Dry skin acne-sufferers have it the worst this time of year. Long hours spent indoors and blustery cold winds outdoors lead to dry skin requiring moisture, but moisturizing is leading to clogged pores and more acne. We thought it would be best to speak with skincare expert, Dr. Vish Banthia, MD FACS, about the best ways to axe the acne during the coolest time of the year.
Low humidity accompanies cold weather causing an evaporative effect on the moisture levels of the skin. In order to alleviate this drying effect, Dr. Banthia suggests to forgo all acne cleansers containing salicylic acid.
Salicylic acid is a very effective acne treatment agent because it has anti-inflammatory properties to shrink pimples and speed healing. However, this acid has a tendency to dry out the skin. “Dry skin leads to more oil production,” says Dr. Banthia. “This can block pores and create a breeding ground for bacteria. Ultimately, this results in worse acne breakouts.”
To help create balanced oil levels in your skin, Dr. Banthia suggests a daily yogurt mask. This simple, gentle mask — a teaspoon of yogurt, squeeze of lemon and a pinch of turmeric, can be applied to your face for 10 minutes a day. This natural concoction combines lactic and citric acids together to help adjust the pH of the skin, while turmeric aids in naturally calming inflamed skin. Balanced skin is the first step in preventing acne bacteria from taking hold.
For those who are motivated to keep a strong acne treatment routine without using topical acne treatments, consider a light-based device that cleans out pores and kills bacteria responsible for acne. In the meantime, avoiding all harsh soap-based acne cleansers is step one in treating your acne-prone dry skin.
Dr. Banthia is the founder of ZendyBeauty.com and a double Board Certified surgeon and graduate of Stanford, UCSF, and Columbia / Cornell University Hospitals. He has a specialized expertise in minimally invasive procedures and has delivered lectures to plastic surgeons, facial plastic surgeons and dermatologists throughout the country as well as internationally. In 2006, 2008, and 2011, Dr. Banthia was recognized as a “Top Doctor” or “Top Surgeon” in Silicon Valley.
ZENMED Products Without Salicylic Acid: