The best way to stop and prevent acne and acne scars is not to panic and just use your common sense. Here are a few tips on how to get rid of acne I've personally found effective:

1- Do wash your face, but do it VERY gently and with a special acne soap. Don't rub too hard or you'll irritate your skin even further, and you can even help spread the infection if you're not careful with pimples.

2- Do not use ( or over-use ) products that will contribute to dehydrate your skin ( like the wrong kind of soap ).

3- Do not use cosmetic products that have oil as one of their elements. This will contribute to acne proliferation, since acne is caused by an excess of sebum ( skin oil ) and closed pores.

4- Eat healthy food. Lots of fresh fruit and not fat-rich/ oil-rich/ junk food. If you want to get rid of acne, cut down on your dairies . A lot.

5- Change towels and other hygiene elements that touch your face as often as possible. Hygiene is crucial when dealing with acne.

6- Don't try to extract pimples yourself. If you absolutely have to, do not under any circumstance use your fingernails. Just use the sides of youyr fingers to press very gently. In any case, make sure your fingers and nail are clean when you do this.

7- Practice yoga, meditation or whatever lets you unwind. Stress contributes to the worsening of acne conditions.

8- Don't go for the last acne cream you find at the supermarket. Best case scenario, they will attack the symptoms but do nothing about the root cause ( the production of sebum ). Go for natural products instead. Whenever in doubt on how to get rid of acne, check with a professional.