Skin Care

If you have sensitive or dry skin and you suffer from acne you will need to take special care to, not only cure your acne, but to look after your skin. Most acne treatments will dry out your skin as they are made to stop overproduction of oil and if you already have dry skin this will only make things worse. Your skin will more than likely become flaky, irritated and red. If you have very sensitive skin the chemicals in some acne remedies can increase irritation and redness so you should be especially cautious which remedies you use.

Why Our Skin Becomes Dry and Sensitive

As we age our skin tends to become drier as the cells start to produce less sebum. Collagen and elastin in the skin are damaged and are repaired less efficiently, which results in to less elastic, drier skin. Additionally as women move toward the menopause the levels of estrogen decrease which also causes dryness. Dry skin is also a result of very cold weather and for those of us with sensitive skin it can be very easily irritated by harsh ingredients in skin care products and make up as well as fragrances or rough fabrics.

Acne Treatments For Sensitive or Dry Skin

1. Cleansing

A skincare routine including very gentle cleaning with a very mild cleanser and moisturizing is necessary if you have sensitive or dry skin. Cleansers that can be bought specially for those who suffer from acne aren’t very appropriate for these types of skin. They contain abrasive chemicals for treating the acne but will probably cause redness and irritation if you have sensitive skin. You ought to use a gentler cleanser instead that contains only mild ingredients and will not irritate your skin any further. Don’t wash your face too frequently and on no account scrub strongly or use a harsh washcloth in an attempt to clean off the dirt that is supposed to be the cause of acne. This will merely cause increased inflammation and spread the bacteria that cause acne around your skin which will inevitably give rise to more breakouts. Cleansing two times a day is enough using a gentle soap. Use either your hands or a freshly boiled soft washcloth or if possible use throwaway cotton pads.

2. Moisturizing For Sensitive or Dry Skin

You need to use a good moisturizer on dry skin but make sure you use a product that is light and that won’t result in an increase of oil which will make your acne worse. Heavy creams and lotions are not suitable as they will clog up the pores and set off more irritation.

3. Acne Treatments For Sensitive or Dry Skin

Some of the chemicals used in acne remedies include benzoyl peroxide, vitamin A derivatives and salicylic acids. For dry or sensitive skin pick one with a low concentration to begin with to see how your skin reacts. If it does not result in irritation or redness you could use a more concentrated product. be careful not to use all over your face but use a only a small quantity only in the problem area and only apply once a day until your skin becomes more used to it. You could also consider using a natural cure for acne such as tea tree oil, either in an over the counter lotion or cream that contains tea tree oil, or by making a solution of pure tea tree oil diluted in water and applying it to your problem areas. Tea tree oil has been shown to be almost as successful as benzoyl peroxide but does not dry out the skin.

In Conclusion

Sensitive and dry skins do suffer from acne and require particular care so that you do not make the condition of your skin worse while treating your acne. Always use acne treatments with as gentle ingredients as you can and think about trying acne home remedies instead of the strong over the counter preparations that are available.