Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAcne-Prone SkinCausesSkin CareWhat to AvoidDermatologist Treatment

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Acne-Prone Skin

Causes

Skin Care

What to Avoid

Dermatologist Treatment

There are several possible causes of acne-prone skin. Fortunately, acne is treatable and can sometimes even be prevented. This article will provide an overview of acne-prone skin, including the triggers, treatment options, and self-care strategies.

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A person doing their skin care routine in front of bathroom mirror

First Things First: Defining Acne-Prone Skin

Acne comes in many forms, including:

Where Acne AppearsAcne can occur anywhere on the body. It is possible to have acne-prone skin without experiencing breakouts on your face.

Where Acne Appears

Acne can occur anywhere on the body. It is possible to have acne-prone skin without experiencing breakouts on your face.

Back and Body Acne Causes, Types, and Treatments

Why Do Some People Have Acne-Prone Skin?

People with acne-prone skin usually have overactive oil glands in the skin, leading to an excessive amount of oil. This excess oil can easily clog the pores, leading to breakouts. Research shows that people who are prone to oily skin are more likely to experience acne.

Some possible causes of oily skin include hormone fluctuations, certain medications, andregularly using oily skin or hair products. There is not enough evidence to suggest that your diet leads to oily skin.

Skin-Care Routine for Acne-Prone Skin

If you have acne-prone skin, consider implementing the following strategies:

What to Avoid With Acne-Prone Skin

Several common habits can make your skin more prone to acne. The following tips may lower your risk of experiencing acne:

Fortunately, acne-prone skin is treatable. Several options are available, either over-the-counter (OTC) or with a prescription.

OTCacne treatmentoptions include products with the following components:

If OTC treatments have not helped, call your healthcare provider. A dermatologist (a medical doctor specializing in diagnosing and treating skin disorders) treats acne with medications and in-clinic procedures.

Prescription options for treating acne include:

Oral Acne Medication Options

Summary

People with acne-prone skin are more likely to experience acne. Acne may look like whiteheads, blackheads, papules, nodules, and cysts. Acne occurs when the skin pores become clogged with oil, dirt, dead skin cells, or bacteria. This leads to redness and swelling of the skin.

People with acne-prone skin tend to have oily skin. Strategies to reduce the number and severity of acne breakouts include washing your face with a gentle cleaner once or twice daily, wearing light sunscreen when spending time outdoors, and avoiding oily hair or skin products.

Acne is a treatable condition with over-the-counter remedies or dermatologist treatments. See your healthcare provider for an individualized treatment plan.

7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nemours KidsHealth.What can I do about acne?.MedlinePlus.Acne - self-care.Endly DC, Miller RA.Oily skin: a review of treatment options.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2017;10(8):49-55.Burris J, Rietkerk W, Woolf K.Acne: the role of medical nutrition therapy.J Acad Nutr Diet. 2013;113(3):416-430. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2012.11.016American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to control oily skin.American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 skin care habits that can worsen acne.Leyden J, Stein-Gold L, Weiss J.Why topical retinoids are mainstay of therapy for acne.Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2017;7(3):293-304. doi:10.1007/s13555-017-0185-2

7 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Nemours KidsHealth.What can I do about acne?.MedlinePlus.Acne - self-care.Endly DC, Miller RA.Oily skin: a review of treatment options.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2017;10(8):49-55.Burris J, Rietkerk W, Woolf K.Acne: the role of medical nutrition therapy.J Acad Nutr Diet. 2013;113(3):416-430. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2012.11.016American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to control oily skin.American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 skin care habits that can worsen acne.Leyden J, Stein-Gold L, Weiss J.Why topical retinoids are mainstay of therapy for acne.Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2017;7(3):293-304. doi:10.1007/s13555-017-0185-2

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Nemours KidsHealth.What can I do about acne?.MedlinePlus.Acne - self-care.Endly DC, Miller RA.Oily skin: a review of treatment options.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2017;10(8):49-55.Burris J, Rietkerk W, Woolf K.Acne: the role of medical nutrition therapy.J Acad Nutr Diet. 2013;113(3):416-430. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2012.11.016American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to control oily skin.American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 skin care habits that can worsen acne.Leyden J, Stein-Gold L, Weiss J.Why topical retinoids are mainstay of therapy for acne.Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2017;7(3):293-304. doi:10.1007/s13555-017-0185-2

Nemours KidsHealth.What can I do about acne?.

MedlinePlus.Acne - self-care.

Endly DC, Miller RA.Oily skin: a review of treatment options.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2017;10(8):49-55.

Burris J, Rietkerk W, Woolf K.Acne: the role of medical nutrition therapy.J Acad Nutr Diet. 2013;113(3):416-430. doi:10.1016/j.jand.2012.11.016

American Academy of Dermatology Association.How to control oily skin.

American Academy of Dermatology Association.10 skin care habits that can worsen acne.

Leyden J, Stein-Gold L, Weiss J.Why topical retinoids are mainstay of therapy for acne.Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2017;7(3):293-304. doi:10.1007/s13555-017-0185-2

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