Five ways to deal with oily acne prone skin

Do you have oily, acne prone skin that doesn’t seem to settle? Have you tried many different products with little or no improvement? I am one of those people who don’t have perfect skin. If I eat sugar or junk food, it will show on my skin.

If it’s hot and humid, my skin looks like a fried doughnut. If I allow myself to get stressed, my skin breaks out with a few new pimples. If you have oily skin you may understand these frustrations. What can you do to get more glow and less shine?

1. Know what causes your oily skin

Oils produced by the body keep our skin healthy, while excess oil can cause acne breakouts and blemishes. Is your oily skin due to hormones, diet, stress, medication, seasonal changes, or using the wrong products?

Once you’ve determined the cause, you can manage the problem. It may mean eliminating certain foods from your diet or reducing your intake of junk food, increasing your water consumption, saying NO to stress, or changing your skincare products.

2. Be gentle with your skin

Harsh soaps, toners, and facial wipes can trigger the skin to increase its oil production. Be gentle when washing your face and avoid using wash cloths or harsh scrubs on the face. If a basic cleanser doesn’t work for you, use something with salicylic acid or glycolic acid. I personally prefer natural sources as these acids can be damaging to the skin.

Salicylic and glycolic acid help to dissolve the dead outer layer of the skin, therefore they are useful in clearing blackheads and blemishes. Fruits and vegetables that contain salicylic acid include apples, cucumbers, strawberries, raspberries and tomatoes. Mash any of these fruits and apply on cleansed skin for 10 minutes.

Foods with glycolic acid include pineapple, papaya, sugar cane and brown sugar.

3. Don’t over-cleanse

You only need to cleanse your skin twice a day. Even if your face is drenched with oil, resist the temptation to wash it frequently or to use a facial wipe. Every time you clean your face, you encourage it to produce more oil, therefore twice a day is enough.

Use a scrub only once or twice a week. A daily scrub may aggravate your already sensitive skin. Use warm or cold water, never hot, and gently pat dry your skin.

4. Always moisturize

Use a light lotion which contains an SPF of at least 15. If you don’t moisturize, you are encouraging your skin to keep producing excess oil. Always protect your skin from the sun as acne-prone skin is very sensitive.

5. Make-up

Use mineral make-up as the minerals naturally absorb the excess oils. Avoid liquid or cream foundations which make the skin look oilier. Always use a finishing or setting powder.

Always listen to your body. If you feel sensitive or uncomfortable when using any new product, wash it off immediately. Be patient with your skin as there are no miracle cures. Do your own research and then do what’s best for you. Change your pillowcase at least twice a week and avoid touching your skin.