Acne treatments for oily or greasy skin should start with one's diet. Although food has never been proven to cause acne on its own, certain meals do aggravate pimples if you already have them. If you have greasy skin, the best thing to do is to increase your intake of vegetables and fresh fruits and avoid junk and processed foods. Drinking lots of water should also be part of your agenda. Aside from helping keep your skin clear, a diet rich in fresh fruits can help your metabolism better and improve bowel movements that can flush out unwanted elements in your body.
Hygiene is also an important aspect of preventing acne in oily skin types. Washing your skin at least twice a day is a must to get rid of the dirt and the excess oil that clog your pores and cause zits to appear. In choosing a facial wash, it is better to use products that will not increase your skin's oil production. Water-based or oil-free facial washes should be used, or soaps with a balanced pH, followed by astringent to get the deep-cleansing effect.
Contrary to most people's belief, oily or shiny skin still needs constant moisturizing. No matter what type of skin we have, moisturizers are skin-care products that we should never do without, particularly when we hit the age of 25 and above. Moisturizing products designed particularly for greasy skin are available over the counter or you can consult your dermatologist for the best one. When it comes to supplements, vitamin A has been found to be good for shiny skin since it helps control the production of oil. A daily dose of this supplement can help balance the tone of oily skin and help in keeping it clear.
If you're not much into bottles and tubes and would prefer a more natural approach, home-based acne solutions are also available for shiny skin. The usual remedies are facial packs and pastes. These facial packs can be used before going to bed, right after cleaning your face. The most common ingredients for oily skin packs are tomatoes or egg whites. Milk or oatmeal mixed with lemon juice is another favorite among people with greasy skin. These materials are said to be effective in controlling the skin's oil production, while providing the much needed moisture to keep the skin hydrated.
Acne treatments for oily or shiny skin do not entail mere formulas applied to your face; they should also include proper eating habits, a healthy lifestyle and proper hygiene. Maintaining an oily skin is more challenging compared with other skin types. If you want to be acne-free, you'd better be ready to put in the work and follow the steps mentioned above.
1 out of every 2 teenagers has oily skin. We hear about it every day on TV and the radio in ads for Proactive and Murad. Stars like Jessica Simpson, Paris Hilton, Puff Daddy, Eminem, and even Paris Hilton all pitch various products and treatments for oily skin. Most of these products are nothing more than a mild benzoyl peroxide or salicylic (less than 2%) cleanser. The reality is that when we questioned real dermatologists none recommended these products. Their actual recommendations were:
1) skin peels and laser treatments.
2) tetracycline
3) Accutane - in severe acne cases only.
4) Doxycycline
5) Cetaphil - Every dermatologist said this was a great face wash.
You have to remember Paris Hilton, Eminem, and Jessica Simpson are all paid endorsers. Read the fine print. Not one of them guarantees or stands behind the product. To properly treat oily skin and the acne it can and usually does cause, you have to get to the source.
Benzoyl peroxide will only affect the surface and irritate it. Salicylic acid is a weaker acid and must be used in much stronger strengths to be effective - lees than 10% just won't cut it. What really works is treating the bacteria that are rampant in oily skin. This is what causes acne. A trichloroacetic acid (TCA peel) skin peel is the most effective external treatment and now the most cost effective as it is currently available to consumers for in home use. A TCA peel will alter the skin pH (acidity levels) and make the conditions unfavorable for the bacteria. TCA peels will also get rid of excess oil, increase exfolliation, collagen production, and new skin production - all helpful with oily skin. TCA peels are also very effective on acne scars - an added plus. And the best thing is there are no side effects.
Tetracycline is available by prescription only. It will kill the bacteria, but only for as long as you keep taking it. It will not affect the oilyness and is not effective against mild to severe acne. It also has side effects like yellow teeth. Their are similar antibiotics like doxycycline that have basically the same results.
Accutane is a very drastic prescription only medication. The side effects can be quite severe and are common. Blood tests must be done on a weekly or monthly basis. Accutane will cease the production of oil by stopping the functionality of the sebaceous glands. Usually this was reserved for mild to severe acne patients. The complications are so severe there have been numerous class action lawsuits (just watch TV or look up Sokolove the attorneys office on the internet).
Lasers have been used in a limited capacity as they are still too expensive and are mostly effective on thee resultant scarring from the acne, not on the oilyness and excess sebum production.
So, straight from real non-paid dermatologists all over the country, one can conclude that the most effective treatment with the least cost is TCA peels. And they are now available for home use. Now you know how to permanently cure oily skin, treat acne, and have beautiful skin from a real dermatologists perspective. Don't be misled by a highly compensated endorser like Paris Hilton, Jessica Simpson, Eminem, Puff Daddy, etc...
Both Trevor Mulholland & David Maillie are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.