How to Treat Problematic Combination Skin

If you had acne as a teenager and find yourself as an adult with combination skin (the best of both worlds!), you will need to find the right balance of skin care products to take care of the dry and the oily patches. Read on to discover some tips for taking care of your new skin.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Buy a sensitive skin cleanser. If you've suffered from acne, chances are that you have used some pretty harsh chemicals on your skin. As an adult with combination skin, you may actually be doing more damage than good by continuing to wash with a cleanser that contains Salicylic Acid or Benzoyl Peroxide because you're irritating the dry skin and overdrying the oily parts, making the oily zones overcompensate for their loss.
2. Steam, steam, steam. Boil three to four cups of water. Pour into a large bowl and add half a cup of tap water and one to two drops of tea tree oil and lavender oil. Cover your head with a towel and lean over the bowl, so that the bowl is also under the towel (creating a tent). Allow the steam to open up your pores for about five minutes. Afterwards, rinse your face and apply a masque.
3. Use a balancing masque. Masques with mud or clay bases will help to neutralize your skin, allowing the pores to breathe better and appear smaller.
4. Don't wash your face in the morning. This may sound counter intuitive, but over washing actually causes your pores to think that they need to secrete more oil. Instead, run a wash cloth under warm water and wipe your skin in small circles, particularly along your T-zone.
5. Use Salicylic Acid to spot treat. Try to find a medication that uses only 1% Salicylic Acid and also contains Oregano and Clove Buds, which will help to heal your skin. Higher concentrations of Salicylic Acid or Benzoyl Peroxide will dry out your skin but may not actually heal the area, causing more problems.
6. Use a sensitive skin moisturizer. Do not use a moisturizer that contains any kind of acne fighting medication.

Tips & Warnings

• Drink plenty of water to flush out your system. Indigestion causes all kinds of problems that can show up on your skin.
• Eat lots of fruits and vegetables. The vitamins will nourish your skin.
• Get enough sleep.
• Exercise to get the blood moving through your body, leaving your skin revitalized.
• Don't smoke or take drugs. They will leave a long term mark on your skin.
• This information is not meant to be used in place of professional advice. If you have severe adult acne, you should consult a doctor.