When people with dry skin experience an acne breakout, they often wonder, ‘Why is this happening when my skin isn’t oily?’ The truth is that acne can affect anyone, regardless of your skin type, and there are many contributing factors.
In this skincare guide, we’ll uncover if dry skin causes acne, how your skincare routine might contribute to breakouts, and the role of moisturizing to help prevent acne by dry skin.
With the right approach and products like the Bio-Oil® range for dry skin, you can hydrate, repair your skin barrier, and help reduce breakouts.
Does Dry Skin Cause Acne?
It’s a common misconception that only people with oily skin have acne breakouts, but unfortunately, acne can happen to anyone.
People with dry skin often wonder if dry skin will cause pimples. When you’re already dealing with dry skin issues, having acne alongside flaking and irritation can leave you feeling incredibly frustrated.
To understand why dry skin can cause acne, you first need to know why you have dry skin.
Dry skin often occurs when the body doesn’t produce enough sebum (oil) to protect and moisturize it. This can be the skin type you were born with, or your skin may change over time due to aging, medical conditions, etc.
Ironically, this lack of natural oil can lead the skin to overcompensate by producing excess oil to restore balance. Unfortunately, this extra oil can clog the pores, leading to acne breakouts.
Why Dry Skin Can Make You Break Out
A dry and compromised (flaky or cracked) skin barrier allows bacteria, debris and environmental irritants to penetrate your skin more easily. Combined with extra oil production, these factors can clog your pores and cause acne. If your dry skin flakes or cracks, your risk of inflammation and breakouts may increase.
The Impact of Dryness on Pore Clogging
Dry skin can lead to a buildup of dead skin cells on the surface. Without regular, gentle exfoliation, these cells can clog your pores, triggering an outbreak of pimples, blackheads, and acne. When compounded with excess oil and bacteria, your pores face a perfect storm for breakouts.
Is Your Skincare Routine to Blame?
While diet, hormones, and age are common causes of acne, your skincare routine could also play a role. Using the wrong products for your skin type or skipping key steps to keep your skin hydrated can result in dry skin, which can cause pimples.
Products you should avoid for dry skin with acne include:
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Acne-fighting products that are designed to ‘dry out’ pimples as they are prone to strip your skin of moisture and may irritate your already dry skin.
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Any skincare product that is not designed to treat your dry skin condition
It would be best if you looked for:
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Clinically proven hydrating products like Bio-Oil Body Lotion and Dry Skin Gel that will help you to add hydration back into your sore, dry skin
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Non-comedogenic skincare products as they won’t clog your pores.
Treating your dry skin condition first is vital to helping with acne breakouts.
The Role of Moisturizing in Preventing Breakouts
Your dry skin can cause various irritating issues, including flaky or cracked skin and acne. Proper hydration is needed to maintain a healthy balance and prevent the overproduction of oil. Using the right moisturizer, like Bio-Oil Lotion, can help restore your skin’s natural oils while preventing clogged pores.
How to Treat Dry Skin To Help Reduce Acne
The great news is that you can treat dry skin and acne at the same time by following the correct skincare routine.
Here are some tips to regain control of your skin:
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Wash your face with a suitable gentle exfoliating cleanser once a day to remove dead skin cells and unclog your pores.
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Avoid over-washing your face as this can strip your skin of moisture and further aggravate your dry skin issues.
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Where possible, avoid wearing makeup that will clog your pores and irritate dry, cracked skin.
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Look for non-comedogenic skincare products like Bio-Oil that won’t clog your pores.
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Keep your skin moisturized with clinically proven formulas, like Bio-Oil Body Lotion that’s non-comedogenic and infused with hydrating oils, hyaluronic acid and vitamins E & A to soothe and repair your dry skin
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Stay away from harsh, pimple-drying formulas, which exacerbate dryness and may aggravate your skin even more.
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If you’re left with acne scars, try dermatologist-recommended Bio-Oil Skincare Oil that can help to reduce the appearance of scars (it’s safe to use on dry and acne-prone skin)
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Drink plenty of water and up your intake of water-based fruits and vegetables to hydrate your skin from the inside!
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In climate-controlled environments, use a humidifier to help keep moisture in the air (e.g. in an office or your bedroom overnight)
Hydration and Barrier Repair
When you have dry skin, your skin’s barrier is often compromised, becoming flaky, red, and cracked. To treat dry skin, you must first start by repairing your skin’s barrier. Choose non-comedogenic moisturizers like Bio-Oil that hydrate your skin using powerful plant oils and humectants (hyaluronic acid, glycerine, or aloe vera). These products will naturally help restore your skin’s hydration to help ease dryness and help reduce the chance of acne.
Using Gentle Exfoliants
When your skin is sore and dry, the last thing you want to do is scrub it. However, a gentle exfoliant is really useful for removing dead skin cells and preventing further clogging of your pores. Products like Bio-Oil Body Lotion contain active ingredients like hyaluronic acid, jojoba seed oil, shea oil and lactic acid, which gently exfoliate your skin. This gentle exfoliation is a great way to help repair your dry skin and leave it moisturized.
Choosing the Right Products for Acne-Prone Dry Skin
Taking care of your dry skin doesn’t have to be a battle. With the proper skincare routine and clinically proven products like Bio-Oil, you can start to restore your skin’s natural barrier and help reduce the chance of acne.. Give your skin the love it deserves and explore Bio-Oil’s hydrating solutions to leave your skin feeling its best.
