Skin care, like many things, is seasonal. Typically we think of winter as being the season for dry skin and summer the season for oily skin; which means when you have acne, summer is typically the season when you experience break-outs.
But some patients with acne experience flares in the winter — what is that about? Let’s talk about an uncommonly discussed version of acne called acne cosmetica. Basically, this is acne that is triggered by overuse of skincare and cosmetic products — in this case specifically, overuse of moisturizers to combat excessively dry skin.
When our skin gets naturally drier in the winter, the most common response is to use moisturizer. Makes sense, right? The skin is dry, so we increase product usage to manage the dryness. When you have acne-prone skin, however, this can create a secondary issue — clogged pores, leading to pimples.
So what should you do if you have acne and your skin is really dry during the winter? Here are a few tips to try.
Try to minimize dryness by cutting back or eliminating any unnecessary skin care products that dry out the skin. You may find that you only need to wash your face at night and can get away with skipping your cleanser in the morning. You should strongly consider avoiding toners and any other products that strip your skin of its natural oils. These products may be a lifesaver for you in the summer — but consider skipping them in the winter.
Reduce the frequency of your tretinoin/retin-a/retinoid usage. You may want to cut back to using these products to 3 nights a week during the winter, since they are naturally drying. By reducing dryness from retinoid usage you may not need as many thick emollients to combat dryness.
Make sure any moisturizer you use is non-comedogenic. Two inexpensive drug-store favorites that we recommend every day are Vanicream Daily Facial Lotion with Hyaluronic Acid and Neutrogena Hydroboost Gel.
Consider running a humidifer in your bedroom at night to keep the humidity up overnight.
Use a gentle exofoliant to help remove dry skin and flakes, rather than a drying face mask. Dr. Amy Valet really likes the Real Chemistry 3 Minute Peel twice a week to remove dead skin cells.
We hope these tips and tricks help you if you are experiencing an acne breakout this winter that is due to overuse of moisturizers and skin care products! And as always, if you need an appointment, just give us a call! Telehealth appointments are also an option for our acne patients!