Treating Inflamed Acne on Oily Skin: Case Study

Understanding Inflamed Acne on Oily, Acne-Prone Skin

This client presented with the classic "triple threat" combination: shiny skin, inflamed red pustules, and hard nodules beneath the surface. This is inflamed acne on naturally oily skin—a common but challenging acne type that creates both visible breakouts and significant discomfort.

Their skin showed active inflammation with angry, raised pustules that came to a head quickly, alongside deeper nodules that lingered beneath the surface. The constant sebum production meant their skin looked shiny throughout the day while simultaneously battling these painful acne breakouts. Beyond the active acne, they were also dealing with the aftermath: dark spots and red marks that persisted long after individual breakouts healed.

This skin type requires an aggressive yet balanced approach—reducing acne-causing bacteria and inflammation while managing excess oil production and improving skin tone and texture damaged by repeated breakouts.

How to Treat Inflamed Acne While Managing Excess Oil

The acne treatment plan emphasized three critical goals: reducing C. acnes bacteria, calming inflammation, and systematically improving the skin tone and texture affected by months of active breakouts.

Daily Skincare Protocol

The client's home acne skincare routine was designed to address all aspects of her inflamed, oily acne:

AM:

• Gentle Gel Cleanser to remove overnight sebum without stripping
• Thirsty Hydrating Serum (even oily, inflamed skin needs proper hydration)
• Daily Habit SPF 30 for essential sun protection
  

PM:

• Gentle Gel Cleanser to remove the day's excess oil and buildup
  
• Thirsty Hydrating Serum
• Lumen Corrective Serum (daily evening application) to improve skin tone and address dark spots
  
• Reset Acne Treatment Gel 5% (every other night) to combat acne-causing bacteria and reduce inflammation
  
• Hero Peptide Moisturizer (evening only)
  

This protocol immediately put their skin on a treatment-focused path. Unlike dry, inflamed acne that requires weeks of barrier-building before introducing actives, oily skin typically tolerates stronger acne treatment products from the start. The naturally higher sebum production means the skin barrier is less compromised, allowing for more aggressive intervention.

Week 4: Intensifying Treatment

After assessing their skin's response and noting good tolerance of the initial protocol, we increased the strength of their acne treatment in week 4:

• Reset Acne Treatment Gel 10% (3 times per week) replaced the 5% concentration on those nights
• Reset Acne Treatment Gel 5% continued on alternating nights

This strategic increase in active ingredient concentration allowed us to more aggressively target the persistent acne breakouts and hard nodules while maintaining some gentler nights to prevent over-treatment.

The alternating strength approach is particularly effective for inflamed acne on oily skin. The higher concentration attacks stubborn bacteria and deep inflammation, while the lower concentration nights provide consistent treatment without overwhelming the skin.

In-Clinic Professional Treatments

Bimonthly professional treatments were scheduled, with each session adapted based on a thorough assessment of their skin's condition and response to home care.

Treatments included:

• Lite chemical peels to accelerate skin cell turnover, unclog pores, and improve skin tone
• Professional extractions to clear pustules and release trapped congestion
• Various machines and devices selected based on their current skin concerns—some addressing bacteria, others targeting inflammation or improving texture
  

The adaptive nature of these in-clinic sessions was crucial. Some appointments required more aggressive extraction work when new breakouts had emerged. Other sessions focused more on calming inflammation and addressing the red and brown marks left behind by healing acne.

Achieving Clear Skin: 3-Month Timeline

The client achieved clear skin in approximately three months—a relatively rapid timeline that reflects how responsive inflamed, oily acne can be to aggressive, consistent treatment.

Several factors contributed to this success: oily skin's generally stronger barrier function (compared to dry skin) allowed for intensive acne treatment products from day one, the consistent alternating protocol prevented bacteria from adapting to any single approach, and regular professional treatments addressed both active breakouts and residual concerns simultaneously.

Three months represents the typical clearing timeline we see for motivated clients with this acne type who maintain disciplined adherence to their skincare routine and attend scheduled in-clinic treatments.

Key Insights for Similar Skin Concerns

This case demonstrates several important principles for treating inflamed acne on oily, acne-prone skin:

• Aggressive treatment works—when done strategically. Oily skin with active inflammation can handle strong acne treatment ingredients from the beginning. The key is maintaining consistency and knowing when to intensify.
• Alternating concentrations prevents plateau. Using both 5% and 10% Reset Acne Treatment Gel kept their skin responsive. Bacteria can adapt to consistent low-level treatment, but varying concentrations maintains effectiveness.
• Professional treatments accelerate results. Home care provides daily management, but bimonthly in-clinic treatments create momentum by addressing congestion, inflammation, and texture concerns that topical skincare products alone can't fully resolve.
• Hydration isn't negotiable. Even excessively oily, acne-prone skin needs proper hydration. Thirsty Hydrating Serum twice daily prevented the dehydration that can actually trigger more oil production and worsen breakouts.
• Address dark spots during treatment. Daily Lumen Corrective Serum application throughout the clearing process meant we were simultaneously fading existing dark spots while preventing new ones—not waiting until all acne cleared to address pigmentation.
• Consistency delivers fast results. Three months from persistent breakouts to clear skin required unwavering commitment to the protocol. Missing applications or skipping professional treatments would have extended this timeline significantly.

Your Path to Clear, Balanced Skin

If you're battling shiny skin with painful, inflamed pustules and stubborn nodules that won't quit, we've treated this exact combination hundreds of times. Inflamed acne on oily skin responds well to treatment—but it requires the right intensity, the right combination of acne skincare products, and professional support.

Stop fighting this alone. Book a consultation virtually or in-person at our Berkeley clinic to begin your personalized acne treatment journey. We'll assess your specific breakout patterns, create a strategic protocol for your skin type, and provide the ongoing professional treatments that make three-month clearing timelines possible.

Individual results vary based on skin severity, consistency with skincare routine, and overall health factors. All treatment plans include ongoing protocol adjustments based on your skin's response.