What is oily skin? The quick answer is that it is the result of the skin producing too much excess oil. Much of this excess oil comes from the natural sebaceous glands. These glands are located below the surface of the skin. Besides, the sebaceous filaments are made up of fat and it is not harmful to the skin. It has the function of helping to protect and moisturize the skin, including the hair which is nourished and shiny.
However, if sebum is over-produced, it will clog pores and cause acne. Hormonal changes, genetics or even stress increase the amount of sebum in the skin.
You can notice your skin will often have the following manifestations:
- Large pores
- Blackheads, pimples or other types of inflammatory acne
- Skin looks dull, oily shine or dehydrated
- Skin defects such as: bruises, acne scars, fine lines
The oily shine can change depending on the time of year or according to the weather. Possible factors make oily skin imbalanced:
- Puberty or hormonal changes
- Allergy to skin care products
- Illness or stress cause damage on the skin
What are the causes of oily skin?
The truth is that any skin type has a certain amount of excess oil on the skin. Because under each pore you have sebaceous glands that produce oil. As a result, your skin is hydrated and healthy. But for oily or combination skin, the amount of sebum is often over-produced. Even after just a few hours of washing the face, the skin is automatically shiny again. Thereby the skin is prone to all kinds of acne because sebum filaments and dead cells get stuck in your pores.
Here Dermalogica will help you understand 7 common causes of overactive sebaceous glands. Once understand what causes oily skin. You will have a way to improve your skincare routine so that the skin is not oily and acne-prone.
7 common causes of oily, acne-prone skin
1, Genetic
If one of your parent has oily skin, it will often be passed on to you or your siblings.
2, Age
During puberty, for oily skin, the sebaceous glands are extremely active. So at this age, you need to know how to take care of your skin and have a scientific lifestyle to avoid skin diseases and acne.
As you age, the activity of sebaceous glands slow down. The skin easily loses protein and collagen, so aging is getting faster and faster.
This is also the factor that makes aging skin often dry, in turn the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines more obvious. However, oily skin usually will not show signs of aging as quick as dry skin. People in their 30s with oily skin with proper care tend to keep their young appearance longer. If you regularly go to the spa, or have a skin specialist. They will evaluate your skin every 6 months to 1 year. From there, they will offer the treatment and skin care products that are suitable for your current skin.
3, The living environement and the time of year
Although genetics and age are two key common causes. However, the living environment and weather will also affect the skin.
For those of you in hot and humid climates. You are often more likely to produce oil especially in the summer causing congestions and other types of breakouts. For summer or hot or humid climates, you should adjust your skincare routine and habits. Currently, the fastest way to control excess oil is to use oil blotting paper. In addition, using primers or foundations also help to balance the moisture without causing oiliness for the skin.
4, Lack of moisture and large pores
Sometimes pores will be enlarged by age, weight fluctuation and previous breakouts. Therefore, larger pores tend to produce more sebum.
You cannot shrink pores. The simplest way is skincare to clean the skin without clogging pores. In addition, make up to cover the appearance of large pores throughout the day.
After you know what are the natural causes of oily skin, the remaining 3 causes below are related to the skin care process.
5, Using the wrong cosmetics or frequently changing skin care products
Oily skin is completely different from combination, hence it requires a very different choice of skin care products. Therefore, many people mistakenly buy and make their skin feel clogged and heavy. Or regularly changing skin care products because it feels like the skin hasn't changed much.
Also, for the seasons of the year - for example spring and summer - you should choose lightweight creams or moisturizing gels. Prioritize skin cleansing with gel or foam for effective cleaning..
6, Overcleansing
When you wash your face and exfoliate too often, it makes your skin greasier. For its purpose is to remove excess oils from the skin. However, when taking too much oil will cause the sebaceous glands to work harder to compensate for the oil lost.
How often should I wash my face for oily skin?
Oily skin only needs to wash their face up to 2 times a day in the morning and at night.
After applying a light moisturizer. In the morning, you should apply sunscreen to protect your skin from harmful UV rays and the external environment. Sunscreen should be reapplied every 4 hours for best protection.
7, Skip moisturizer to protect skin
Many people with oily skin think that using moisturizer will make skin oilier and cause acne. In fact, when you treat your acne with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Your skin definitely needs a good moisturizer so that it doesn't become dry, sensitive or flaky. Without a moisturizer, any skin will be severely dry & dehydrated.
Instead of being afraid to use moisturizer, choose the right product. You can prioritize water-based moisturizers such as gels, serums, etc. Always remember to apply moisturizer at the end of your skincare routine.
Remember to choose "oil-free" and "non-comedogenic" moisturizers to help unclog pores.
Oily skin care is simple through 4 tips
- Wash your face without using too much pressure, do not rub the skin, and do not use harsh cleansers.
- You should only clean your skin twice a day, morning and night.
- Do not pick or squeeze pimples yourself because this will take time for the skin to recover and easily leave scars.
- Pay attention on the "noncomedogenic" information on cosmetics and skin care products. Because products with the above information will not clog pores.
Oily skin has many complicated causes. When your skin is shinier, there can be more than one cause. So you need to observe and find out what causes your oily skin. Then use skin care routine and lifestyle habits to help skin less oily and brighter.
This procedure can take at least 2 to 6 months to see results. Also, if you're wondering if an acne skin should receive a facial hair shaving, you can find out in this article.
If you still have not taken good care of your oily skin, contact a Dermalogica specialist for advice.