Yes, acne-prone skin can be sensitive!
It’s true that blemished skin always has excess sebum and therefore tends to be oily. But recent discoveries involving dysseborrhoea have refined the approach. Current scientific knowledge confirms the feelings expressed by many acne patients, especially when the problem is long-lasting. They describe skin that has become intolerant, with some oily and other ultra-sensitive areas.
Oily acne-prone skin is better understood today and is more complex than was once thought. It is a normal consequence of changes in the qualitative composition of sebum, causing transepidermal water loss to increase: oily skin can therefore be dehydrated.
Lacking water, this oily skin is weakened and further stressed if it receives a drying acne treatment to combat blemishes.
The skin is a living ecosystem... Keep in mind that the skin has a microbiome, i.e. skin flora made up of micro-organisms (bacteria, fungi, mites, etc.), that acts as a barrier against unwanted germs and protects against infection. But the slightest imbalance in this fragile environment can have major consequences and make way for “bad” bacteria. It is therefore not surprising that harsh local acne treatments modify the skin’s reactions. A subtler therapeutic strategy, taking into account the sensitivity of acne-prone skin, should therefore be adopted.
Dr Michèle Sayag, Allergist.