Acne prone skin? here are 5 best oils that reduce breakouts and treat scars

What are the best oils for acne-prone skin? In my previous, I talked about the oils to avoid if you have acne-prone skin by explaining their profiles and comedogenic ability. To counter the myth that oils should be avoided at all costs here is a list of 5 oils that are suitable for acne-prone skin that helps prevent and repair the damages caused by acne.

Why Your skin may need Additional Face Oils

Although your skin already produces oils to protect and lubricate itself, if you have acne or oily skin you are probably using products that strip or remove a significant amount of oil from your skin. This causes it to overproduce oils to compensate leading to more acne and the cycle continues.

Sebum (oil) produced by the body is an important part of the acid mantle which protects the skin from environmental attacks and needs to be replenished.

Why certain Oils work for Acne Prone Skin

The main causes of acne are excess oil production, bacteria, clogged pores and hormonal imbalances. Using the right type of oil on your skin will take care of 3 out of the 4 causes because some oils have anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and regulate sebum production.

In addition, research shows that acne sufferers have lower levels of linoleic acid which makes sebum thicker and more likely to clog pores hence more acne. so using oils high in linoleic acid will balance sebum production and control acne.

Which oils are best for acne-prone skin?

The best oils for oily and acne-prone skin are oils that

• Balance your skin’s oil production
• Low on the comedogenic scale.

The best oils in this category are oils between 0-2 on the comedogenic scale. Different skin types can be acne-prone meaning they will need different types of oils despite both being acne-prone.

So for oily skin acne prone skin oils high in linoleic and low in oleic acid work best. While for dry acne prone skin a more balanced oil with similar levels of linoleic and oleic acid works well.

Argan Oil

This has a 0 comedogenic rating with unsaturated fatty acids which help soften the skin. It also regulates sebum production thus reducing breakouts which is important for oily and acne-prone skin. Argan oil also has a high level of linoleic acid which fights free radicals and improves the elasticity and cell strength of facial skin.

Hemp Seed Oil

This is another non-comedogenic oil that works well for oily acne-prone skin. It has a comedogenic rating of 0 and high linoleic acid content to prevent breakouts from clogged pores. One of the challenges with hemp seed oil is the fact it goes rancid easily and must be stored in a dark container or kept refrigerated.

Rosehip oil

Rosehip oil has a comedogenic rating of 1 making it a great oil for acne-prone skin. In addition, its rich vitamin A and natural retinol content make it useful in regenerating skin, removing dead skin cells and regulating sebum production.  

Calendula oil

In addition to having a comedogenic rating of 1 Calendula oil is also antiseptic, antimicrobial with anti-inflammatory properties which work wonders on your skin .it has also been shown to speed up the healing process of blemishes and acne scars.

Sea Buckhorn oil

Is made from orange berries found on coastlines throughout Europe and Asia and has a comedogenic rating of 1. Like the others on this list, Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil regulates sebum production which is a major cause of acne. In addition to controlling sebum production, it has a large amount of Vitamin A which also contributes. It contains a perfect ratio of linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acids which moisturize and regenerate cells.

Honourable mentions

Jojoba Oil

Jojoba Oil is another oil that is richer in oleic than linoleic acid but is still balanced enough to use on acne-prone skin. Jojoba’s oil has a molecular composition is close to that of sebum making it readily absorbed into the skin. Jojoba oil also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties which work to keep acne at bay.

Tamanu Oil

Tamanu oil is extracted from the seed of a fruit from the tamanu tree which is indigenous to Southeast Asia. This oil has a similar ratio of oleic and linoleic acid, antibacterial and antimicrobial making it a great balance for acne-prone skin. This provides regenerative properties making it perfect to treat acne-prone skin as well as reduce scars and pigmentation.

Baobab oil

Baobab oil is processed from the seed of the Adansonia tree. it nourishes and improves skin elasticity and soothes dry skin. Baobab oil has exceptional quantities of Omega 6 and 9, and vitamins that help with moisture retention and rejuvenate the skin which makes it great for healing acne scars. Its high linoleic acid profile makes it a good choice for oily acne-prone skin.

I hope this has shown that in spite of their bad reputation some oil is beneficial to acne-prone skin and help in controlling the underlying factors which lead to acne giving you blemish-free skin.

Do you use any of these oils? what has been your best or worst experience and which is the clear winner for you

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