If you get frequent breakouts (or ones that just never seem to go away), you likely have acne-prone skin. This means that your pores tend to clog easily, making you more susceptible to whiteheads, blackheads or pustules than other skin types. You can have oily or dry skin and be prone to acne.
The clearest way to distinguish between acne and pimples is to understand that pimples are a symptom of a condition, whereas acne is the condition itself. Someone who has acne-prone skin will experience pimples as a part of their condition, however not everyone who gets the occasional pimple has acne-prone skin.
Common Characteristics of Skin Types
Oily skin1 produces an excess of sebum that causes the skin to appear shiny and feel greasy—especially throughout the T-Zone (forehead, nose and chin). If you have oily skin, you may be more likely to have enlarged pores, develop acne blemishes and be more prone to acne breakouts.
If your skin feels tight, your skin is likely dry. If there is noticeable shine on your nose and forehead, your skin is mostly likely combination. If there is shine on your cheeks in addition to your forehead and nose, you most likely have oily skin.
Your T-zone is the part of your face that includes your: forehead. nose. chin.
Although oily skin can clog pores and lead to increased acne breakouts, oily skin also has many benefits. Oil helps preserve the skin, and people with oily skin tend to have thicker skin and fewer wrinkles. The key is to strike a balance between having too much oil and maintaining your skin's natural moisture.
CeraVe is the #1 dermatologist-recommended moisturizer brand for acne*, and our new Acne Control Cleanser with 2% salicylic acid is formulated to clear acne, reduce blackheads and improve the appearance of pores, while purifying clay helps absorb excess oil.
Normal Skin Type
Not too dry and not too oily, normal skin has: No or few imperfections. No severe sensitivity. Barely visible pores.
Given the increase in oil production, she says your skin will usually look greasier and slightly more inflamed. Zeichner adds that stress acne can also look like a combination of blackheads, whiteheads, red bumps, and pus pimples.
The last 4 types—papules, pustules, nodules, and cysts—are types of inflammatory acne that can be harder to treat.
Acne falls into the "mild" category if you have fewer than 20 whiteheads or blackheads, fewer than 15 inflamed bumps, or fewer than 30 total lesions. Mild acne is usually treated with over-the-counter topical medicine. It may take up to eight weeks to see a significant improvement.
While it may seem counterintuitive, acne-prone skin needs moisturizing too. You should look for a lightweight, non-comedogenic option with gentle ingredients designed to hydrate, and use it after cleansing or anytime your skin is feeling tight and dry.
Summary. An acne skin care routine should include a cleanser, toner, acne medication, moisturizer, and sun protection. If the toner is too drying, you can simply skip that step. If you're using prescription acne medications, make sure to use gentle cleansers and other products.
Cerave is known pretty well for it's reputation as being a line with mild products that won't cause your skin to flare up or break out.
When it comes to oily, acne-prone skin, Cerave takes the crown. The reason behind this: Cerave has multiple cleansers that can work perfectly for your skin type. If you're more towards the sensitive skin type, Cetaphil would be a great choice for you.
I would highly recommend the CeraVe acne wash compared to the Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne wash because of its gentleness and many benefits. I think CeraVe's formula is far more superior with a better combination of ingredients for the skin. I would not recommend the Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne wash under any circumstances.
Your skin is very smart; it regulates itself and produces only as much sebum as it needs to stay healthy, hydrated, and youthful. However, when we wash it too much, it first becomes overly dry. This leads to a backup of dead skin, and in turn triggers an overproduction of sebum.
Based on survey responses, Curology works for 88 percent of people. The prescription-strength ingredients and access to medical providers make Curology an effective skin care solution for many.
But oily skin does have a plus: It wards off wrinkles better than dry skin because the oils keep skin moister and smoother. Using moisturizer is one way to lessen the impact of wrinkles before they appear.
T-zone: Forehead, nose, and chin
The sebaceous glands produce sebum, which is an oily substance that moisturizes and protects the skin. Excess sebum production can cause acne. Extra oil production can mean that breakouts may occur more often in these areas than other parts of the face.
Why Is My Forehead Oily? When your skin produces excess sebum (or oil), your forehead and other parts of your face can appear shiny or oily. While this may happen for a variety of reasons, stress, fluctuating hormones, genetics, and humidity are common factors.
Generally, the T-zone (aka the forehead and nose) is where people notice the biggest issues with pore size because the sebaceous glands in that region tend to be more prominent than those in other areas of the face. "Olive and darker skin tones tend to have larger pores and more sebum production," Franco adds.