Moisturiser for oily skin? Yay or Nay?

I have oily skin with frequent acne breakout. Do I still need moisturiser?

Many people with acne reported that their facial skin is "oily", "greasy", "clogged up", "an additional layer on skin" because of the extra sebum production.

But the answer is yes. You still need moisturiser.

Why?

In acne, your skin barrier is actually impaired. The four main features in acne are

• Increased sebum production (more "oil")
• Follicular keratinisation (plugging of pores)
• Propionibacterium acnes (a type of bacteria) proliferation
• Inflammation

That extra sebum does not contribute much to skin barrier but can be used by the bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes to grow and break the balance of the many other natural organisms on the skin (more than 500 species live on our skin, if they live in harmony, they should not be causing any trouble) and leading to inflammation. An inflamed skin is a skin that is in a mess. Moisturising it helps to reduce inflammation, to restore the harmony and the balance of our skin.

Many medications that are used to treat acne, ranging from antimicrobials to retinoids, can cause dry skin. Moisturising the skin helps to reduce irritation and itch and makes you feel more comfortable.

Tips on choosing the right moisturiser.

1. Pick one that says non-comedogenic
2. Pick one that says hypoallergenic or for sensitive skin
3. Pick therapeutic moisturiser that helps to restore skin barrier
4. Look at the ingredient, I personally loves one that contains dimethicone because it is an occlusive that helps to retain moisture and yet doesn't give that greasy feeling while gives that little extra protection to the skin
5. Try it on, it should feels soothing

Oily skin? Don't worry. Happy moisturising it away!


You might be interested in:
Acne myths 
Skin oils for acne skin