Fifty-Two and Still Oily?

Dr. Irwin
April 27, 2009
I'm fifty-two and still really oily with clogged pores and acne. What can I do?

It doesn’t seem fair, does it? My patients always say they can’t believe they have wrinkles and acne!

I can’t give you a specific plan without seeing you, but for someone your age with oily skin, I would generally say to use more drying products, like Neutrogena Acne Wash, oil blotting papers, and Retin-A gel. Microdermabrasion once a month helps un-clog pores and dry a little. Prescription oral medication such as spironolactone which lowers male hormones (androgens) a little, may help as well. Seeing a good dermatologist would be helpful for you.

Sometimes, longstanding oily skin and acne lead to enlarged pores and large oil glands that look bumpy (sebaceous hyperplasia). Laser treatments such as the Fraxel Restore, or Lumenis Active Fx may be helpful. See a good cosmetic dermatologist. On the plus side, oily skin really doesn’t seem to wrinkle as much as dry skin.

Here’s a link to some acne and oil control products that I have tested.  They’re a bit more expensive than the drugstore products, but good.

Dr. Brandith Irwin, MD

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Hi, I’m Dr. Irwin. I believe that consumers deserve a medically trained and unbiased skin care advocate.

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