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What Is the Connection between Combination Skin and Acne?

B. Miller
B. Miller

Combination skin and acne are frequently found together for a few reasons. The most frequent reason for combination skin and acne occurring together is that one often causes the other. In addition, skin products that are designed to treat one condition can often worsen the other, making it a pretty frustrating combination to treat. There are, however, some things that can be done to care for this type of skin and help to prevent acne in the future. If acne is particularly severe, a dermatologist might be able to prescribe a prescription treatment for the short term.

Teenagers are the most common group of people who experience the connection between combination skin and acne, but people of any age can experience it. Treatment regimens for this skin type are largely the same regardless of age, although older people might choose to add some anti-aging products to their skin care regimen. A person who has combination skin and acne should plan to wash his or her face with a gentle cleanser twice a day and to use a moisturizing cream that is designed to fight acne. Creams that include salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide are recommended most often because they tend to be the most effective.

A boy with acne.
A boy with acne.

Combination skin refers to skin that has dry areas and oily areas. Individuals who have this skin type will often have oily skin in the T-zone, or the area around the chin, nose and forehead, along with dry cheeks. Of course, the opposite is possible as well. The problem is that products that are designed to treat acne can be far too harsh and drying for the drier areas of the face. One option is for a person to just apply the toner to the affected area; another is to check and see whether the skin care regimen could actually be causing the combination skin and acne.

Combination skin care products need to hydrate dry areas and regulate oil in oily areas of the face.
Combination skin care products need to hydrate dry areas and regulate oil in oily areas of the face.

Although someone who has oily skin might be tempted to wash his or her face frequently to get rid of it, this can actually cause the skin to produce more produce more oil and exacerbate the problem. Washing one's face no more than twice a day and applying a light moisturizer can actually help balance the skin by treating the dryness and cutting down on oil production. Adding moisture to oily skin might seem counterintuitive, but this actually can be one of the best ways of treating it and preventing acne at the same time, as long as the moisturizer is non-comedogenic and won't clog the pores.

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    • A boy with acne.
      By: Jörg Hackemann
      A boy with acne.
    • Combination skin care products need to hydrate dry areas and regulate oil in oily areas of the face.
      By: picsfive
      Combination skin care products need to hydrate dry areas and regulate oil in oily areas of the face.
    • People with combination skin may benefit from using a toner on their T-zone.
      By: mordeccy
      People with combination skin may benefit from using a toner on their T-zone.