If you’re only inviting a few people at school or work, don’t pass out invitations or spread the word there. Sending your invitations via mail or e-mail is a great method. You can send invitations discreetly, and you can also include pertinent information, such as your address, driving directions, dress code, or anything else they may need to know.  Send your invitations a couple weeks before a more formal event, and within a week for an informal party. Websites like Paperless Post make it easy to create cute, custom invitations. They offer an entire section of invitations you can create completely for free. This can be as formal as requesting written RSVPs, or just asking invitees if they plan on attending so you can get a general headcount. Regardless of how you go about doing this, you should figure out who is planning to attend so that you can make sure you are prepared to host everyone. Make sure that when you request RSVPs, you also ask if they intend on bringing a date or friend along with them. If many of your invitees are unable to come, you can always send out additional invitations to anyone you may not have considered originally. After you’ve created your list of non-negotiable guests and their potential dates, create a list of reserve guests. These reserves will get invited if many of your original invitees can’t make it.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary -- Use tact and manners when inviting your guests. Request and follow up for RSVPs. Invite reserves if applicable.


Any kind of pressure on your skin, especially on your face, can lead to an outbreak of pimples. Headphones and cell phones can cause outbreaks, as can hats. If your shirt is too tight at the neck, you may develop acne there. Similarly, a backpack can put pressure on your back, causing an acne outbreak. As much as possible, avoid wearing clothes or using items that might rub or irritate your skin in acne-prone areas.  For example, try putting your phone on speaker instead of holding it up to your head. You can also reduce pressure and irritation around your face and ears by using earbuds instead of large headphones. If you tend to get breakouts on your neck, try wearing shirts with loose, breathable collars that don’t rub against your neck. Wearing a backpack can contribute to acne breakouts on your back, so try using a handheld bag or carrying items in your arms sometimes instead. It can be really hard to avoid touching your face. Unfortunately, though, playing with your face can introduce bacteria, which can get into your pores and lead to inflammation and breakouts. If you tend to touch your face a lot, try to be mindful of it. Look for something else to do with your hands when the urge comes on, like playing with a stress ball or sticking your hands in your pockets. Since avoiding face touches completely is nearly impossible for most people, the next best thing you can do is wash your hands frequently with soap and water. If your hands are clean, you’re less likely to get germs on your face next time you touch it! It’s already a good idea to wash your face twice a day, but it can also help to wash any area that has acne while you’re at it. Just use your hands, water, and a gentle cleanser. Wash your hair every day if you get acne on your scalp or along the hairline.  Avoid using scrubs or cleansers that contain harsh or drying ingredients, like alcohol or perfumes. You may be tempted to scrub your face or try to dry out the acne with astringents (cleansers that break down oils), but irritating or drying your skin can make your acne worse. Pimples develop from clogged pores, so watch out for greasy or oily lotions and creams that can gunk up your face. When choosing products, look for ones that say “noncomedogenic,” “won’t clog pores,” “oil-free,” or “water-based,” as these products are less likely to clog your pores. If you wear makeup, make sure that’s noncomedogenic and oil-free too. Even makeup that’s formulated not to clog your pores can cause breakouts if you leave it on too long. If you wear makeup, always wash it off before you go to bed. Salicylic acid is an over-the-counter acne medicine that you can get as a wash or a leave-on treatment. Look for a concentration of 0.5% to begin with, then work your way up to higher concentrations if that doesn’t work. If you're using a leave-on treatment, apply it to the areas where you have acne once a day and gently rub it in. If you're using a rinse or soap, create a lather and gently smooth it over the affected area with your fingers. Rinse it off thoroughly when you’re done. Salicylic acid can irritate sensitive areas like your eyes, your mouth, and the inside of your nose. Be careful to avoid those areas when you’re applying the treatment. Benzoyl peroxide helps fight acne by killing bacteria on your skin’s surface and in your pores. It also removes dead skin cells and oil that can clog up your pores. Start with a concentration of 2.5%. Like salicylic acid, treatments come in rinses and leave-on creams. Benzoyl peroxide can sometimes cause irritation, so test it out in 1 or 2 small areas of your skin for 3 days to see how you react to it. If it doesn’t cause any serious problems, try applying it over a larger area. AHAs remove dead skin that can clog up your pores and lead to breakouts. They also decrease inflammation and promote new skin growth. The combination can help give you smoother skin. Some common AHAs to look for are lactic acid and glycolic acid.  Lactic acid is a great option if you want to stick to natural treatments. It’s a gentle acid that’s derived from fermented milk. Some people experience side effects such as swelling, burning, and itching while using AHAs, especially at higher concentrations. It may also increase your sensitivity to sunlight or cause hyperpigmentation (darkening or discoloration of the skin). Be careful and stick to lower concentrations until you know how these products will affect you. It's definitely tempting to pop pimples. You may have even heard someone say you should. However, it's best to just leave your pimples alone. If you pop them, you could end up with scars instead. Also, if you pop a pimple, you are introducing bacteria to your face, which can cause more pimples and skin inflammation. If you have a huge pimple that you need to get rid of in a hurry, talk to your doctor. They may be able to gently drain the pimple in their office or give you a steroid injection, which can quickly shrink a pimple. Some natural treatments may be as effective as more conventional medications for treating mild acne. It's still a good idea to ask your doctor before trying one of these treatments, though, as they can interfere with other medications you're on. Talk to your doctor or dermatologist about trying remedies such as:  A gel containing 5% tea tree oil. This essential oil has anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties that can help fight acne. It can cause irritation in some people, so test it in an inconspicuous area, like the back of your knee, before applying it to your face. A cream with 5% bovine cartilage. Lotions with 2% green tea extract. Products containing 20% azelaic acid, which is an acid that naturally occurs in whole grains and some animal products. Creams and lotions containing zinc. Brewer’s yeast, which you can take as an oral supplement to decrease acne.
++++++++++
One-sentence summary --
Reduce pressure on your skin to minimize irritation and outbreaks. Keep your hands off your face to avoid introducing germs and dirt. Wash acne-covered areas with a gentle cleanser twice a day. Use oil-free skincare products to avoid clogging your pores. Minimize clogged pores with salicylic acid products. Kill bacteria and remove dead skin cells with benzoyl peroxide. Use alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) for inflammation. Avoid popping or squeezing pimples to prevent scarring. Try natural treatments if chemical treatments are too harsh.