Using Acne Medicine for Winter Outbreaks

The combination of the cold, harsh weather and warm, dry air caused by heating inside can wreak havoc with your skin in the winter. Not only can it make skin very dry, it can actually make acne breakouts happen more often or be even worse. This may seem counterintuitive to most people, as excess oil is often blamed for acne flare ups and skin in the winter rarely feels oily.

Will Acne Medicine Clear Winter Acne?

In fact, the conditions that skin endures during the winter months can produce both blocked pores and excess oil production leading to winter acne. Dry skin means that there are more dead skin cells on the surface of the skin. If the dead skin cells are not removed, not only do you have a flaky appearance, but they can block the pores of your skin. Also, when skin is dry, the skin cells will begin to produce more and more oil to try and combat the dryness. This combination of factors is what leads to increased acne in the winter.

Treating acne in the winter may not be as straight forward as at other times of the year. While acne medicine may help, it can also make the condition of your skin worse. Here are some tips to ensure you get the best results from your acne medicine in the winter.

Tips for Treating Winter Acne With Medicine

Change your cleanser – Many cleansers contain active ingredients for fighting acne, such as salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. While these types of acne medicine may work great during the rest of the year, one side effect is that they are drying to the skin. After cleansing, if your skin feels tight, is dry or is red and irritated, you probably need to choose a different cleanser. Continuing to use your cleanser may cause your skin to produce excess oil, making your acne worse. Instead, you may want to consider milder cleansers with little or no active ingredients and a gentle exfoliant.

Your treatment routine – As well as changing your cleanser, you may need to adjust your daily treatment routine. You should continue to cleanse twice each day, but you may want to skip the toning step. Toners for treating acne also contain active ingredients that are drying to the skin. Instead of toning your entire face, you may want to limit applying toner to just problem areas, such as the T zone. Alternatively, you may want to try less harsh toners, like those made from witch hazel, during the winter.

The same goes for creams that contain acne medicines. You may want to limit their use or choose one that has a much lower level of salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, so that you don’t irritate your skin further.

Add a moisturizer – During the winter, the key to clear and healthy skin is keeping it moisturized. Many people think that if they use a moisturizer, their acne will get worse. In fact, during the winter, the opposite is true. It is the lack of moisture that is causing the problems. When choosing a moisturizer, look for an oil-free lotion or gel that is non-comedogenic (doesn’t clog your pores).

Acne Medicine at Night

Nighttime treatments – Your skin needs moisture at night as well as during the day, so you may want to apply heavier treatments at night. Choosing products that contain a low level of retinol will help fight breakouts and keep your skin smooth. Retinol makes the skin extremely sensitive to the sun, so try to use products that contain it for your nighttime routine and always wear a sunscreen during the day. When purchasing a daytime moisturizer, choose one that contains a sunscreen.