Usually when you hear someone talking about acne, straight away you think of oily skin. But did you know that acne can occur on dry skin too? Yes, that’ s right. Acne can present in various forms and even without having an oily skin you can suffer from breakouts, pimples and blackheads.
Getting oily skin is the result of your glands producing too much sebum, which is a natural oil in your skin. This oil is meant to keep your skin moist, prevent it from drying out and create a protective layer. However too much of sebum can clog your pores which will result in acne breakouts. But oil is not the only thing that can block your pores. Dead skin cells are responsible for clogged pores as well.
What causes acne on dry skin?
Blackheads or whiteheads can occur on patients without an oily skin too, after build up of dead skin cells in the pores. As a result this build up forms lumps on your skin. Bacteria can also build up and make your symptoms worse.
When your skin lacks moisture it will get dry and scaly. To balance the dryness, your glands start producing more sebum. What happens if you have too much oil? It builds up in your pores and coupled with dead skin cells will block your pores resulting in pimples, inflamed spots or blackheads.
How prevent acne on dry skin?
A consistent skincare routine will always be your best chance to prevent and treat acne and dry skin. However if you suffer from sensitivity, make sure that you select your skincare after careful consideration.
Harsh products can aggravate your skin. So your first choice should always be products that will calm your skin and reduce irritation. Avoid products that contain perfume, oils, heavy moisturisers and dyes. These can all irritate your skin causing further symptoms.
You should avoid scrubs and exfoliating. And opt for cleansers that are gentle to your skin. While gentle cleansers remove oil, dirt and bacteria they will not over dry your skin. When cleansing your face use luke warm water instead of hot water that can dry and damage your skin.
Use oil free moisturisers straight after washing your face.
If you wear make up, make sure you never go to bed without cleaning your skin. And while we are on the topic of make up, you should opt for mineral make up, that won’t clog your pores. Some brands like Colourscience contain active ingredients, that will penetrate to the deeper layers of the skin to aid healing and treat your skin while offering a good coverage.
And a last tip that is more relevant than ever. STOP touching your face. Touching your face can transfer dirt and bacteria ( and viruses!) to your face that can trigger acne breakouts.
To learn more about your skin and which skin care products you should use, why not visit us at the Clinic where my Expert team will look after you?
How to book an appointment?
As the first step of your skin journey at Skin Perfection, you will be invited to attend a no obligations consultation. This will give you the opportunity to get a good understanding of your skin.
Following your assessment your practitioner will recommend you a personalised treatment plan. During your first meeting you will receive all the information and knowledge you will need to keep your skin healthy.
Contact our team today to book an appointment.
