Suffering From Acne And Dry Skin At The Same Time? Try These Tips!

Most people think that oily skin and acne go together. However, if you suffer from dry skin, you know that acne can be a chronic problem that's difficult to fix with over-the-counter treatments. Most over-the-counter acne medications are intentionally drying to the skin, which will only make your condition worse. Here's how to handle acne on dry skin.

1.) Use a facial soap that's non-drying and don't wash too often.

Unlike your counterparts that suffer from oily skin and acne, you can't wash your skin as often and you have to choose a soap that's non-drying. Look for soaps that say they're for sensitive skin and have natural moisturizing agents like glycerin, coconut, jojoba, shea butter or vegetable oils. Stick to rinsing your face in the morning with plain warm water and washing it with actual cleansers only at night.

2.) Keep your face out of the sun, wind, and other elements.

Oily skin has more sebum than dry skin. Sebum is the natural substance that protects your skin from too much water, sun and wind. Oily skin can tolerate a lot more exposure to the elements than dry skin can because dry skin has so little sebum. So, no matter what the season, take precautions to cover your face from the wind and rain and put a moisturizing sunblock on your face.

3.) Moisturize daily, but follow the directions carefully.

If you have dry skin, you already know that you need to moisturize daily, but follow the directions carefully when you do. Your skin, no matter how dry it is, won't soak up all that extra moisturizer. Instead, the excess will sit on top of your skin, trapping bacteria below it in your pores, compounding your acne problem.

4.) Skip the pharmacy and hit the kitchen instead.

If you have an occasional breakout, skip the acne cream aisle at your local pharmacy and head to your kitchen instead. You probably have one or more ingredients in the kitchen that will help your acne without drying your skin and it won't cost you anything either. Try the following:

  • Ice. Take an ice cube and wrap it in a washcloth and hold the ice to the pimple for a few minutes. Remove, and repeat the procedure until you start to see the swelling and redness go down. An ice pack works just as well.
  • Honey. Honey has natural moisturizing properties and is also naturally antibacterial. It also helps open up pores which can help fix a stubborn pimple. Apply the honey directly with a cotton pad or the tip of your finger to the acne and let dry. Gently wash it off before you go to bed.
  • Bananas. Make sure that the banana peel is ripe (yellow to yellow-black) and peel the banana. Using the inside of the peel, gently rub the peel in a circular motion over the acne until you've covered the area with the material from the inside of the peel. Let it dry, and then wash it off.

Acne is terribly frustrating for a lot of people with dry skin because it seems like all of the products designed to treat acne only make dry skin worse and inflame the acne that's there. If these tips don't work, find a good dermatologist or another specialist who can provide you with professional care and a solution to your unique problem! To learn more about acne, speak with someone like East Carolina Dermatology and Skin Surgery, PLLC.


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