How to Treat Combination Skin

Regular care will keep dry patches and acne at bay.

Combination skin presents some special challenges. If you treat oily patches too aggressively you may find your skin develops dry, itchy patches, and moisturizing dry patches can clog pores and lead to breakouts. To treat combination skin successfully, resist the urge to over-treat either the oily areas or dry patches. You should also give your new skin care program time to work, switching to different products every few weeks can lead to irritation and additional breakouts.

Things You'll Need

• Gentle cleanser
• Towel
• Oil-free moisturizer
• Sunscreen
• Acne cream

Instructions

1. Wash your face with lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser. Water that is too hot or cold can irritate skin, leading to acne or dry patches.

2. Pat your face dry with a towel. Do not rub your face, which can stretch the skin, breaking delicate capillaries.

3. Smooth an oil-free moisturizer with sunscreen built in over your face. If your moisturizer does not have sunscreen built in, rub a layer of sunscreen on top of the moisturizer before heading outside.

4. Treat acne by dabbing an acne cream directly on the affected area. Choose a product that contains salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to kill bacteria.

References

• Princeton University: Skin Care
• Redbook Magazine; A Summer Beauty Routine For Every Skin Type; Cheryl Kramer Kaye