What to do if you have acne and dry skin

Summary

The article provides advice for individuals with acne and dry skin, focusing on hormonal acne treatments, effective ingredients, and the importance of moisturizing and sun protection.

Abstract

The content discusses a personal struggle with persistent acne and dry skin, emphasizing that conventional acne treatments aimed at reducing oil production may exacerbate dryness. It suggests that hormonal factors often contribute to acne in individuals with dry skin and recommends considering hormonal birth control or dietary changes, citing a meta-analysis linking dairy consumption to acne. The article advises using products with salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and retinols to target acne, noting the need for a prescription for the most effective retinol, tretinoin. It also warns of potential sun sensitivity from these ingredients and stresses the importance of daily sunscreen use to prevent sunburn and hyperpigmentation. Moisturizing is highlighted as crucial for dry skin, with recommendations for heavier creams like Vaseline and a preference for using retinol at night, sandwiched between moisturizer applications to mitigate irritation.

Opinions

The author believes that products aimed at reducing oil are not suitable for those with dry skin and acne.
Hormonal birth control and dietary changes, specifically reducing dairy, are suggested as effective methods for improving hormonal acne.
Salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide are preferred in face washes for convenience, although benzoyl peroxide can stain fabrics.
Over-the-counter retinols are recommended for those who cannot access tretinoin, with a cautious approach to manage potential irritation.
The use of hydrocolloid patches is discouraged for dry skin, as they may not be effective due to their moisture-absorbing properties.
The author advocates for

What to do if You Have Acne and Dry Skin

A few years ago, I had the first big acne breakout of my life. . . except, it didn’t go away.

I turned to YouTube and the internet for advice on how to get rid of the red, bumpy, and often painful pimples all over my face, but every video and article I could find, advertised products that would cut down on oil production as a way to reduce acne. But in addition to the acne, I had dry flaky skin. Not only did those products not help my acne, but they also made my dry skin worse.

If you’re in the same position I was a few years ago here are some things that worked for me that might also work for you:

If you have dry skin and acne, it’s likely that your acne is hormonal. Hormonal birth control and dietary changes can significantly improve acne is some people. Like in this meta-analysis that found diary consumption increased acne in some people.

If you’ve tried that, or if that’s not an option for you, here’s what you should look for when shopping for anti-acne products. You need to find products that have ingredients that actively target acne. The most effective ones are salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, and retinols. Salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide can be found in face washes and in leave-in products. Personally, I prefer them in face washes since it’s more convenient, and then you don’t have to buy a whole other product just to wash your face. Be careful though, benzoyl peroxide will stain your clothes and your towels.

Tretinoin is the most effective retinol, but you will need a prescription from your doctor in order to buy it. Luckily, there are lots of good over-the-counter retinols too. Such as CeraVe’s beginner retinol and Versed’s Press Restart retinol. Retinols can cause irritation and, in some people, can make their acne worse before it makes it better, so this one is more of a long-term solution. If you are just starting out, then using the retinol twice a week and building up to every day from there can help you ease your skin into it, just make sure you are using it at night and not in the morning. Sandwiching your retinol between two layers of moisturizer can help with irritation as well. This one is something I still do, even after using retinol for years.

It’s important to note that all of these ingredients will make your skin more sensitive to the sun. You will get sunburnt faster, and you will be more prone to sun damage. If you end up using any products with these ingredients, or especially if you’re already using them, wearing a sunscreen of at least 30 spf every day is crucial. Sun exposure can also prevent hyperpigmentation from healing, so if you have stubborn dark spots from acne then sunscreen is going to be your friend. Just make sure that you are moisturizing enough when you put on your sunscreen. You can use a moisturizing sunscreen as a 2-in-1 like I do, or alternatively, you can just put on a layer of moisturizer before you use your sunscreen.

For dry skin, hydrocolloid patches are not likely to do much of anything, as they work by absorbing moisture from your skin. If you want to use acne patches, pay attention to the ingredients and buy something that will actively reduce acne.

If you are using products with ingredients that target acne and sunscreen, then last piece of the pie is going to be moisturizing. If you have dry skin, then moisturizing will not make your acne worse, and can actually make your skin look much better. For dry skin it’s no surprise that heavier moisturizers are better. I like to use Skinfix Barrier’s triple lipid peptide cream as my “lighter” moisturizer that I use before I put on my retinol and Vaseline as my heavier moisturizer that I use immediately afterward. Vaseline, and other petroleum-based products, make great moisturizers, though you might want to wait for it to absorb before you go to bed.