Combination skin is caused by an imbalance in the production and distribution of lipids (due to hormonal and genetic factors). The pores of normal, combination skin are overly dilated, tend to have blackheads and be shiny in the T-zone. The skin is either overly dry or excessively oily, with occasional roughness on the cheeks. The oiliness and dryness can change too, depending on the time of year (skin is usually drier when the weather is cold). Even oily skin can become rough and irritated in winter. Here are a few skin care tips to consider.
Skin care tips:
- When cleansing your face, you should only cleanse the T-zone twice a day and your cheeks once a day. Treat both areas differently as one is more oily than the other. Make sure to use a moisturizing cleansing product free of harsh chemicals.
- Don’t scrub oily areas—this irritates the skin and increases oil production.
- After washing your face at night be sure to remove dead skin cells (exfoliate) with the gentle scrub at least twice a week: use products containing alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) that normalize your skin, which are derived from fruit, milk and sugar cane and have anti-inflammatory properties. Home remedy: a tablespoon of sugar or oatmeal will work just fine.
- Moisturize your skin at night. Use a shielding lotion that bonds with the outer layer of the skin to protect and moisturize your face.
