Oliy skin is an issue millions of people live with. Oil production on the face is needed for normal moisturization of the skin, but when too much is produced it can have negative effects.
Too much oil can give the face a shiny look and may feel uncomfortable or dirty.
An overproduction of face oils, or sebum, may also increase your risk for acne by the sebum mixing with dead skin cells on the face and clogging up pores.
But, what causes increased oils on the skin?
In this article, we will go over some of the most common things that can increase oil production to help you try to keep oily skin at bay.
Facial oil production is pretty high at birth, but then rapidly declines and stays pretty low until people hit puberty.
For most people, around the age of puberty will be the highest rate of facial oil production of your life.
This also correlates with when people have the most issues with acne, highlighting the correlation between highly oily skin and clogged pores.
After puberty is over, skin sebum production declines and stays steady until another oil production decline at around menopause for women, and 60s or 70s for men.
This reduction in oils in older age is partially the reason why older skin tends to be drier, and skincare should change accordingly.
Testosterone production is tied to increase sebum production on the face, and increased serum is thought to help moisturize the increased facial hair that men have.
And since you can’t really do anything about this risk factor for oily skin, do your best to find facial products that work best for you.
Ultimately you get your skin type and genetics from your parents.
So, if your parents had a terrible time with oily skin with their teens or later, there may be a genetic component to the excess oil production that you may also have to deal with.
Ask your parents what worked for their skin when it was too oily, as they may be able to give you some tips from experience.
Studies have shown increased sebum production in the Spring and Summer as compared to the cooler times of the year, and more humid climates tend to lead to oilier skin.
While you can’t do much about the seasons of local climate, you can look into a dehumidifier for your home and take extra skincare steps during the hot months of the year, including carrying blotting pads or facial cleansing wipes.
If you have oily skin, you need to continue washing off that oil constantly right?
Wrong.
Actually, overwashing your face may lead to stripping off too many natural face oils and stimulate the cells to go into oil production overdrive.
Aim for washing your face well twice daily, and stick to blotting sheets or gentle cleansing wipes in between if the oil is getting out of control.
Some may avoid applying moisturizers or sunscreen to what seems to be already very oily skin.
But, by not protecting your skin from the drying effects of the sun, or providing adequate moisturization, you may cause subsequent dryness which then triggers the skin to protect itself with more oil.
Find a gentle oil-free sunscreen and moisturizer that you can use on a regular basis, even if you are feeling oily that day.
Using very thick moisturizers or cosmetics that are loaded with harsh or oily components may be exacerbating your oil situation and can cause oily skin.
Look for a lightweight moisturizer to use during the day, and always look into the ingredients in your cosmetics.
For oily skin, you will want to find products that say oil-free, or non-comedogenic. This means that they were formulated to help avoid any additional clogged pores from the product itself.
Studies have shown that high glycemic index foods, like highly processed carbohydrates, lead to an increased sebum production.
Some studies also indicate an increased sebum production following the consumption of dairy products.
Switching to a diet that avoids highly processed foods that lead to quick rises in blood sugar and subsequent increased oil production may help you keep your oily skin in check.
Oily skin can be a long process and often takes time to overcome.
For quicker results, you may benefit from pairing good skincare tips with a prescription face cream.
Our Strut Acne Formula contains Tretinoin, a topical medication shown to reduce sebaceous gland size and oil production.
Tretinoin is also a powerful acne fighter, so it can help clear up any oil-induced acne breakouts.
Tretinoin is prescription only, but you can schedule an Online Visit with our doctors today to see if Strut Acne Formula can help you with your skin oil problems.
.png)
.png){kind=icon}
.png){kind=icon}
