Acne. Yuck! Around 85 percent of Americans will experience an outbreak at some point in their lives, and at any given time 60 million Americans have active acne, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. While there are numerous factors that contribute to an acne outbreak, one of the main culprits is overactive oil glands that produce too much oil. When pores get clogged, the natural bacteria on the skin start multiplying, resulting in inflamed skin, blackheads, whiteheads, pimples and even deep-seated cysts or nodules.
With all that excess oil making your skin feel greasy, you might think a moisturizer is the last thing you need…but you would be wrong, particularly if you are using common acne treatments that contain benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. These kinds of products, which are typically effective in treating acne outbreaks, also tend to dry the skin, leaving it feeling tight and irritate, almost like it’s winter all year long.
The AAD recommends applying an oil-free, non-comedogenic moisturizer every day. While it’s easiest to just incorporate moisturizing into your daily cleansing routine, applying moisturizer right after you wash your face is most effective. After washing, blot your face dry with a clean, soft towel, leaving your skin a bit damp. Applying your moisturizer at this point helps lock in that moisture.
It might take a while, typically 4 to 8 weeks, but studies show most patients see less acne when regularly using an acne friendly moisturizer.