Acne-prone skin – what are its requirements? How do I care for it?

Every skin type has specific needs. Only the right care can keep your complexion in check. If your skin often shows imperfections, you may be dealing with acne-prone skin. How do you care for this type of skin? What acne treatments and cosmetics do you recommend?

Acne is not just a youthful affliction

Although many people associate acne mainly with adolescence, it is in fact an affliction that very often affects people of all age ranges. Adolescent acne can be a temporary condition that is hormonally driven. Adult acne is much more likely to be chronic and a result of having acne-prone skin.

If you are well past puberty and frequently develop changes on your skin which may indicate acne, make an appointment for a dermatological consultation. The doctor will take a close look at your skin, if necessary direct you to additional tests and determine the cause of your skin problems. Acne-prone skin can be kept under control, but the most important thing is to get a confident diagnosis and take care accordingly.

Acne-prone skin – characteristics and requirements

Acne-prone skin is also referred to as problematic skin for a reason – it can indeed cause a lot of problems.

How do you recognise acne-prone skin?

• Blackheads, papules and pimples often appear on the skin. In menstruating women, skin lesions may appear at the end of the monthly cycle or around ovulation.
• Acne-prone skin is often also oily and may even be prone to seborrhoea. Sebum is produced in far too large quantities, which promotes shiny skin, but also the settlement of impurities and the multiplication of bacteria.
• The pores in acne-prone skin are often dilated. Blackheads may appear in them.
• Some people with acne-prone skin also have increased perifollicular keratosis, which promotes clogged pores and inflammation that also contributes to acne lesions.

What does acne-prone skin need?

Although it might seem that acne-prone oily skin mainly needs cleansing, toning and regulating sebum production, in reality it also needs moisturising and thoughtful care. Moisturising oily skin may seem like a totally unnecessary activity, but it’s just a pretense. Cleansing, exfoliating and toning treatments severely dry out the skin, strip it of its protective lipid mantle, and over-dried oily skin can start to become even more oily.

Acne skin care

Not every skin lesion means that you are dealing with acne – it is worth being aware of this and not trying acne treatments on your own. The best solution is to visit a dermatologist and follow your doctor’s recommendations. What will be most effective for acne?

Acne medication

The basis of many acne treatments are medications applied to the skin. They usually have an exfoliating effect, but also an antibacterial and cleansing effect. A variety of active substances are used in these remedies – including acids, vitamin C, retinol or benzolite peroxide. If that’s not enough, you may want to consider taking an oral treatment – but bear in mind that a general treatment requires the use of concomitant cover-up medication and may be associated with side effects. Acne medication is used during the active phase of the condition. Once the lesions have subsided and the complexion is normalised, a gentler cosmetic treatment and appropriate prophylaxis are usually recommended.

Acne treatments

There is a whole range of cosmetic and aesthetic medicine treatments that you can benefit from. However, most of them are recommended only when the acne lesions are no longer in an active phase – with few exceptions, of course, so read the recommendations and contraindications or consult your dermatologist before using a specific procedure.

What treatments help with acne skin care?

• Chemical peels – a staple for oily and acne-prone skin, but not only. Chemical peeling has an intensive exfoliating effect. It speeds up the removal of dead and old layers of the epidermis, thus cleansing the skin, regulating the glands, but also helping to combat acne blemishes!
• Charcoal scrub – combines cleansing and exfoliating action. It reduces the appearance of pores, refreshes the skin and even helps to reduce acne scars.
• Laser treatments – are mainly dedicated to those who want to eradicate the marks left by acne lesions: hyperpigmentation and scars.

These are just a selection of the many cosmetic procedures that can be used if you have acne-prone skin. Some treatments are worth doing regularly as a preventative measure.

Acne cosmetics

They can complement the treatment process or be a permanent part of acne skin care. If you are undergoing treatment with acne medication, do not reach for acne cosmetics on your own – they may react with the medication, so consult your dermatologist first.

How to care for acne-prone skin on a daily basis?

• Cleanse thoroughly, both morning and evening. To get rid of all impurities, you can use more than one type of cleanser (for example, a micellar lotion and a face gel).
• Tonify your skin – you will restore its natural reaction, but also normalise the sebaceous glands. However, avoid toners with alcohol to avoid over-drying your skin.
• Ensure a mattifying effect – mattifying cream is a popular choice for acne-prone skin.
• Remember to moisturise – after cleansing your skin in the evening, remember to moisturise. Avoid creams with rich ingredients. Choose a product with a light texture.

Choosing the best cosmetics for daily acne skin care is not easy – it is often a trial and error method. Take dermatological advice on the matter, but also observe the state of your skin when you try a new specific product. Every skin is different and requires an individual approach.