Dry Skin & Acne: Causes, Treatments

Dry skin and acne are two things most of us don’t think of as going together. After all, acne develops when your hair follicles get clogged with oil - and dry skin is often thought of as the opposite of oily skin. ​

There are a couple of misconceptions to break down here. First, the opposite of oily or dry skin is normal skin - which is more rare than the name would imply. Second, oil isn’t the only thing that can get trapped in your pores and cause acne - dead skin cells and other small irritants can be culprits, too.

There’s some bad news, too - some acne medications can make your skin dry. What’s more, they’re unlikely to rid you of acne immediately, so you might end up with this tricky combination until the medication starts working its magic.

CleansersIn order to manage your acne and your dry skin, you’re going to need to be very particular about your skincare routine. The biggest things to watch out for are irritants, from harsh exfoliants to dyes and fragrances.

The double cleanse is a popular part of many skincare routines. Cleansers can be particularly harsh on dry skin, so it’s especially important that you choose gentle cleansers in this step.

Acne sufferers, in particular, can benefit from an oil-based cleanser to remove makeup and other impurities - makeup wipes tend to make acne worse. Opt for a cleanser that you can simply rinse off of your face - removing cleansers with a washcloth can aggravate your dry (and probably sensitive) skin.

When it comes to your second cleanse, remember - light and refreshing. You don’t want a lot of active ingredients, so it’s a good idea to opt for cleansers that were made for dry and sensitive skin. You can even find cleansers on the market made for dry skin with acne - those are a wonderful go-to for this scenario.

More Skincare TipsThere’s some debate in the skincare community about when you should spot treat your acne. Some say that you should do it after you moisturize, in order to create a moisture barrier, while others say you should do it before you moisturize. For dry skin, spot treating acne after moisturizing can work particularly well, since acne treatments can cause a lot of irritation if there’s no moisture barrier there.

Don’t be afraid to use retinol - but keep in mind that all retinoids are different, and you’ll want to opt for one that isn’t extremely strong. They should only be used at night.

Following some of these tips should help keep your acne under control - it’s worth mentioning that different people react in dissimilar ways to different acne medications (and skincare treatments), so it’s important to talk to your dermatologist. 

Once your acne is under control, we have acne scar laser treatment Winnipeg residents can trust to reduce or eliminate the appearance of the scarring that can be left behind by repeated bouts of acne.