People with acne-prone skin benefit from knowing their skin type and the type of acne they have. Developing a lifestyle and skincare routine that works for these types can help. Caring for acne-prone skin is about more than just applying blemish-busting products. It can involve lifestyle changes, too — the first of which is often a new and improved skincare routine.
What are blemish-prone skin and acne?
The simplest way to understand acne is to split it into two categories: noninflammatory and inflammatory types.
- Noninflammatory acne refers to clogged pores that appear as blackheads or whiteheads.
- It’s the mildest type and is easy to spot. Blackheads have a dark appearance and can appear somewhat flat against the skin. Whiteheads are small skin-colored bumps.
- Inflammatory – Anything with a red or more robust appearance is essentially classified as inflammatory acne.
- This can range from papules and pustules to more severe nodules and cysts.
- Papules are small red bumps, while pustules are small bumps that contain pus. Papules often turn into pustules.
- Then there’s the deeper, more painful acne. These inflamed bumps are typically larger than your usual pimple and feel as if they’re underneath the skin.
Sometimes acne is confused with rosacea.
Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that often involves a tendency to blush easily and can often lead to chronic redness on the:
- cheeks
- nose
- forehead
- chin
Although there are four subtypes of rosacea, the type most commonly confused with acne is papulopustular or acne rosacea. This type involves acne-like breakouts. On the other hand, acne vulgaris is a common type of acne characterized by inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions. It can involve pimples, blackheads, cysts, and other forms of acne.
Causes of acne
Acne is caused by a combination of hormones, oil, and bacteria. When oil, dead skin cells, and bacteria clog the follicles, sebum can’t escape the pores. This leads to acne. Each pore of your skin is also the opening to a hair follicle, which is made of a hair and sebaceous, or oil, gland.
The oil gland releases sebum, which keeps your skin lubricated and soft and the causes of acne can include:
- your follicles producing too much oil
- dead skin cells accumulating in your pores
- bacteria building up in your pores
- Overproduction of oil is usually because of hormonal changes, like:
- puberty
- the menstrual cycle
- pregnancy
- menopause
Acne and skin type
It’s common to link oily skin to acne. After all, excess oil is a known contributorTrusted Source to breakouts. But dry skin types can still experience acne for several reasons, whether it’s due to environmental factors or a poor skincare routine that irritates the skin and clogs pores.
Dr. Yoram Harth, board-certified dermatologist and medical director of MDacne, says there’s an easy way to work out your skin type.
- First, wash your face with a mild “baby” soap. Gently pat it dry. Don’t apply any skin care products.
- A couple of hours later, examine your skin. If it’s shiny, you have oily skin. If it appears flaky, rough, or red, you have dry skin.
- Combination skin will appear dry on the cheeks and shiny on the forehead, nose, and chin (T-zone).
- “Normal” skin, meanwhile, will have a healthy glow with no visible issues.
- Bear in mind that it’s possible to be acne-prone without having dry or oily skin.
What to do to prevent breakouts
Treating acne doesn’t just involve trying product after product. It encompasses careful cleansing and some simple lifestyle changes.
- washing your face twice a day and after sweating
- being gentle with your skin by avoiding harsh scrubs
- don’t pick or pop!
- if you have to, use safe extraction methods with a qualified dermatologist
- routinely washing things that come in contact with your skin
- using non-comedogenic products
- checking your hair care ingredients
- staying hydrated
- Wash twice a day and after sweating
- Washing your face when you wake up and before you go to bed is recommended.
- Doing it more than twice a day, unless you’re particularly sweaty, can irritate the skin.
- Be gentle; don’t scrub or use harsh exfoliants. “Acne is not a ‘dirt’ problem,” she says, “so scrubbing harder and using hard exfoliants don’t help and can only lead to more redness and irritation.”
No picking or popping!
It’s super tempting to pop that pimple. But doing so can lead to scarring. It can also transfer bacteria into other pores and make what was a small pimple turn into deep, inflamed acne. But if you must… do it safely
There’s a proper popping method, officially known as extraction. The best method involves applying a warm compress to open the pores and using clean Q-tips to gently push down on either side of the blackhead or whitehead. It’s best not to attempt this with deeper acne types like pustules.
Routinely wash anything that comes into contact with your skin.
Bedding, makeup brushes, and even phone screens can all harbor debris that can clog your pores. To avoid clogging your pores, change sheets weekly and pillowcases two or three times a week. Ideally, you should clean makeup tools every day. But if that’s not feasible, try washing them once a week instead.
Phones can be wiped with a special cleanser once or twice a day.
Opt for non-comedogenic products. Noncomedogenic is a label you’ve probably seen quite a lot on skin care products. Sometimes it goes by the name of oil-free, non-acnegenic, or simply “won’t clog pores.” Every product used on acne-prone areas should have the labels “oil-free, noncomedogenic.”
It’s best to check the full ingredient list before using it. Avoid anything that contains potential irritants, like alcohol or fragrance.
Stay hydrated
Keeping skin hydrated may help combat the excess oil that leads to acne. However, there’s limited research to back this up.
What does an anti-acne skincare routine look like?
A skincare routine that’s not right for your skin type or concerns can end up causing more problems. Here’s every step you should consider taking when dealing with acne-prone skin.
Ingredients to look for
Salicylic acid works to unclog pores and reduce inflammation. It’s ideal for blackheads and whiteheads but can also help pustules disappear quickly. Try Stridex pads or Clinique Acne Solutions clinical clearing gel.
Benzoyl peroxide kills acne-causing bacteria and therefore works best on inflammatory acne. La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo acne treatment and Paula’s Choice Clear daily treatment come highly rated.
Retinoids exfoliate the skin’s surface, removing the dead skin cells that clog pores, among other things. They also help reduce inflammationTrusted Source and are commonly used in many acne regimens. If you’re starting, consider trying Differin adapalene gel. Your dermatologist can also prescribe stronger retinoids.
Morning
Cleanser. Cleansing skin in the morning can be a good component of an acne regimen. Oily skin types can try Cetaphil Oil-Removing Foam Wash. Opt for Differin Daily Deep Cleanser if you have dry or sensitive skin.
Toner. Use a toner to get rid of excess oil that may contribute to breakouts. Murad Clarifying Toner was designed especially for acne-prone skin.
Moisturizer. Whether your complexion is dry or oily, a moisturizer will keep your skin hydrated. CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion won’t clog pores. For ultra hydration, try Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel.
Sunscreen. Some acne treatments can increase your skin’s sensitivity to sunlightTrusted Source. Protect it with a broad spectrum, SPF 30 sunscreen. Two popular options are La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL Ultra-Light Sunscreen and Tizo 2 Facial Mineral Sunscreen.
Makeup. While this isn’t an essential step, makeup can quickly cover pimples and residual redness. Both Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Foundation and Eucerin DermoPurifyer Cover Stick contain breakout-fighting salicylic acid.
Evening
Makeup remover. If you’ve chosen to wear makeup, properly removing it will help keep pores unclogged. Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micellar Water aims to soothe skin, while Natura Bi-Phase Makeup Remover is gentle and hydrating.
Cleanser. The day’s events can leave a great deal of grime on the surface of the skin. Gently get rid of it before bed with ArtNaturals Clarifying Face Wash or Avene Antirougeurs Cleansing Lotion.
Spot treatment. Applying a spot treatment after cleansing can allow the ingredients to work their way deep into the skin. As well as treating existing pimples, these products can target scarring and stop new breakouts. Try Peter Thomas Roth Acne-Clearing Gel or REN Nondrying Acne Treatment.
As needed
Exfoliant. While exfoliating isn’t for everyone, exfoliating once or twice a week can help remove dead skin cells that can block pores and lead to breakouts. If you haven’t got much time, use Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Cleansing Pads. Alternatively, try Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum.
Face mask. A well-formulated face mask, like Sunday Riley Saturn Sulfur Spot Treatment Mask or GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Treatment, can help combat oiliness and impurities, hydrate dry skin, and reduce redness. Use up to three times a week for optimal results.
Patience is key here. Use an acne treatment for at least 1 month before considering trying a new one. Expect to wait up to 3 months before seeing a big difference. If you are not seeing any improvement, consider switching to a new product or visiting a dermatologist for personalized advice. Whichever route you decide to take, follow the instructions exactly for the best possible outcome.