaning the tool/s (eg hands, facecloths, washmits) used for cleaning the skin.

The reasoning for minimising skin cleanser products is that skin pores do a very valuable job - that is, expelling waste products from the body and keeping the skin moist.

By using or overusing cleaning products, the skin can easily be made too dry and therefore will tend to produce more oily-stuff in an effort to get the skin protected again - and more oily-stuff can greatly increase the chances of pore blockages and therefore resulting acne.

Also, cleaning products can cause the skin to tighten and therefore make it easier for the pores to block or make it harder for pores to unblock - again, opposite to what is forwarded here as what is wished for the skin to do.

Basic Cleansing Tools

Washcloth/mit, soap, hands/fingers.

Basic Cleaning Techniques

The main aim is to remove excess skin oil and encourage skin pores to remain open but not overactive.

Clean washcloth/mit or hands with soap and rinse.

Rub over the skin in a gentle rubbing motion, with extra time spent on acne-prone/affected areas - checking area with bare fingers can often give the best feel when the skin is clean enough or still requires some more cleaning.

If in a shower, having the water directed at the same time onto the area being washed, greatly increases the speed of cleansing.

Frequently clean washcloth/mit or hands/fingers with soap that is then rinsed off before continuing the cleaning actions.

Washing hair without shampoo takes a little longer, although shower jets directly on the specific scalp area being finger massaged speeds up the process - longer or very dirty hair probably may need shampooing the hair shafts themselves, but avoid the scalp as it can easily become over-clean and then it will pump out more oils in an effort to keep the hair folicles alive.

Shower/wash once a day at least, twice if you sweat easily or have problem skin.

Using cold water to alternately rinse hands then rub-clean acne-prone/affected areas is a quick way to get extra washes in during a day, or to clean when no other alternative is available.

Gentle rubbing with an ordinary tissue can also assist in removing excess oil if no washing water is available.

Where the sun has difficulty shining, may be best washed with a little soap.

For those who wear makeup, realise this can assist skin pores to block or remain blocked and makes extra cleans during the day very difficult if not impossible to do - my wife uses Tea Tree oil directly applied to any clean but acne affected area before making-up, in an effort (usually successful) to treat acne.

If you prefer a bath, remember that washing yourself in there means you are then lying in dirty water with skin pores more open due to the warmer water - pores that will close up when getting out of the bath, significantly raising the chance or pore blockage.

Clean towels, clothes and sleepwear/bedding are also essential components of acne prevention/treatment - no use putting something onto clean skin that is itself dirty - towels, bedding and usually sleepwear don't need to be clean everyday, but general clothing should be, especially after just getting clean.