Oily skin occurs when the skin’s sebaceous glands produce excess sebum. Sebum is a waxy oily substance that protects and moisturizes the skin.
A variety of home remedies, lifestyle modifications, and clinical treatments can help eliminate oily skin or reduce its appearance. Sebum is essential to keep your skin healthy. However, too much sebum can lead to oily skin, clogged pores, and acne. Controlling oily skin requires a regular skincare routine.
Whether you’re trying to get rid of oily skin because your face is always oily, or because oil is clogging your pores and causing breakouts, one truth is that it’s a challenge. Part of the reason is that oily skin is often a genetic or hormonal influence. You can’t control genes, and there’s usually not much you can do about hormonal changes.
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What Causes Oily Skin?
If you have oily skin, you may experience symptoms such as:
- Unattractive blackheads, whiteheads, acne
- big pores
- Oiliness within seconds of applying makeup or moisturizer
- Oily T-zone (forehead, nose, chin)
Some of the most common include:
Genetics
If your parents or siblings have oily skin, chances are you have oily skin too. Genetics affect how sebum is produced and whether the skin produces more or less than average.
Stress
Stress stimulates the body’s fight-or-flight response, increases the production of the cortisol hormone, and stimulates the production of oil within the pores. This hormonal change increases the production of sebum, making the skin oily and shiny.
Hormones
Hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause can cause your sebaceous glands to produce more oil, resulting in oily skin. During puberty, the body produces more androgenic hormones that stimulate oil production from the sebaceous glands.
The more androgenic hormones circulating in the body, the oilier the complexion. Many teenagers suffer from oily skin because of this male hormone. Their bodies produce more androgens than normal during puberty.
Diet
Diet plays an important role in the amount of oil your body produces. So, eating a lot of greasy foods like hamburgers, French fries and chips can lead to pimples and acne on your face due to excessive oil production from your sebaceous glands.
In addition, foods high in carbohydrates and sugars can cause fluctuations in blood sugar levels and disrupt hormonal balance, which can lead to acne breakouts.
Environment
The temperature, humidity levels, and air quality can affect how much oil your skin produces and how quickly it absorbs it back into the pores.
Medications
Some medications can make your skin produce excess oil, especially birth control pills, steroids, and hormone replacement medication.
Skin Care Products
Certain cosmetics and skin care products contain oils that may exacerbate oily skin problems by clogging pores or blocking their natural functions, like sweating out toxins from our bodies!
Oily Skin Treatment
Treating oily skin can be tricky, but you can take steps to keep your skin balanced. Here are eight ways how to get rid of an oily face.
Wash your face regularly
It may sound simple, but regular face washing will help keep your pores clear and prevent dirt from clogging them up. Washing twice a day with warm water and a gentle cleanser will remove excess oil and dirt from your face. Be sure not to scrub or rub your skin too hard, as this can irritate it and make it produce even more oil. Do not use any products that have alcohol, which can dry out the skin and make it produce more oil.
Moisturize daily
After washing, pat dry your face gently with a towel and apply moisturizer immediately afterward. If you have sensitive skin, try using an oil-free facial moisturizer that is fragrance-free so that it doesn’t irritate your skin further.
Use oil-free products
If you have oily skin, you need products that won’t make your face even worse by adding more oil. Choose products with noncomedogenic ingredients. These products are less likely to clog pores and cause blemishes than other cosmetics. Avoid moisturizers with heavy oils that may worsen your symptoms by attracting additional bacteria and dirt onto your face, which can lead to breakouts and blackheads.
Choose a cleanser for oily skin
Look out for ingredients such as salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and benzoyl peroxide that are labeled only for oily skin types. These ingredients remove dead skin cells and prevent clogged pores and acne. If you are unsure whether a product is suitable for you, please consult your doctor or dermatologist before use.
Exfoliate once or twice a week
Exfoliation is a great way to remove dead skin cells and unclog pores, especially if you have oily skin. Please do not strain yourself. If you apply too much force when peeling, it will damage your skin and make acne more likely. Apply enough pressure to gently remove dead skin cells without breaking capillaries or leaving redness or irritation.
Check your skin throughout the day
Use blotting paper if necessary. If necessary, apply an oil-absorbing powder over your moisturizer or foundation to prevent shine throughout the day. Also, keep your hands away from your face. Touching your face spreads germs, dirt, and oils, which can lead to acne breakouts.
Oil blotting paper comes in many forms, some are made of paper, others are made of cellulose as a basic ingredient, but they all have the same function, absorbing excess sebum from the surface of the face. You’ll also find blotting paper made specifically for treating acne, with ingredients like tea tree oil and witch hazel to help fight breakouts.
Get a facial
Facials help unclog pores, regulate sebum production, and remove dead skin cells. Facials are also great for improving overall skin health by stimulating blood flow and increasing collagen production (giving your skin a youthful appearance).
Watch what you eat
Eating a healthy diet and staying well hydrated can help keep your skin healthy. Always avoid fried, sweet, and fast foods as they can clog pores and cause acne.
