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What is oatmeal?
Oatmeal may refer to oats that have been dehusked, steamed and flattened, or to a rough flour made from oat grains. Oatmeal is popularly served as a porridge. However, there are also topical uses of oatmeal, like in the form of oatmeal face masks.
What is it best for?
A face mask made with oatmeal can be used to soothe dry, irritated skin. You can also use ground oatmeal to exfoliate and remove dirt, oil, and dead skin cells. It can be used for cleansing, moisturizing, and to reduce inflammation. Oatmeal can help in getting rid of excess oil from your skin, which makes it beneficial for those who suffer from acne.
Oatmeal is also a great, mild ingredient that reduces redness and irritation associated with eczema.
It also has antioxidant properties, making it beneficial in anti-aging products to protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals.
What is the drawback?
Oatmeal has few downsides when applied topically, other than the fact that a homemade face mask can be a little messy. Take our skin quiz to find out if you need to add this wonderful ingredient to your skincare regimen.
There are several different types and causes of acne. Cystic acne occurs when pores in your skin are clogged with sebum, dirt, and dead skin cells. This creates a perfect opportunity for the growth of bacteria, which can cause an infection. The infection can grow deeper into the skin, leading to inflammation and redness, causing raised acne bumps (AKA cysts) with pus that can be tender to the touch.
Benzoyl peroxide is a topical agent for fighting bacteria and can be good for some type of cystic acne. Jojoba oil and rosehip oil are also good for reducing inflammation, fighting bacteria, and keeping in moisture for healthier skin. Ingredients that help exfoliate dead skin cells and increase new skin cell production, such as Vitamin A/Retinol, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid, are good for treating cystic acne as well.
The secret to winning the battle against cystic acne is having the right regimen for your skin. Products that are too strong can be irritating and drying, causing your skin to overproduce oil, which leads to more acne. Picking the wrong active ingredients may have no effect. Using the right regimen for your acne type and skin tolerance can effectively clear acne while keeping your skin healthy and balanced.
Oatmeal may be effective for cystic acne, but there are many other factors that may affect whether this ingredient would work on your skin or if there are better ingredients that may work for you. Take this skin quiz to find the best ingredients for your skin and build your skincare routine.
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