Oil's not well for this teener

MANILA, Philippines -  Q: I am a teenager with very oily skin and I also suffer from acne. No matter how often I wash my face it still feels oily — and I still break out. What can I do?

A: Excess oil can be caused by hereditary factors or from the production of the male hormone, testosterone. Wash your face gently yet thoroughly twice daily with a non-irritating cleanser. Harsh, drying treatments will actually cause the reverse effect; your skin will be provoked to produce even more oil to compensate for the drying cleansers. Alpha lipoic acid is an ingredient I recommend you look for in your skin cleansing products. It has a normalizing effect on the skin and can help regulate oil flow. The anti-inflammatory diet and nutritional supplements I recommend also normalize oil output, preventing excess oil as well as acne lesions.

* * *

Acne on the forehead

Q: I seem to experience a lot of acne breakouts on my forehead, in the area where my hair touches my skin. Why is this?

A: The oils from the hair can cause inflammation in the skin, which can clog the pores. Certain hair treatments only exacerbate this tendency. It is critical that you keep your hair clean and avoid the use of pomades, gels, etc. if you wish to reduce the probability of acne. Try to keep the hair pulled back off of your face, forehead, and back of the neck. To treat breakouts, try using toner pads that are saturated with DMAE three times per day.

* * *

In the Philippines, the N.V. Perricone, M.D. skincare line is exclusively available at Rustan’s Essenses.

* * *

E-mail your questions to lifestyle@philstar.net.ph.