Oily skin after differin cream and topical steroid

I had skin that was in balanced and not that oily at all. When I tried differin cream and a topical steroid within a week I had to stop because my face became extremely oily. Now I am concerned that i have permanantely damaged my skin and it wont go back to being dryer like it normaly was. My question is can it go back to normal and how many months could i start to see the change. It has only been one month since I stopped using these products and my skin has not gone back to normal yet.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
Oily skin needs special cleansing with plenty of hot water and soap to prevent the pores from being clogged. Avoid harsh products that strip your skin of oil and encourage flakiness. They can cause a reaction known as reactive seborrhoea, where the oil glands work overtime to compensate for the loss of natural oils.

Avoid skincare products that leave your skin feeling taut and dehydrated. You can use cetaphil and make sure that the rest of the times you wash your face with fresh water. Avoid heavy greasy moisturizers and take a diet rich in proteins but restricted in sugar, fluids and salt. Drink plenty of quality water to keep the skin hydrated and flush out toxins.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.