If your oily skin breaks out and leaves marks behind, the cleansing advice that fits best is the advice written for acne-prone skin. Choose a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser, preferably one labelled alcohol-free, and wash with your fingertips up to twice a day and after sweating. The dark marks pimples leave are called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, and picking at pimples raises the risk of them. The habits around the cleanser deserve as much attention as the product itself.
What to look for in a cleanser
When your skin feels oily, it is tempting to reach for the strongest, most "deep-cleaning" wash you can find. The guidance for acne-prone skin points the other way. Look for these things:
- Gentle and non-abrasive. Choose a cleanser that is gentle and non-abrasive, and apply it with your fingertips. Scrubbing with washcloths, sponges and other tools can irritate skin.
- Alcohol-free labelling. Choose gentle skin-care products, including ones that say "alcohol-free" on the label.
- Simple use. A cleanser you apply with your fingertips and rinse off is enough. You do not need a brush, sponge or cleansing gadget.
A longer ingredient list or a trendy word on the front of the bottle does not make a face wash better. A plain, gentle formula you will actually use every day is a good place to start.
How to wash a face that gets oily and breaks out
Cleansing is simple, and doing it gently is the whole point.
- Wet your face with water that feels comfortable.
- Use a small amount of cleanser and spread it with clean fingertips. Skip washcloths, sponges and scrubbing tools, which can irritate your skin.
- Massage lightly, then rinse well and pat dry with a clean towel.
- Repeat up to twice a day, and wash again after you sweat. In a hot, humid Indian summer, a rinse after a sweaty commute or workout fits naturally into this.
There is no need to wash more often than that. If a product leaves your skin irritated, that is a good reason to stop using it.
Why dark spots show up after pimples
Those flat dark marks that stay after a pimple has healed are called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. It is temporary pigmentation that follows an injury or inflammation of the skin. It can occur in anyone, but it is more common in darker-skinned people, in whom the colour tends to be more intense and to last longer.
Two things are worth knowing:
- Picking, popping and squeezing make acne take longer to clear and raise the risk of scarring and dark spots.
- Sunlight can make the marks look darker. The patches may become darker when exposed to UV rays.
So two habits are worth building: leaving pimples alone, and protecting your skin from the sun. Treatment options for the marks themselves also exist, and we cover them further down.
Are acne and oily skin the same?
Not necessarily: acne is a skin condition with many causes, and treatment looks different for everyone. The cleansing habits in this guide are the ones dermatologists recommend for people managing acne, so they are most useful if you get breakouts as well as an oily-feeling face. Oil from your hair can also play a part, because it can cause acne on the forehead. If your hair is oily, shampoo more often and keep it away from your face.
What face wash is best for acne?
Choose a gentle, non-abrasive cleanser, as described above, and use it up to twice a day. Beyond the face wash, the rest of your routine matters too. Astringents, toners and exfoliants can irritate skin, dry it out and make acne appear worse, which is a good reason to be cautious with face washes that double as scrubs or exfoliators.
If you want to read more about one popular ingredient in cleansers, our guide to salicylic acid explains it in general terms. For a closer look at cleansers for pimples, see our article on a face wash for oily skin and pimples.
How to get rid of pimples and dark spots for oily skin?
Treat your skin gently and leave pimples alone, because picking raises the risk of scarring and dark spots. Protect your skin from the sun too, since sunlight can make marks look darker. A few more habits support your skin while it settles:
- Keep your hands off your face. Touching your face through the day can make acne flare.
- Stick with what you are using. Trying new acne treatments too often can irritate skin and cause breakouts, and acne takes time to clear.
- Use sun protection. Seek shade, wear sun-protective clothing and use a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen on skin that is not covered. Look for one that says "non-comedogenic" or "won't clog pores". If marks sit on an exposed area, daily broad-spectrum sunscreen is important to minimise darkening caused by UV rays.
- Avoid tanning. It damages skin and can worsen acne.
Before trying any new skin-care product, including a sunscreen, do a patch test on a small area first.
If the marks bother you, cosmetic camouflage such as makeup is an option while they fade.
What kills acne very fast?
Nothing works overnight. Squeezing a pimple to make it go faster does the opposite, and switching treatments often can irritate skin. Gentle cleansing, no picking, sun protection and patience are the practical approach.
Do the active ingredients on the label matter?
Labels for oily-skin washes often name ingredients such as salicylic acid, niacinamide or neem. We would not let a trendy name on the front of a bottle decide your choice, because a plain, gentle cleanser used consistently is a perfectly good starting point. If you are curious about a specific ingredient, read about it on its own first. We have general guides on niacinamide for oily skin and on whether oily skin needs moisturiser.
For the marks themselves, a variety of topical options exist, including ingredients such as vitamin C, kojic acid and niacinamide. They bring varying degrees of success, and combinations of treatments are usually needed for significant improvement. A dermatologist can advise on which options suit your skin.
When to see a dermatologist
If you keep getting breakouts even after following gentle habits, or if dark spots linger or bother you, talk to a qualified dermatologist or doctor. Acne has many causes, and a dermatologist can treat existing acne, help prevent new breakouts and reduce the chance of scarring. Procedures such as chemical peels, lasers and intense pulsed light may help some marks, but they can also aggravate pigmentation by injuring the skin. That is another reason to get advice first rather than experimenting on your own.
A simple routine to keep
You do not need a long routine for oily skin with dark marks. Fewer steps, done consistently, are easier to stick with:
- Wash gently up to twice a day, and after sweating.
- Leave pimples alone and keep your hands off your face.
- Protect your skin from the sun every day.
- Introduce one new product at a time, and give it a fair chance before changing again.