What You Need To Know About Oily Skin And How To Treat It
Dr. Scott is a doctor from Harvard Med School and…
You know you have an oily skin type if you notice that your skin emits a little shine. This is actually due to sebum production within the skin. Although sebum production is normal for every skin type, oily skin produces too much sebum, leaving it feeling greasy and shiny. In addition, breakouts and acne are a common concern for people with oily skin since the excess sebum mixes with the dead skin cells and clogs your pores.
Causes Of Oily Skin:
- Genetics:
Oily skin type tends to run in families. If your parents or grandparents have oily skin, then there is a high chance that you will have an oily skin type.
- Weather conditions and the place where you live:
An underlying cause of oily skin can be the time of the year and where you live. For example, people tend to have more oily skin in hot, humid climates. Therefore, you will notice that your skin turns oilier in the summer compared to winter.
- Age:
There is good news for people with oily skin! Compared to dry skin, oily skin type does not show signs of aging very early in life. This is because when a person ages, the amount of collagen in the skin diminishes, and so does sebum production. Since people with dry skin already suffer from a lack of sebum, wrinkles and fine lines show up more as they age.
- Enlarged pores:
Sometimes your pores can stretch and become more significant due to previous acne breakouts or weight fluctuations. Larger pores tend to produce more oil and hence result in oily skin.
- Going overboard with your skincare routine:
Washing your face can be very beneficial for your skin as it cleanses the skin’s surface and washes out any pollutants within the pores. But overdoing your skincare routine, such as washing your face too much or exfoliating very frequently, can result in stripping off oil from your skin. This makes your sebaceous glands go into emergency mode, resulting in more oil production to compensate for the loss.
On the other hand, skipping your sunscreen can make your skin dry and result in the overproduction of oil.
- Missing out on your moisturizer:
It is a common myth that using a moisturizer can make your skin oily. On the contrary, using a moisturizer keeps the oil production at a moderate level and prevents your skin from drying out. Moreover, if you use any acne treatment, you need a moisturizer to prevent your skin from drying.
Instead of skipping the moisturizer, you need to look for the right moisturizer that suits your skin type. For example, lightweight, water-based moisturizers work best for oily skin types.
Easy Remedies For Oily Skin
Following are a few easy remedies that can help to keep the excess oil away:
- Wash your face twice a day with a cleanser for oily skins
- Use blotting paper to remove excess oil from the skin
- Use cosmetic clays to absorb the excess oil
- Use oatmeal and honey, as they can be very beneficial for oily skin types
- Use skincare products that are specifically developed for oily skins
- Use facial peels to slow downed control oil production
- Use facial masks that contain minerals to absorb and reduce oil production
- Add active ingredients to your skincare such as salicylic and glycolic acid
- Keep an eye on your hormone changes or high-stress levels may also increase oil and sebum production
Conclusion
People with oily skin may have trouble keeping their makeup looking nice for the whole day or finding skincare products and makeup to suit their skin, as these products can mix with the sebum, giving it a different consistency. The symptoms of oily skin and their severity vary between people. Genetics, hormones, diet and high-stress levels may play a role in how oily the skin becomes.
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Dr. Scott is a doctor from Harvard Med School and a dermatology resident at the University of Miami. Laura is known for her authentic advice. Her goal is to find beauty in all things and to enjoy every moment of life...