Oily Skincare with Acne Treatments and Remedies | Exfoliant Products

Oily Skin with Acne

If you have both oily skin and acne, you are not alone. The problem starts with sebum, which is produced by glands in the skin. Normally, the sebum helps keep skin and hair moist, which is essential for health.

Sebum, oily skin and acne

But sometimes, the glands produce more sebum than we need. This can lead to a shiny and greasy appearance. It can also be a breeding ground for acne, blackheads and other problems. Teenager tend to have more problems with oily skin and acne, because of hormonal changes, but oily skin and acne can be an issue for people at any age.

You can't stop your skin from producing sebum, but there are products that can help control the oil, and in turn help control the acne.

The most basic thing to do is to make sure you wash your face, with soap and lots of warm water. Warm water is better for cutting through the oil and removing it from the skin's surface. You may also want to try an antibacterial soap, or a soap with ingredients such as salicylic acid.

Astringents, skin fresheners and toners can help to temporarily remove oil and may help keep the acne under control. Astringents will feel cool to the skin when you apply them. Astringents tend to be stronger, and can contain alcohol. Toners and skin fresheners generally use more gentle ingredients to clean dirt and oil from skin, such as witch hazel or aloe. Generally, you wash your face, dry, and then apply the astringent, using cotton or a sterile pad. Astringents and toners can help to restore the pH balance of the skin. They can also temporarily make the pores appear less noticeable.

Oily skin exfoliants

Exfoliants can also help to improve the appearance of oily skin. When you exfoliate your skin, you're speeding up the process of shedding the upper layers of dead skin cells. Sometimes people use the words "sloughed off." You can exfoliate with a loofah sponge, or a brush. There are also exfoliating lotions and creams available. Using such lotions is sometimes called micro dermabrasion Some contain fine grains that do the exfoliation. There are also lotions that use a mild acid to peel the skin, such as alpha hydroxy acids or salicylic acids. The lotions can also be known as chemical peels. Retinoids, such as Retin-A can also cause the upper layers of dead skin to shed more quickly.

There are several over-the-counter medicines used for acne treatment. Each works a little differently.

Oily skin products

Following are the most common products for oily skin with acne:

• Benzoyl peroxide - destroys the bacteria associated with acne, and may also reduce oil production.
• Resorcinol - can help break down blackheads and whiteheads.
• Salicylic acid - helps break down blackheads and whiteheads. It also helps cut down the shedding of cells lining the hair follicles.
• Sulfur - helps break down blackheads and whiteheads.

Topical OTC medicines come in many forms. You can find them as gels, lotions, creams, soaps or pads.

Prescription medications come as both topical and oral. Topical prescription medications include:

• Antibiotics - to help stop or slow the growth of bacteria and reduce inflammation
• Vitamin A derivatives (retinoids) - unplug existing comedones, allowing other topical medicines, such as antibiotics, to enter the follicles. Some may also help decrease the formation of comedones. These drugs contain an altered form of vitamin A. Some examples are tretinoin (Retin-A), adapalene (Differin), and tazarotene (Tazorac)
• Others - may destroy P. acnes bacteria and reduce oil production or help stop or slow the growth of bacteria and reduce inflammation. Some examples are prescription strength Benzoyl peroxide, sodium sulfacetamide/sulfur-containing products or Azelaic acid (Azelex).

Prescription topical medicines, just like OTC version, come as creams, lotions, solutions, gels or pads.

When choosing cosmetics, make sure you look for products that are light and non-greasy in feel. Look for products that are oil-free, non-comedogenic or with a matte finish. During the day, facial blotting tissues can help to absorb excess oil and help to reduce that shiny appearance. Facial blotting tissues can be a better choice once you've applied make-up, than re-applying more powder.

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Updated June 2011

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