Combination Skin and Acne

People normally believe that it is oily skin that is most likely to suffer from acne, considering the fact that the reason a person gets acne is due to the excessive sebum production by the sebaceous glands. This however, is far from true. Other skin types such as a dry skin or a combination skin too can have an attack of acne in the form of blackheads, pimples or pustules. This is because acne can be caused due to many other factors besides excess sebum, such as hormonal imbalance, certain genetic factors, chemicals in cosmetics, allergy from food and mental stress.

A combination skin type which is a cross between oily and dry skin, can be identified by an oily "T" zone. "T" zone refers to the forehead, nose and chin. Other areas of the face such as cheeks and the jaw line are dry in the case of combination skin. Looking at these characteristics, it can be said that dealing with combination skin can be very difficult as certain areas of the face are oily while others are dry and hence require different treatments. On top of that if a person suffers from acne, it can make skin care quite a hassle.

Combination Skin Acne Treatment

For people with a combination skin, acne breakouts usually occur on the "T" zone due to the excess oil present there. So caring for this "T" zone is very important. Here are some useful tips on how to care for combination skin to check acne breakouts.

Use a Gel-based Cleanser
Invest in a good quality gel-based cleanser which removes the excess oil from the skin. Using astringents, if the skin is excessively oily, helps too. Read more on combination skin cleansers.

Apply Facial Masks
Facial masks that control the excess oil production should be applied every week on the "T" zone to prevent acne. For the rest of the face, face masks which hydrate the skin and prevent it from getting dry should be used.

Face Mask for "T" Zone # 1
Take half a cup of fresh strawberries and one tablespoon of yogurt. Mash them together to form a thick paste. Apply the mixture on the face, keep it on for twenty minutes and then wash off.

Face Mask for "T" Zone # 2
Combine one tablespoon of green clay, one teaspoon apricot kernel oil, a few drops of palmarosa oil and warm water to form a mixture. Next apply it on the face and keep it on for fifteen minutes. When it's dry, wash with warm water and pat dry.

Face Mask for Dry Areas # 1
For the dry areas on the skin, make a facial mask by combining one teaspoon each of honey and ground oatmeal. Apply it on the face, keep on for fifteen minutes and then wash with lukewarm water.

Face Mask for Dry Areas # 2
Although fuller's earth mask is meant for oily skin, yet if it is combined with thick cream, it helps in keeping the dry skin hydrated. Simply combine one tablespoon each of fuller's earth and cream and apply it on the dry areas of the face, leave it on for about half an hour and then wash off with cold water.

Use Oil Blotting Sheets / Pore Strips
For cleaning the pores and to get rid of blackheads, pore strips should be applied on the affected skin area. To get rid of the excess oil, oil blotting sheets available in the market should be used a number of times during the day.

Keep the Skin Well-Moisturized
A combination skin should be kept well moisturized and for this "Oil-free" lotions or moisturizers should be used. Application of a mild toner on the oily areas, prior to the application of a moisturizer, will help in evening out the skin texture of the face.

Apply Topical Creams
Regular application of skin creams, especially those which contain benzoyl peroxide, help in eliminating the bacteria present on the skin which can otherwise cause acne to develop. Such creams should be applied on the affected skin areas twice a day.

Although treating combination skin acne is twice as hard compared to getting rid of acne on any other skin type, yet, by taking a few measures such as regularly maintaining a cleaning, toning, moisturizing routine, using natural or herbal cosmetics, eating an oil free diet and applying natural homemade face masks, a person can get rid of acne eventually.