Tips And Tricks For Oily And Acne-Prone Skin
Oily and acne-prone skin can be a pain—if you don't know how to manage it. Use these tips and tricks for your best skin yet.
Although the oil on our skin helps protect it and fight signs of aging, many people suffer from an excess of oil, leading to acne and other skin conditions. But before you can effectively treat your skin, you have to know your skin type! That seems simple enough, right? I like to use this guide with my patients, so they can determine their skin type, then pick the best treatment plan based on their results:
* Wash your face with a gentle facial cleanser, rinse, and pat dry with a soft towel.
* Wait 60 minutes
* Blot your face with a tissue. Look at your skin and the tissue.
Dry skin: If your skin is dry, then 60 minutes after washing, it will look a bit flaky and feel tight. No oil will be on the tissue.
Sensitive skin: If you have sensitive skin, you might notice redness, itching, or even a rash after cleansing.
Normal skin: If you have normal skin, then your skin will feel slightly tight but comfortable without flaking and without oil on the tissue.
Oily skin: If you have oily skin, there will be oil on the tissue from most or all the areas of your face.
Combination skin: If you have combination skin, you could have a combination of oil in areas like the T-zone, flaky skin in areas like the cheeks, and normal skin in areas like the chin.
So let’s talk oily skin, which is extremely common! The first step to managing is to find the right cleanser. There are so many on the market, which can make it overwhelming! For oily skin, you’ll want to try a foaming cleanser. This will clean the skin more aggressively. An inexpensive choice is Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Cleanser, or, if you’re willing to splurge, Epionce Gentle Foaming Cleanser is a great option.
If you have very oily skin, try using a toner (you can use it up to 2x per day) which can help decrease oiliness and shine.
So, what about acne? There are many ways to care for and treat acne, but these are a few of my favorite at-home remedies.
# 1 Try a Band-Aid! Studies show that a covered wound heals better than one that is open to the air. Covering with a Band-Aid, even if just overnight, can reduce the redness and inflammation of a pimple, causing it to heal and disappear faster.
# 2 Oral zinc supplements can be helpful for some people with acne due to its anti-inflammatory effect.
# 3 Don’t throw away that banana peel just yet! Rub it on your face, instead. Cut off a small piece (about a one inch square) and rub the peel onto areas where you have acne, until the inside of the peel turns brown. Allow the banana residue to dry on your face and leave it on for 30 minutes. Wash it off with warm water. You can do this up to 2-3 times per day. The reason this helps with acne is that banana peels contain fatty acids and antioxidants that soothe skin. For this reason, banana peels are also good for other skin issues like eczema and psoriasis.
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