Hi stubble33,

I hope I can help answer some questions for you. The most effective medication I've used is Benzoyl peroxide. I use the 2.5% benzoyl peroxide gel from acne.org because it absorbs into the skin really well and doesn't irritate my sensitive skin. I also use a product called Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque, which unclogs my pores and dries up pimples. You can find it here [Removed] or at most drug stores like Walgreens.

I'm not entirely sure if shaving will make your acne worse, but here are some tips for a less irritating shave: http://www.acne.org/guide-to-shaving.html

Squeezing a pimple can spread the infection, and you should try your very best to never pop your pimples. It causes scarring and can lead to cysts. (I have a lot of scarring from doing this, so I know from experience). If you have a really gruesome whitehead that you just NEED to pop, then put a very warm wash cloth over the zit to soften the skin, and then take a clean, sharp needle (I actually use a sharp toothpick) to poke a hole in the zit and squeeze out the puss. Stop squeezing it when you see blood. I hope some of this helps! I know what it's like to be fed up with acne.

Hello. I'm a girl so unfortunately I can't answer the shaving question but I'll give you my experience with the other two.

I have had many stages of acne, ranging from severe to mild. I would say that for mild/moderate acne the best thing that helped me was Proactiv, however I don't use it in the way it's designed. When I used Proactiv as described - step 1, 2, 3 and repair, it left my skin all red, dry, flaky and sore. I tailored the products to suit me. What I do right now for me and seems to be working is using Step 2: Toner, to remove excess dirt and oil at night time. I use maybe 2 - 3 cotton pads doing this, just keep rubbing it around my skin til the pads don't look brown/grey anymore. I then use Thursday Plantation acne face wash with tea tree oil (as seen in picture below). Then I wash my face with Step 1: Cleanse. I do circular motions everywhere on my face, to make sure the dead skin/grime is cleaned really well. In the morning I only use the Thursday Plantation product.

As for squeezing pimples, I would agree it does spread germs. Like the other person suggested, if you MUST squeeze (I do this often and am trying not to!), I do it after I've had a long hot shower and the whitehead is about to burst. I only squeeze when they are almost ready to burst on their own. I never do it when it starts to form. I also make sure I absorb a lot of the puss with a tissue and then wash that area to kill the bacteria.

do not squeeze.

the chances of scarring maximises thus.

Ok well i guess my problem is i have clogged pores, and i always pop the pimples because they look worse if you dont, so for now on i will do what yall have suggested and also no keep squeezing them after blood comes out as i always do untill nothing comes anymore. Also is washing my face 2 times a day with soap when in the shower bad for it or good as thats the only time i wash it. Thanx for all the help oh and my acne has been weird fo the past month it will get to the point of looking like its almost gone then out of no where it will go back to like it is usually and i cant figure it out but hopefully those tips will help out some, and i bet becase i always have popped them thats what causes them to spread in certain places and not just randomly on my face, anyways lol.

Washing your face twice a day is recommended but I wouldn't use soap but instead a gentle cleanser. Also it is better to wash your face last in the shower as to reduce irritation. The longer your face is wet the more is gets dried out so I tend to keep my face dry for the majority of a shower then wash is last and dry with a towel straight after i'm done. As for popping spots causing acne in specific places I'm not too sure. Popping spots is bad with respect to scaring and irritation but acne tends to appear in localized areas around the face anyway. Good luck!