Dealing with Oily Skin

There are three basic skin types to be concerned about when it comes to skin care: Normal skin, dry skin and oily skin. If you have oily skin, you are more likely to have acne problems, but even people with dry or normal skin get acne. Oily skin, however, seems to present a particular challenge when it comes to controlling acne. Here’s what you need to know if you have oily skin.

Oily Skin and Moisturizers

It is commonly thought that people who have oily skin should avoid moisturizers. This is not necessarily the case. The reality is that moisturizers are designed to help the skin retain water, not oil. Keeping the skin hydrated is what helps it maintain its youthful look, so this is important even for those with oily skin. In addition, many acne treatments can dry out the skin, so it is important to combine them with the right moisturizer in order to avoid skin irritation. Using moisturizers can also help you shed dead skin cells, which are as much a part of acne as oil is. Look for an oil-free moisturizer or acne care products that include moisturizing agents and hydrate the skin as they reduce your acne.

Oily Skin and Acne

If you have oily skin, there is indeed a good chance that you will have at least a mild to moderate acne problem. Acne is the result of excess dead skin cells and other dirt and skin debris combining with acne causing bacteria. It is the oil in your skin, known as sebum, that is the “glue” that holds these products together, allowing acne to result. Your sebaceous glands, located near your hair follicles, produce sebum to allow the hair to move smoothly through the pores; too much of it and those pores may become clogged, and acne may result. What this means is that you will probably need an acne care system using benzoyl peroxide to manage your acne. Benzoyl peroxide is a great acne fighter because it unclogs pores, penetrating deeply into the skin to get rid of the acne causing products. When oxygen rushes into the unclogged pore, it kills the acne causing bacteria which had been living beneath the skin, and this helps prevent new acne from forming.

Using an Acne Control System with Oily Skin

Many acne control systems are designed with oily skin in mind. If you have oily skin, you may have to be even more diligent with your acne treatment than others. You’ll need to make sure you use it as directed, and you may well need to use it for several weeks before you see any noticeable results. Furthermore, even after you become acne free or close to it, you’ll need to continue to use your acne care system to prevent new sebum from building up and clogging those pores again. That being said, if you find the right acne care system with benzoyl peroxide and use it diligently, you should be able to see a significant reduction in acne, even with oily skin.