OK. It's that time again to express our disappointments and shortcomings through the making of promises to do better in the new year. If you're an acne sufferer, here are some resolutions you might want to adopt that could significantly improve conditions on the skin front in 2007:

# 1.Learn the proper way to wash your skin.That's correct - there's a right way and a wrong way, and making a few changes can make a difference.
# 2.Choose an acne cleanser that's effective.Are you using any old soap to wash your face? Cease and desist! Harsh cleansers could be doing you more harm than good.
# 3. If you have an acne problem you can't manage, resolve to consult a dermatologist. You'll be amazed at the difference a good skin doctor can make! Then, make sure you follow doctor's orders.
# 4. Use medications properly. Sometimes medications can hurt more than they help if you're not following product or doctor directions for use. And, if you're not using them regularly as directed, you're not likely to see many results at all. Don't be a "non-compliant" patient. Follow doctor's orders, or, if using over-the-counter meds, follow product guidelines.
# 5.Stay out of the sun. Don't be lured by the idea that sun or tanning bed exposure will cure your acne. Exposure to the sun's rays or those UVA rays from a tanning bed don't make your acne better, but they can be a contributing factor to future skin cancer. So, be smart about sun exposure and take precautions. There are lots of ways to manage acne, but your options (and perhaps your life) are certainly limited when it comes to skin cancer.