The more systematic approach to acne treatment is choosing treatments and preventive measures based upon the skin-type of an individual. In this regard, acne treatment for dry skin needs to be emphasized. Dry skin is naturally more vulnerable to scarring due to acne, and repeated flare-ups due to sensitivity of the skin.
Dry Skin and Acne
A person can have partially or wholly dry skin. This means that either there are selective zones on the face that tend to remain dry or the entire facial skin is dry. Either of the scenarios makes the skin highly susceptible to acne. This is essentially because the outer layer of dry skin tends to be flaky. This creates the sustained presence of weathered, outer layers of the skin.
The skin debris in turn tends to block the sebaceous glands on the face, causing acne. Dry skin poses the problem of over-the-counter measures being rendered ineffective. For instance, using a conventional moisturizing solution like facial creams doesn’t solve the problem for people suffering from dry skin. This is because the oil content of facial creams can further cause an unwanted adhesion of the loosened, flaky bits of skin upon the skin’s pores, worsening the problem.
Winter Season Acne Care for Dry Skin
During winters, the skin dries to a greater extend due to decreased humidity and lower temperatures. Artificial forms of indoor heating can further irritate the dry skin. Thus, flaking of the skin is more pronounced during the winters. In untreated skin, the flaking can turn into severe cracking. This can deteriorate the problem, as cracking allows bacteria to enter the skin’s pores.
This problem can be solved by maintaining a daily, moisturizing regimen. This goes beyond the aspect of just hydrating the skin with moderately-oily moisturizers. People with naturally dry skin should take steam baths and hot showers to moisturize the skin. Moisturizers combining easy-to-absorb but non-greasy ingredients like mineral oil are a wiser option.
Summer Season Acne Care for Dry Skin
The extra heat and humidity can quickly exacerbate acne development in people with dry skin. The summer season requires a change in self-hygiene habits. This includes the use of dry, wiping tissue to repeatedly dab the skin. This is an easy way to ensure that the excessive sweating and the resulting, bacterial infections are neutralized. During the summer, it is better to use oil-free moisturizers. These help to hydrate the skin without adding to the grimy nature of the sweaty skin.
Using Tea Tree Oil
Many acne medications use benzoyl peroxide as the basic ingredient. Though this chemical derivative is useful for treating acne, it isn't the best choice for treating dry skin-related acne. Benzoyl peroxide can irritate and further dehydrate an already-dry, sensitive skin. A better option is to clean the skin with a slightly-hydrating, but non-irritating agent like tea tree oil. It is found in many organic creams and is also retailed as a cream.
Using Appropriate Skin Cleansers
The facial cleanser should not have chemical ingredients that can further parch the skin. Most of the cleansers are aimed at people with oily skin, wherein comprehensive drying of oily, skin pores is needed. However, this is not required for people with dry skin. It is better to use milder or organic cleansers. In fact, something as conventional as baby soap is a better option than using chemically-formulated cleansers.
