When we have a bad breakout, we go into full crisis mode. Thankfully, our friends at MIMI [1] spoke to a skin care professional to get the truth about how to prevent and treat acne — and which common mistakes to avoid.

Breakouts can be tough, but there is always something you can do to help. We contacted Bioelements's own Teresa Stenzel to find out what the best course of action is. She advises, "Forget all the products that didn't deliver results, and instead rely on a consistent skincare regimen that addresses acne at its source." Because you're busy, we broke down all her advice into three easy tips, and three practices to stay away from.

Dos:

• Pick a regimen and stick to it for visible results.

  With regular use, you should start to see results in six to eight weeks. If you are dealing with an active breakout, treat the blemish with product that contains five percent benzoyl peroxide to kill acne-causing bacteria.

• Clear pimples while preventing new ones from forming.

  Choose a professional-strength product — we like the Bioelements Amino Mask [2] ($59) — that contains anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory sulphur and gentle fruit acids to specifically target the main triggers of acne and reduce inflammation and redness.

• Get a professional acne-clearing facial.

  Coupled with the use of at-home care, this helps to boost your results and clear your skin faster.

Don'ts:

• Don't use products formulated with fragrance.

  It's amazing when products smell great, but sometimes that can aggravate your skin. Make sure to use products that don't contain scents if you're trying to clear a breakout.

• Don't pop!

  The best way to get more pimples is to pop one. The process can push bacteria deeper into the skin, causing it to spread to other areas of the face. Leave extractions to the pros.

• Don't tan.

  It goes without saying, but there's a misconception that the sun's rays can "clear up" acne. The truth is, UV exposure only weakens and damages skin, increasing the likelihood for red, brown, or black pigmented marks.

More from MIMI:
When You Should Actually Pop Your Own Pimples [3]
The Vitamin That May Be Causing Your Acne [4]
Is Accutane Really Worth the Risk? [5]