Dry Skin: Are They Related? Many over-the-counter acne products make skin dry and flaky. For people who already struggle with dry skin, clearing up acne while keeping skin hydrated can be tricky. While dry skin doesn't necessarily make acne worse, treating acne can definitely make dry skin worse.
Dry skin is irritated skin. Anytime you irritate your skin, you risk getting more acne. What to do instead: Use acne treatments as directed. If your skin feels dry, apply a moisturizer made for acne-prone skin.
Even though oily skin and acne often go hand in hand, acne can also occur with dry skin. Anything that clogs your pores can cause breakouts. And while sebum is a common culprit, it's not the only one. Here's what you need to know about dry skin and acne, and what you can do to fight breakouts.
Can dry skin cause acne? It's well known that excess oil is a contributing factor to acne, but you may not know that dry skin can play a role as well. Dryness prompts the skin to produce more oil, which can lead to clogged pores and further acne.
Why should you moisturize active acne? You should absolutely moisturize your skin even if you have active acne. It's an absolute myth that moisturizing your face will worsen your acne. In fact, moisturizers are necessary to keep acne-prone skin as relaxed as possible.
“Aside from helping with acne-prone skin, consistent daily use of a good moisturizer will lead to firmer, younger-looking skin, and even fewer breakouts,” she adds.
Dermatologists recommend CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser for people with acne as it works to cleanse the skin and remove oil, without disrupting the skin's protective barrier. It won't clog pores or dry the skin out, and contains niacinamide and ceramides to help calm and moisturize irritated skin.
Cerave Moisturizing Lotion
The combination of ingredients like polyglyceryl-3-diisostearate and cetyl alcohol both can contribute to some pretty serious breakouts.
And because CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizer is non-comedogenic and won't clog pores, it's ideal for all skin types.
Basically, not moisturizing your acne will have the opposite effect of what you'd think. "When the skin is dry, it can be more irritated and make acne look and appear worse," explains Rachel Nazarian, MD, a New York-based board-certified dermatologist.
Skin purging typically looks like tiny red bumps on the skin that are painful to touch. They are often accompanied by whiteheads or blackheads. It can also cause your skin to become flaky. The flare ups caused by purging have a shorter lifespan than a breakout.
If you over-moisturize, the leftover moisturizer just sits on your face. With nowhere to go, this extra moisturizer will eventually fill up the pores on your skin and clog them, resulting in the production of acne, whiteheads, and blackheads.
If you have sensitive skin or conditions like rosacea/eczema/psoriasis, this cleanser will sting your skin and /or cause a rash or acne in the very first week. If you have normal skin, it will eventually sensitive your skin and it will thereafter start reacting to PG.
Deep cleans to clear breakouts without overdrying, this cleanser starts working immediately to unclog blocked pores to reduce acne blemishes, blackheads, and whiteheads while maintaining skin's moisture barrier. In a 12-week clinical study, 96% said this cleanser leaves skin feeling refreshed.
Overall, there is no clear winner. It just depends on the needs of your own skin. If you experience dry skin, oily skin, acne-prone skin then CeraVe might be the clear choice. However, if you experience sensitive skin the Cetaphil is the better option.
CeraVe is the #1 dermatologist-recommended moisturizer brand*, and our products for acne-prone skin promote a clear complexion without dryness or flaking while helping maintain the skin's barrier with three essential ceramides.
CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30, $17.99
If you've got sensitive and/or acne prone skin, you pretty much can't go wrong with CeraVe's derm-recommended offerings. Its newest sunscreen is lightweight and non-greasy; absorbing quickly for non-irritating UV protection.
However, it can take six to eight weeks to see an improvement,10 so it's important to continue using anti-acne products to achieve the results you want. When looking for a solution, try to choose a simple, yet effective regimen.
Salicylic acid can be helpful for all types of acne.” Salicylic acid is a go-to OTC ingredient for acne since it dissolves the dead skin cells in clogged pores, helping treat existing acne and prevent future breakouts.
When should someone with acne use moisturizer? You want to apply moisturizer when your skin feels dry. Dermatologists recommend using it every day when your skin feels dry. Applying it after you wash helps to trap much-needed water in your skin.
Also your product should last you a few months not a few weeks — running through product quickly indicates you might be using too much of it. Some signs you may be over-moisturizing are clogged pores, blackheads, bumpy skin and excess oil.
If your skin tends to be dry, look for a cream - they tend to have a higher oil content. Moisturizing can reduce the appearance of other blemishes. Freshly moisturized skin has a healthy sheen, which can even out any existing blemishes. Some moisturizers have some tint or self-tanner that can work with any skin tone.
Purging is a sign that the product is working and you should continue with the treatment as prescribed. After a few weeks of purging, your skin and acne will have noticeably improved. Breaking out is when your skin is reacting because it is sensitive to something in the new product.
Stop using the topical emollient and call your doctor if you have severe burning, stinging, redness, or irritation where the product was applied. Less serious side effects are more likely, and you may have none at all.