Dry skin and pimples: what to do? How to take care of it ?

Beyond the aesthetic aspect, pimples on dry skin can be bothersome and painful. But how to get rid of it without attacking the skin? We take stock with Marie Jourdan, dermatologist.

What causes pimples on dry skin?

Acne and pimples are not ailments reserved for people with oily or combination skin. It is quite possible to suffer from it with a dry skin. “Acne, whether on normal, combination or dry skin, remains an inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous follicles. A veritable vicious circle sets in, with the production of a particularly irritating sebum, the accumulation of bacteria, the thickening of the orifices which block the elimination of sebum and cellular debris… In short, volcanoes on the verge of explosion are appearing”, indicates the expert. Before adding: “The skin flora is unbalanced, the pH changes, and all this still maintains the phenomenon.”

If it is therefore not a hygiene problem, certain hygienic-cosmetic habits can nevertheless promote theappearance of blackheads and of inflammatory pimples, warns the specialist. Among which :

• The use of comedogenic treatments
• Tobacco use
• Alcohol consumption
• The stress
• A poor diet

To eliminate these pimples and take care of your skin, you should follow an appropriate care routine.

The difficulty of caring for a dry skin with pimples is that we need to find products that can act on pimples, without stripping and drying out the skin. It is also necessary to remember to hydrate it well so that it retains comfort and flexibility.

Here are the recommendations of the dermatologist:

• Wash your face once a day with a product suitable for acne (it will be sanitizing against pathogenic bacteria). Try to opt for the mildest cleanser possible.
• Use sebum and skin ecosystem regulating creams in the morning.
• Apply treatment creams based on anti-inflammatory active ingredients, antibiotics or cell renewal accelerators.

“Even if the skin is dry, acne remains a chronic inflammatory disease that requires prolonged application of anti-inflammatory products. We must therefore deploy solutions to allow the application of products while respecting the skin type. “, explains Marie Jourdan. With this type of skin, two strategies can be deployed to prevent the treatment from drying out the skin even more: “Space the application of the products to every other evening and above all favor so-called ‘compensating’ cosmetics, which contain the active ingredients but which also contain moisturizers and humectants to compensate for the drying effect.”

If the pimples do not go away, a healthcare professional can also prescribe oral antibiotics. “There are also molecules prescribed in the form of a cure of several months which will atrophy the sebaceous glands and then induce skin dryness”, she affirms. All of this will be decided after a diagnosis by a dermatologist.

What care for dry skin with pimples?

Used daily, some treatments can help you fight pimples and soothe your dry skin.

• DermoPure soothing compensating cream, Eucerin

This treatment allowssoothe the skin and to reduce the side effects of drying dermatological treatments.

• Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Cream Cleanser

This cleanser for dry to very dry skin removes makeup and impurities without drying out the epidermis.

• The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum

This treatment ultra-concentrated in vitamins and minerals helps to fight against blemishes and skin inflammation.

• The Ultimate Soothing Cream Augustinus Bader

This treatment calms, protects andmoisturize the skin thanks to a rich blend of amino acids, vitamins and nutrients.

Actions to absolutely avoid to get rid of pimples

Some gestures are harmful to your skin. To regain healthy skin, you must already avoid fiddling with pimples. Even if you crave it, keep in mind that it will only make the problem worse. Also be sure not to use comedogenic products and opt for lighter makeup, to let your skin breathe.

“As usual and even more so on dry skin, acne should not be confused with a hygiene problem. This would push the patient to redouble their efforts in terms of care and astringency, which would further irritate skin and even stimulate the inflammatory process.The tendency to purification, detoxification would only maintain the problem, so avoid scrubbing, repeated peeling.Remember above all that moisturizing your skin is not incompatible with acne treatment”, concludes Marie Jourdan.

>>> Many thanks to Dr. Marie Jourdan for his availability and expertise.