In This Article.........

• What is Oily skin?
• Key Factors
• Learn more about oily skin
• The causes of oily skin
• 3 of the BEST things to do about oily skin:
• 3 of the WORST things to do about oily skin:
• Frequently Asked Questions for Oily Skin
• Common Misconceptions:
• Oil Control Products:

Oily Skin

Perhaps you have been wishing your oil-laden T-zone would suddenly vanish only to be replaced with a healthy, radiant complexion. It’s not an unattainable goal. But replacing oiliness with fresh & glowing depends upon confronting the predicament without giving in to skin-traumatising temptation. The source of all the trouble is the microscopic sebaceous gland, safely hidden beneath the surface of the skin. Concentrated on the face (particularly the notorious T zone), back, scalp and mid-chest, these glands should play a normal role in lubricating the skin and hair, protecting them from environmental challenges like dehydration and maintaining health and lustre. However, as anyone who suffers from oily skin knows, when too much sebum is produced, it’s a real problem. Oily skin has a terribly negative effect on self-esteem as well as body image. Greasiness and shine often outweigh acne concerns. Oily skin is both uncomfortable and cosmetically unacceptable. Sebaceous glands working overtime is key to problematic oily skin. Too much sebum produces surface oiliness, blocks pores, provides nourishment to bacteria that live upon the skin (P. acnes) and contributes to acne flare-ups. Oily skin feels thicker, may have large pores, and requires care to prevent it from becoming a breeding ground for acne.

Key facts are:

• Is characterised by an overproduction of oil (sebum) and may appear greasy, shiny, or with large pores.
• May have enlarged pores or be prone to blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples.
• Needs a balancing skincare regimen.
• Can easily suffer from dehydration if treated with overly drying or harsh cleansers and products in an attempt to control the shine. These will only trigger the skin to produce more oil, leading to more surface grease and making the problem worse.
• Requires hydration with non-greasy, natural moisture factors.
• Benefits from regular exfoliation and deep cleansing clay-based masks that make pore sizes appear smaller. Best approach to oily skin is to balance the symptoms with naturally based formulas to restore skin hydration and resilience before, during, and after the change.

Learn More About Oily Skin

Over production of both oil (sebum) as well as structural lipids (produced by the epidermis) is really just a matter of having too much of a good thing. The skin's natural oils maintain hydration and play a major role in keeping it plump and youthful looking. Healthier and less vulnerable than dry skin, oily skin, ages the best of all the skin types. Everyone's skin falls into a basic skin type - normal, dry, or oily. Genetically determined, each has its own characteristic physiology and best approach for care. But, on top of your basic skin type, you may have one or more skin concerns to address as well. Oily skin's most frequent concerns include perpetual grease, larger pores, blackheads, and increased vulnerability for acne. Plus, makeup sliding off your face is nobody's idea of a good time.

Characteristics of oily skin

The causes of oily skin include:

• Genetics - The amount of sebum your skin produces is hereditary.
• Age - Oily skin is most common in teenagers but can occur at any age.
• Hormones - Oil production in the skin is exacerbated by hormones which means that puberty, pregnancy, and birth control pills may trigger oil production.
• Gender - Though oily skin isn't gender-specific, it is more common in men.
• Stress - Stress hormones can cause increased sebum production.
• Humidity - Where there is a lot of perspiration, there may also be an increased amount of oil production as well.
• Rebound effect - When oily skin becomes dehydrated through the use of harsh cleansers or other overly drying products, it 'compensates' by producing even more oil.

THREE of the BEST things to do about oily skin:

1. Proper daily skincare regimen with:

   • Hydrating ingredients (Sodium PCA, Phytoceramides) to keep skin balanced and protected.
   • Exfoliants (AHAs, BHAs) to remove pore clogging dead skin cell build-up.
   • Balancing ingredients (retinal, farnesol) to normalise sebaceous gland production and diffuse oil.
2. Environmental protection from the outside:

   • Daily use of full-spectrum UVA/UVB sunscreen protection helps prevent environmental damage that causes a loss of skin elasticity
3. Supplement protection from the inside:
   • Vitamin A to stabilise excessive sebum production.
   • Blood purifiers yellow dock and burdock root to eliminate toxins.
   • B-complex vitamins to encourage tissue repair.
   • Zinc to aid cell repair and reduce inflammation.
   • Antioxidants such as grape seed extract, Vitamins A, C and E to neutralise aging free radical damage.

THREE of the WORST things to do about oily skin:

1. Dehydrating with drying products: Stripping the skin of oil will create a backlash of increased oil production.
2. Overscrubbing: Though oily skin is tougher than other skin types, treating it harshly can still leave it damaged.
3. Falling asleep with your makeup on: Without cleansing your skin of makeup and buildup from the day, oily skin runs a double risk of clogged pores and breakouts

Frequently Asked Questions for Oily Skin

Why is exfoliation so important for oily skin?
Since small pores are what give the impression of smoothness, oily skin's larger pores can make it appear rough. Excess dead skin cells and blackheads can actually stretch a pore too making it appear even larger. By deep cleansing the pores of this cellular debris, exfoliation makes larger pores appear smaller.

Does having oily skin automatically mean that it is acne-prone?
No. But excess sebum is one of the three main acne influences (an overabundance of dead skin cells and p-acnes bacteria being the other two). Plus, oilier skin does tend to have more blackheads. The solution is to keep it very clean.

If I have oily skin, do I still have to moisturise?
Yes, absolutely. The biggest mistake is to strip away all oil, because the skin reacts by creating even more oil.

Common Misconceptions:

1. Using oil control products will lead to an increase in sebum production: This is absolutely false.
2. Oily skin is not a concern for those with rosacea: Again, false. While rosacea sufferers are more likely to have drier, more sensitive skin due to the natural aging process, I have seen more than my share of significantly oily skinned rosacea patients.
3. You can’t wear make-up while using oil control products: Make-up should be labelled oil-free or “non-comedogenic” and is appropriate for use by those with oily skin. It may also be applied on top of products that help control acne or oily skin conditions. For those more affected by excess oils, despite the use of some oil control products, the use of a powder base may help. Rice powders don’t plug pores and help absorb excess oils.
4. Oil control products cause unpleasant dryness and irritation: While many products which reduce levels of facial skin oils may cause these problems, this is absolutely not true across the board. And product misuse or overuse can also be responsible for skin irritation, not just the product formulation. Please continue reading to find out what you can do to help your oily skin.

Oil Control Products:

Salicylic Acid
Salicylic acid, or as it’s more trendily known “Beta Hydroxy Acid” functions in a similar manner as the glycolic acids. Salicylic acid helps in the exfoliation process, and helps remove oils present on the skin. However, it does not treat the underlying condition. Salicylic acid may cause dryness or irritation in some people if over used.

Masques
Masques may effectively reduce the feeling of oiliness on the skin for several days. Not really an attractive approach, but it helps.