What is an oily skin? How do I care for it? Get info on the meaning, causes, how to treat, stop, cure, and how to prevent oily skins. You also get the natural and home care methods, remedies, solutions, and much more.
What is an oily skin
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Oily skin refers to a shiny, thick, greasy and heavy textured skin especially on the T-zone (from your forehead, all through to your nose and chin).
When you have it, you will notice the excessive oil on it at midday, and this might melt down all the makeup you are wearing if it is not for this sin type. It is common in younger women but as they age, their skin becomes much drier.
To help you identify it, it is characterized by greasy feeling, shiny looks, enlarged pores (visible), often breakouts, spots, blackheads, pimples, and other blemishes due to the excessive production sebum by the overactive or hyperactive sebaceous glands (glands that produced oil) than it is needed. This should not sound only as a bad thing as you will see some of its advantages too.
When it is shallow and has a very rough texture, it will have large and easily noticeable pores on most parts of your body except for the areas around your neck and eyes.
Advantages
If you have it, it not entirely undesirable; they do have some benefits. For instance, since the excessive production of oil keeps it plump and thicker, it tends to age and wrinkle less. Furthermore, they are well moisturized i.e. locks moisture on your epidermis.
Causes
Although most people tend to have oily skins while teenagers and it disappears, as they grow older. However, to some people, this is something that remains for the most part of their lives, as Dr. Joel Schlessinger of the American Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery, notes, “If you have oily skin, you have oily skin. It’s just something that happens to some people.”
We have looked what it is. It will become clearer as we look at some of the causes and some of the ways on how to cure, prevent, treat or reduce its oiliness. However, it should be clear that even though there are many causes, the principal cause is overactive sebaceous glands (oil-producing glands). This hyperactivity of sebaceous glands can be triggered by a number of things. So, what causes it?
Genetics/ Hereditary Factors – It often occurs when it affects some members of the family due to their genetic composition.
Diet –The second cause diet especially if you take excessive consumption of junk foods, sugar and deficiencies of vitamins B5 and B2 have been found to be behind the oiliness.
Age– It tends to be worse during puberty and adolescent stages due to high hormonal activities. However, this should be taken to mean it does not affect other age groups.
Hormones – People who have excessive certain hormones such as DHT might make their skins to be very oily. This hormone tends to be higher during pregnancy, puberty, menopause and menstrual cycles.
Skincare products and cosmetics – use of some skincare products that are oil based or greasy might cause sebaceous glands to produce more oil. Furthermore, overuse of these products such as the anti-aging products, cleansing, exfoliating, scrubbing could put pressure on your it causing it to be oily.
Environment and weather – Hot weather can cause it too. Similarly, weather that causes sweating and high humidity can also be a cause, as glands tend to stimulate more oil. Finally, air pollution could also cause. During dry weather, your skin might be less oily.
Medications – Some medications such as birth controls, hormone-replacing medications or medications that cause dehydration can trigger excessive production of oil as the body tries to return levels to normal.
Excessive Stress – High-stress levels often lead to more androgenic hormone production that could trigger excessive sebum production thereby causing your skin to be oily.
Sun Tanning – Since it causes temporary skin dryness, it should be noted it could trigger excessive sebum production as the body tries to compensate the low oil level and protect it.
These are some of the cause; there could be many other causes that will vary from one individual to another. It is time to focus on how to cure, prevent or stop oiliness of your skin.
What to do, how to stop or prevent oily skin
If you have it and you are wondering what to do, how to stop or how to prevent oily skin, we are going to discuss several ways on how to cure it. Later on in the discussion, we will mention the home remedies before looking at some products you can use.
Since excessive oil on makes it susceptible to blackheads, pimples, clogged pores and excessive build-up of dead skin cells, you need to know exactly how to handle it. This will consequently prevent the problems that might result.
Proper and correct daily routine care – The first way is proper and routine exfoliation, cleansing, toning,, and moisturizing.
Correct makeup type – When you are using makeup such as foundations, primers, blush, concealers, etc. ensure they are the right ones.
Other skin care products – The other way to stop this oiliness is using the correct skin care products such as BB creams for oily skin, lotions, daytime creams, night creams, etc. Generally, go for oil-free products and those with low pH.
Blotting papers – Use blotting papers to help remove excess oil without drying it. You need gently to press these papers on areas that are oily and hold it for a while to help them absorb as much oil as possible. Blotting papers such as Shiseido Pureness Oil-Control Blotting Papers will be good for in soaking oil without overdoing it as it might trigger more production.
Medicated Pads – To help reduce oil, go for medicated pads in clearing up its buildup during the day. They can help in removing the excess oil that would otherwise be trapped in your pores.
Lotion Free Pads – To help pat your face, ensure you always carry lotion free pads. This will help you avoid cleansing your face severally. You should cleanse your skin twice or at most three times. Overdoing it will not help reduce the oil, but worsen as it can trigger overproduction of sebum.
Acne creams and products with benzyl peroxide – These products can help in killing bacteria, reduce the amount of dead skin and reduce clogging of pores. Furthermore, try products that contain resorcinol, salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and sulfur as they all help in opening pores and treat acne.
Remove makeup – Remove all the face and eye makeup before you go to bed. This is to ensure your pores are open and your skin is very clean. You need to use good makeup removers. See how to remove makeup.
Topical preparation – To help reduce oiliness, consider tropical preparation that has B vitamin niacinamide as they help in reducing its secretion. Furthermore, go for alcohol-based topical treatments for this skin type.
Try oil inhibiting products – To help stop the excessive secretion of oil, go for some of the oil inhibiting products such as RH1 – “an absorbent technology to reduce shine and it’s very effective for all skin types.” Such products can help stop this condition.
Reduce Shine – To help reduce shine, you should go for anti-shine primers. Of course, this will not cure or treat an oily type of a ski but ensure you look great.
General care – Generally, you need to ensure you use the correct skin care products for this skin type, thoroughly cleanse it daily, exfoliate it twice a week with a gentle type of scrub. Furthermore, use oil-free moisturizers, as well as makeup such as blush, foundation, primers, etc (liquid tend to be the best.)
Home remedies and natural treatments
Besides following the above ways, there are a number of home remedies or natural remedies you need to give a try. Some of these remedies might work for you while others will not.
Try one natural remedy if it does not work, go to the other. You will not fail to get a remedy that will work well. So what are some of the best home remedies?
Steaming your face – Steaming your face before you cleanse it will help in opening your pores. Ensure it is well hydrated before you begin steaming it. Afterwards, use a good moisturizer for oily skin. You can add a few natural products like licorice root, lemongrass, and rosebuds to the water you are using for steaming it. You need to steam your face for about 15 minutes, 2 to 4 times a week.
Natural facial masks – Instead of using the artificial facemasks, you can use your own modified at home such as clay masks. For clay masks, you will need a mixture of a tablespoon of honey and a tablespoon of grey. Apply it on your face and rinse after 20 minutes.
Fruit juice cleanse – Prepare equal parts of lime and apple juices, apply them on your face. Rinse after 15 minutes. You can also use equal amounts lemon juice and water.
Aloe Vera – Aloe vera is another powerful home remedy for oily skin where you will mix it with crushed strawberries, and yogurt and use it as a facemask for about 10 minutes. You can rinse your face using warm water. Aloe vera will both absorb the oil excess and open up your pores.
Papaya or tomatoes – Apply mashed papaya on your face for 20 minutes and rinse it. You can use tomatoes in a similar way.
Salt – Mix one teaspoon of salt into water at room temperature and sprinkle it on your face using a spray bottle. You can then gently pat or blot your face to dry.
Apple – The other home solution is the rubbing a mixture of a half a cup of apple that has been mashed, a half a cup of oatmeal, some white egg and a teaspoon of lemon juice paste on your face and rinsing it off after 15 minutes.
Egg Yolk – Put some raw egg yolk on your skin using a cotton ball and rinse them off after 15 minutes.
Other natural remedies
In addition to the above natural and home remedies, you can try the following additional ways to stop or prevent oiliness.
- Other natural products and remedies include using cucumber juice, acetone based astringents.
- Secondly, use essential oils such as Bergamot, Cedarwood, Cypress, Frankincense, Geranium, Juniper, Lavender, Lemon, and Sage.
- Natural herbs such as Burdock root, oat straw, chamomile, thyme, and horsetail will be good for nourish your skin.
- Use a clean towel on your pillow to help absorb excess oils and stop it from piling on your pillow. This can spur bacterial accumulation.
Care tips
We have already discussed most products as we were looking at how to cure or prevent oily skin. We will only add something small to diet. This should have been discussed under home remedies but we felt it needed the necessary emphasis.
Diet
Some of the recommended good diets to help cure it include the following:
Fruits and Vegetables – Eat plenty of fresh fruits and green leafy vegetables.
Vitamins B2, B5, and Iron – To get vitamins B2 and B5 ensure your diet has nutritional yeas, organ meat, wheat germ, whole grains, nuts, royal jelly, beans, nuts, whole rice, buckwheat, etc. Some of these foods will also help in providing iron and skin rejuvenation.
Plenty of Clean and quality water – To help remove toxins from your body and keep your skin hydrated, ensure you take plenty of water. This will help in reducing sebum secretion and thus reduce oil.
Lifestyle changes – Another way requires you to change your lifestyle if you have a very oily skin. Ensure you stay stop smoking, too much alcohol consumption and always exercise. These lifestyle changes will be good as you struggle to care for your sensitive skin.
Greasy Foods – Reduce consumption of greasy foods, especially fried. In case you need oil, use a little cold pressed olive or canola.
If all the above ways and steps do not help, consider visiting your dermatologists or homeopathy expert for oily skin homeopathy to see if they can recommend something that will help you.