Dealing with dry skin and pimples can be difficult. On one hand, you need to dry up the pimples, but on the other, you have to avoid over-drying your skin. In some cases, you may deal with this by using a topical acne medicine in the evenings and then applying a moisturizing cream during the day. Alternatively, you may use an acne medicine that is taken orally as well as a non-oily moisturizer for balance. You also might choose to use a topical acne medicine just in the areas affected by pimples in order to avoid over-drying other parts of your face.
If you are dealing with dry skin and pimples, you may opt to use a two-fold treatment. Such a treatment may include a topical medicine for drying pimples that you can use during the evening hours and a non-oily moisturizer that won’t cause pimples during the day. With this type of treatment, the moisturizer balances the effects of the drying acne medicine.
The right cleansing routine may also prove important when you are dealing with both dry skin and pimples. Often, people think they should use a cleanser that removes oil from the skin when they are dealing with pimples. Unfortunately, however, this sometimes strips the skin of its natural oils and encourages it to produce more oil to compensate, making acne worse. Instead, a mild cleanser is a better option for dealing with dry skin and pimples. A moisturizing cleanser that does not cause pimples may help as well — such products often are labeled "non-comedogenic."
Sometimes an oral medicine that treats acne is a better option for dealing with pimples and dry skin than a topical medication. Such a medication can work on the problem from the inside outward instead of further drying the skin from the outside. You can then use a non-comedogenic moisturizer to keep the surface of your skin from becoming overly dry. You will usually have to visit a dermatologist to get an effective oral medication for acne.
If you have just a few pimples or occasional breakouts, you may apply a topical treatment just to the pimples, avoiding the rest of your skin. This method is probably not the best choice if you have a lot of pimples or you get them on a frequent basis. Additionally, if you use this method too often, you might irritate the skin over the pimple and cause discoloration.
