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Getting rid of serious acne? Help!?

Hi, I was just wondering how do you get rid of a serious acne problem? Recently I've been having serious acne breakouts on my forehead that look horrible and last a long time before they eventually go away. Well, the actual breakouts go away, but then the leftover scabs (I know, ew) stay a long time. Like two weeks or more. I admit, sometimes I pick at them by mistake, and I'm trying to break that habit, but the pimples just seem to keep coming back. I've tried Proactive; didn't work. I've tried the "natural" homemade remedies (such as a oatmeal/green tea/milk face mask, brown sugar and milk face scrub, etc etc etc. None of those seemed to work in getting rid of the pimples, even if I gave it time. All they did was make my skin smoother and softer.
And now, what I'm trying is I use the Equate brand acne wash (salicylic acid acne medication: oil free-effective yet gentle cleanser) once or twice a day, Nicel Daywear Defense: Vitamin E Cream, Clearasil Ultra: Rapid Action Treatment/Vanishing Cream (the kind that apparently "reduces pimple size and redness in 4 hours") (10% Benzoyl peroxide acne medication), and then I sometimes finish with a Maybelline brand non-acnegenic/non-comedogenic (says it won't clog pores on the back label) shine-free oil control foundation makeup for cover up, when needed. My routine is at night, I rinse my face with warm water to open up my pores. Then, I use the Equate cleanser and a soft scrubbing pad to gently scrub all over my face. I completely rinse that with warm water. Occasionally, it will make my skin a little dry. So I rub a thin layer of the Vitmain E Nicel brand cream all over my face, particularly on the dry spots (such as around my nose). This cream works great in keeping my skin from pealing and becoming dry after using the face cleanser. Next, after I let the Nicel cream completely absorb into my skin, I dab a thin layer of the Clearasil Ultra vanishing cream on any pimples (mainly all over my forehead. :/). It does sting a little, which is normal for the product because that just shows that it's working. Finally, if I'm going somewhere in public, which means I basically use it everyday, I put on a thin layer of the oil-free foundation makeup for cover up on any blemishes/pimples.

Now this routine, when I first tried it, seems very thorough and effective, wouldn't you think? I thought it would be.
I've also heard that exercise and your diet affect your acne. I exercise just about everyday because I do cross country running. Which means I have to drink a lot of water to stay hydrated and that should help my skin. And I'm also a Vegetarian, so my diet is pretty good. Not always, but for the most part it's pretty healthy. I also used to drink green tea everyday, which I've not been doing recently, so I might start doing that again to see if it helps.
But even after all this, my acne is still pretty bad. I often have breakouts right in the most noticeable place; on my forehead. :/ It does get frustrating and significantly reduces my self-esteem in school, etc. I see all my friends and they don't have as bad acne on their foreheads as me, and I just don't know why mine can't be like theirs! Their skin seems so clear, and I bet they don't even use as much stuff to try and get rid of acne as much as I do!
Now I know that there are a few things that could be causing it...For one, I need more sleep. I get about 6-7 hours per night during the weekdays, when I should be getting 8. Number two, I need to get over the habit of popping my pimples and picking at them. I tend to try and pop them and it does pop them, but then it leaves a scab and that can lead to some scarring. Thirdly, I need to drink more water and green tea. Even if I do cross country running, I sometimes slack on drinking water during the day before practice. And I haven't been drinking very much green tea at all for the past few weeks.

But can these few changes that I need to make really clear up my acne?
Please give me any advice you can! Thanks! :)