The Best Treatments for Dry, Sensitive Skin
If you have dry or sensitive skin and you suffer from acne you will need to take care to, not only treat the acne, but to take care of your skin. Most acne remedies will be very drying to the skin as they are made to stop the production of too much oil and if you have dry skin this will just make your problems worse. Your skin will more than likely become flaky, irritated and red. If you have skin that is sensitive the ingredients in many of the acne remedies may increase irritation and redness so you must be especially careful which treatments you use.
Skin Treatment for Dry and Sensitive Skin
As we get older our skin tends to become drier as the cells start to secrete a reduced amount of sebum. Elastin and collagen in the skin become damaged and are repaired less efficiently, which leads to to less elastic, drier skin. Furthermore as women approach the menopause estrogen levels decrease which also causes drying of the skin. Dry skin may also be a result of very cold weather and if you have sensitive skin it can be very easily irritated by harsh ingredients in cosmetics and skin preparations as well as fragrances and rough fabrics.
Acne Remedies For Sensitive or Dry Skin
1. Cleansing Products
A skincare routine including very gentle cleansing with a mild cleanser and moisturizing is considered necessary if you have dry or sensitive skin. Cleansers sold specially for acne sufferers aren’t really suitable for these types of skin. They contain abrasive ingredients for curing the acne but will result in irritation and redness for those with sensitive skin. You ought to choose a more gentle cleanser instead that contains only mild ingredients and will not any more irritation to your skin. Don’t wash your face too often and never scrub vigorously or use a harsh cloth in an effort to remove the dirt that is assumed to be a cause of acne. This will just result in more inflammation and distribute the bacteria that cause acne around your skin which will, without doubt, result in more outbreaks. Cleansing twice a day is adequate with a very gentle soap. Use either your hands or a freshly boiled soft washcloth or preferably use disposable cotton pads.
2. Moisturizing For Sensitive or Dry Skin
You need to use a very good moisturizer for dry skin so ensure you use a preparation that is light and will not add more oil and make your acne worse. Thick creams and lotions are unsuitable as they will clog the pores and cause more irritation.
3. Acne Remedies For Dry or Sensitive Skin
Some chemicals that may be used in acne remedies include vitamin A derivatives such as retinol, salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. For dry or sensitive skin choose one with a low concentration of the active ingredient initially to see how your skin is affected. If it does not cause irritation and redness you could increase the concentration. Don’t use all over your face but use a only a small amount only where you have pimples and use only once a day until your skin gets used to it. You could also think about using a natural cure for acne such as tea tree oil, either in an over the counter lotion or cream containing tea tree oil, or by diluting some pure tea tree oil with water and applying it to your problem areas. Tea tree oil has been shown to be very nearly as helpful as benzoyl peroxide but is much less drying on the skin.
In Conclusion
Dry and sensitive skins often do get acne and need special care so that you do not make the condition of your skin worse while you are treating your acne. Always use acne treatments with as gentle ingredients as you can and think about trying acne home remedies as a replacement for the harsher OTC products available.