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If you have acne-prone skin, your skin is oily, which means you could think that a moisturizer or lotion isn’t necessary for your skin. However, every skin type requires proper hydration. The excess oil that your skin produces does not provide you the hydration that your skin needs, which is why you need a moisturizer or lotion. That is even the case if you have acne-prone skin.
When you read up on lotions ideal for oily or acne-prone skin, you will find that non-comedogenic lotions are ideal for those who are prone to acne. Non-comedogenic products do not clog pores, which is why there is a recommendation to use those products if you have acne-prone skin. However, you might wonder if you can use products that are comedogenic if you have oily skin. Let’s talk more about what makes a product comedogenic or non-comedogenic before delving into that.
What Makes A Skin Or Facial Product Comedogenic Or Non-Comedogenic?
There is always screening for facial or skin products for their pore-blocking ingredients. If a lotion has too many pore-blocking ingredients that can cause acne, it makes the product comedogenic. If the product has very few pore-blocking components or none at all, it makes the product non-comedogenic. You evaluate the products through a comedogenicity scale, which ranged from zero to five. A product that measures at three on the scale or above makes it comedogenic, which means it will cause pore blockages. Products that range from zero to two on the scale are non-comedogenic, which means the lotions are less likely to cause acne breakouts.
Therefore, you would think that those who have naturally dry skin) could use lotions that are high on the comedogenic scale. That is because they are less likely to experience acne breakouts. It makes sense for those with oily skin to use only non-comedogenic products for the apparent reason. However, should someone who has acne-prone skin even consider using comedogenic lotion or products?
Is It A Good Idea To Use Comedogenic Lotion If You Have Oily Skin?
If you have acne-prone skin, you really should stick with non-comedogenic lotions or facial products. Non-comedogenic products are lightweight and free of components that will not clog your pores. As you know, anything that can cause your pores to clog will increase your chances of acne breakouts. However, if you have been using a comedogenic lotion and you have acne-prone skin, and you did not experience breakouts – then you can continue to use it. Why should you stop using a product that you usually use that you find helpful anyway? You know that saying ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’
In addition to that, some comedogenic lotions may contain properties that can kill bacteria, which can also cause acne. For instance, one of the types of comedogenic creams that have these properties is coconut oil. And, those with acne-prone skin should not swear off coconut oil for several reasons.
Why Can Those Who Have Oily Skin Use Coconut Oil?
Even though coconut oil scores four on the comedogenicity scale, those with acne-prone skin do not need to swear off this oil either. However, if they decide to use coconut oil, they should not purchase products containing oil. They should buy the oil straight from the supermarket and can use it as a lotion. The recommendation is to buy raw coconut oil. Even though it is a comedogenic product, coconut oil contains rich nourishing components such as Omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin E, and lauric acid.
Your sebum and other oils from your skin can bind with raw coconut oil. Therefore, it is less likely to clog your pores. Coconut oil moisturizes your skin as well, and the lauric acid, in addition to that, serves a critical purpose. Lauric acid can kill off bacteria as it has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. It can also help reduce inflammation. The other good thing about coconut oil is that you don’t need to use much of it to reap its benefits. If you use too much of it, it can clog your pores, and acne breakouts can result from it. That is just one example of a comedogenic lotion that you can use for oily skin. The important thing is to do your research if you want to use a comedogenic cream if you have acne-prone skin.
Weigh The Pros And Cons If You Decide To Use A Comedogenic Product
The bottom line is to weigh the pros and cons if you have oily skin if you want to use a comedogenic lotion or product. If the product has plenty of benefits for your skin that can potentially prevent acne-breakouts from happening, such as raw coconut oil, you can consider buying it. The best thing to do is talk to a dermatologist if you want to use a product that could potentially measure high on the comedogenicity scale.
On the flip side, you also would not want to only stick to lotions that score the lowest on the comedogenicity scale, which would be zero. Non-comedogenic products can potentially dry out your skin to the point of stripping oils from it. That only causes the skin to overcompensate by producing more sebum. Then the ironic thing is that you could end up with acne breakouts due to that. You need to do your research and talk to the experts before investing in any lotion or skincare product if you have oily skin.
Conclusion
If you have acne-prone skin, then it is understandable only to want to use non-comedogenic products. That is also the recommendation by dermatologists to use lotion and other skincare products that will not clog pores‘. However, does that mean to swear off all comedogenic skincare products? That depends on so many factors. If a comedogenic product such as raw coconut oil can provide more benefits than disadvantages, anyone with oily skin can use it sparingly.
In addition to that, if someone with acne-prone skin has already used a comedogenic lotion and never had issues with it, then they can continue.