Sebum (skin oils) are the archenemies to teenagers round the world, but the battle doesn’t always end on your 21^st birthday. Oily skin is a condition that last well into adulthood. The purpose of this article is to provide health tips for oily skin. We will discuss what causes oily skin, how to make your face less oily, and look at some common myths about oily skin.

What causes oily skin?

Sebaceous glands beneath the skin combine with hair to create the pilosebaceous unit. These hair and oil gland units are deep within the skin, connecting the hair shaft to the surface of the skin. It is through the pilosebaceous unit that we get fluids to the surface of our skin. And they cover the body, with the exception of our palms and the soles of our feet. The chin, nose, and forehead comprise the infamous “T-Zone”, where the highest concentration of pilosebaceous units are.

These sebaceous glands produce a blend of varied lipids and dead sebaceous gland cells. This complex blend is known as sebum, or skin oils. Some of the lipids found in the sebum include triglycerides, wax monoesters, squalane, and free fatty acids.

Photo by RachelHermosillo

The purpose of these sebaceous glands and the sebum is to keep the epidermis and hair lubricated and protected from the environment. The combination sebum, cellular debris, and sweat covering the outer skin is known as the acid mantle. It is an acidic environment with a pH of 4.5 to 5.5. The acid mantle holds the epidermal and hair cuticle cells tightly together, preventing dehydrations, irritation, and sensitivity. Without it hair may become brittle and dull; as well, bacteria can invade the skin.

When the sebaceous glands become over productive, the result is oily skin. An excess of sebum can block pores and actually nourish bacteria living on the skin, contributing to acne. What causes over productive sebaceous glands is a hormone known as dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is what tells your sebaceous glands to produce sebum, and a high level of DHT will cause oily skin. Your level of DHT is determined by your genetics. It’s a git from your parents.

DHT shows up with puberty, which is why the teen years are spent acclimating to its levels. A woman’s menstrual cycle will affect her levels of DHT, oftentimes causing a breakout of acne or oil just before menstruation. As her progesterone rises, so does her DHT.

How to make your face less oily

There are ways to manage oily skin. Here are some tips for (an) oily face.

• Keep it simple. Only wash your face two times in a day, and use softer soaps like Dove, or cleansers like Cetaphil. Avoid harsh toners and other products that contain alcohol.
• Dermologica’s Dermal Clay Cleanser will help soak up some of the sebum and clear the oil from your face. You might also try L’Occitane’s Face Scrub Mud, or Ulta’s Detoxifying Mud Mask.
• Increase your B-Vitamin intake through whole grains, beans, nuts, and organ meats. Low B-Vitamin can contribute to excess oils.
• Chill out! Relax. High stress can cause an increase in oily skin. Get plenty of sleep, and learn some relaxation techniques. Exercise can help reduce stress as well.
• Exercise will also help eliminate toxins from your body, as well as clean out your acid mantle.
• Another helpful way to clean out toxins is drinking water. Drink a lot of water. Keeping hydrated will help balance the chemicals in the sebum. Avoid alcoholic drinks, sodas, and other caffeinated beverages that dehydrate your body.

Oily myths

Myth #1 – Oil control products will increase sebum production.

Most oil control products will help you maintain a clear complexion. Be selective. Read the labels carefully, and know what the active ingredients are. Talk to you doctor or dermatologist about what products are best for you.

Myth #2 – People with rosacea do not need to worry about oily skin.

Rosacea usually produces drier skin, but this may not be sufficient to stop an oily face condition. DERMAdoctor Calm Cool & Corrected anti-redness tranquility cream is specially formulated to handle oily skin for patients who also suffer from rosacea.

Myth #3 – Oil control products prevent the use of make-up.

Look for oil-free products, or products labeled “non-comedogenic”. Some of these products can even be used on top of acne prevention products.

Oily skin is a common condition that runs well past adolescence for many people. But there is hope. Follow these tips for oily skin, and you too will be able to feel comfortable in your own skin.

You can do several things to keep your face from getting oily. Oily skin is probably the second most common skin condition next to acne. An excessive production of sebum by the sebaceous glands is the root cause for oily skin. The excessive oil secretion can lead to the clogging of pores in due course by interacting with foreign objects such as dust and dirt. Clogged pores lead to acne. So having oily skin not only makes your face look greasy, it can also cause your face to break out.

While there are a number of over-the-counter products designed to treat oily skin, they can be ineffective or expensive. This has prompted many to depend on a home remedy for oily skin to get the desired results.

You must first find the cause for oily skin so that you can find an effective cure to tackle this problem. While oils secreted by the skin are useful in curbing the signs of aging and keeping the skin supple, too much oil production is not good. Excessive oil production can make your skin prone to developing skin blemishes and acne. Hence, you must make efforts to keep your skin from getting oily.

Photo by She Who Shall Not Be Named

What to Do if Your Face is Already Oily

When it comes to simple remedies for oily skin, you must thoroughly wash your face several times a day. This is the simplest and easiest routine to follow. Doing this will wash away any excess dirt or oil. This in turn can remove any particles that can wreak havoc on skin by causing blemishes. By following these natural remedies for the treatment of oily skin, you can enjoy better-looking skin without worrying about side effects.

As far as natural remedies for oily skin are concerned, you can use a mixture of baking soda and water. This is an excellent home remedy to treat oily skin. Baking soda both cleanses your skin and draws out any excess oils. You can massage this mixture on your face gently everyday for a few minutes. You can then wash off the mixture. You can achieve maximum benefits by doing this at least once daily.

How to Keep Your Face From Getting Oily

If you are wondering how to keep your face from getting oily, you can apply lemon juice on your face daily to remove traces of oil and to prevent your face from getting oily throughout the day. Lemon is a natural astringent that can make your face glow by working as a natural remedy for oily skin. You can use lemon in the place of your facial toner since it helps to remove harmful toxins and free radicals from the skin and is a natural and healthy ingredient for skin.

A mixture of honey and peeled apple also works well to keep your face from getting oily. Both of these ingredients are a natural and healthy combination for your skin. After making a paste with both of these ingredients apply it to your face and neck and leave it on for around 15 minutes before washing it off.

These are some of the most effective home remedies for treating oily skin conditions. The best advantage that comes with the use of these natural treatments is that you don’t have to worry about any harmful side effects from the harsh chemicals that some manufactured products contain.

Do you have any natural skin care tips? Leave me a comment below!

Do you find it annoying having to constantly edit your pictures caught by a digital camera? The flash feature of the camera not only brightens the picture but also provides a “sheen effect” to your forehead or chin. Ointments and other topical beauty products may be effective but later on cause side effects that are much more displeasing than mere oily skin. Oily skin helps preserve the skin making it younger looking which is actually an advantage. Advantageous as it may seem, it may also trigger the skin to develop acne. This characteristic trait is handed down from generation to generation; in other words, despite the fact it is bothering sometimes, this is just normal.

In ancient times, women used various leaves and seeds and grounded them into a pulp. The pulp was utilized to beautify their hair before it was learned that it can also beautify the skin. Oils from these natural resources were also utilized for body massage and medical treatments.

A natural face mask to get rid of oily skin may be done in various ways. Tomatoes, to name one, may be pureed before applying to the skin. Another mask may be formed out of mixing apricot oil, palmarosa and green clay together. The mixture will then be utilized as a face mask that can be left to stay on the face for about fifteen minutes. Other oils that may be used as a substitute for Apricot oil or Palmarosa are Cedarwood oil, Clary Sage oil, Geranium oil, Sandalwood oil and oil of Ylang Ylang. Each substance may have its own added therapeutic effect but each has also the ability to control excessive production of oily skin.

Photo by Zaqqy J.

Natural skin treatments have become popular that they are now essential procedures in spas and other facial treatments. Some people rave about the effectiveness of these herbal treatments whereas others remain to say these natural resources do not exhibit effects that are satisfying to them.  With that said, it is important to remember that before applying any to the skin the skin should be cleansed properly with soap and water. Performing a skin sensitivity test is also important. This would help you determine which particular ingredient suits your skin better. Any development of allergy would make the compound void.

Facial saunas can also be used to get rid of oily skin. Most natural oily skin treatments include the use of rosebuds, lemongrass and root of licorice. The facial sauna is usually prepared by boiling at most four tablespoons from any of the given herbs in two liters of water. The face gets exposed to the steam that comes from the boiling mixture for fifteen minutes. A cold rinse finishes the treatment and the entire procedure may be done twice a week.

It pays to know one or two herbal solutions towards the treatment of oily skin. Commercially-made products may be convenient to use but bear in mind that these were made out of chemical combinations. Effects are short term but the side effects take a longer time. Applying herbal treatments instead not only eliminate these risks but may prove to be more effective than synthetically-made ones.