Causes of oily skin

We closely study oily skin, identify the causes of its obvious shortcomings and undeniable advantages. We learn to care for her in such a way as to minimize the former and increase the latter.

The main causes of oily skin

The main distinguishing feature of oily skin is the active work of the sebaceous glands. Hence all its shortcomings and problems, as well as advantages and benefits (yes, oily skin has them too).

Skin type is determined, as a rule, by genetics and is a given that we have to deal with all our lives. Another thing is that the degree of fat content of the skin, as well as its condition, can vary depending on external and internal circumstances.

Active release of sebum can be observed:

  • At puberty. During adolescence, when hormones are raging in the body, even naturally normal skin can temporarily acquire the characteristic features of oily. And oily is to become very oily and face the problem of teenage acne.

  • During menopause. With age, the sebaceous glands work less actively, and “adult” oily skin, with proper care, is quite capable of earning the title of combination. But another hormonal restructuring can bring her back to the past and make the sebaceous glands work again, as in her youth.

  • Before the onset of critical days. The sebaceous glands before menstruation produce more sebum than usual. This applies to any type of skin, especially oily, which during this period is especially prone to rashes.

The main task of oily skin is not to become problematic. Active production of sebum and thickening of the stratum corneum of the epidermis are excellent soil for the formation of sebaceous plugs, comedones and acne.

The condition of oily skin, like any other, depends on many factors that can both reduce greasiness and increase it.

Season

Summer is not the easiest time for oily skin: the heat provokes the expansion of pores and the release of sebum, which, mixed with cosmetics, increases the chances of the appearance of new comedones and inflammatory elements. But in the cold season, oily skin feels pretty decent and looks accordingly – the lipid mantle successfully counteracts frost and wind.

Aggressive cleansing

Alkaline cleansers and high-alcohol toners can dry out even very oily skin. To restore the lipid barrier, it compensatory begins to produce more sebum.

Improper care

An inadequately selected remedy that does not correspond to the age and needs of the epidermis (for example, too heavy a greasy cream) will not please the skin. And she will respond with increased oily sheen, sebaceous plugs, comedones.

Stress

Uneconomical waste of nerve cells, as well as sleepless nights, always affect the appearance. Oily skin, in accordance with its nature, reacts with increased greasiness, and in the worst case, with rashes.

Back to the table of contents

How to determine oily skin type

Oily skin has a number of distinguishing features.

Oily skin is easy to recognize. All its features are available:

  1. greasy shine not only in the T-zone (nose, forehead, chin), but also on the cheeks;

  2. expanded pores;

  3. black dots on the nose;

  4. dull grayish tint;

  5. inflammatory elements.

Oily skin is “at its peak” between the ages of 15 and 25, when the sebaceous glands work tirelessly, so in youth it does not look very attractive. However, all the suffering of youth is compensated in a more mature age.

Excess sebum can not only create problems, but also protect the skin from dehydration and the influence of an aggressive external environment. Oily skin is more elastic and resilient than other types, and signs of aging show up much later.

Back to the table of contents

The importance of proper care

Owners of oily and, especially, problematic skin from a young age know the importance of competent care and are more informed about what this care is. They know that neglect of the rules ends up with clogged pores and breakouts.

Purification

Throughout life, owners of oily skin have no right to ignore this stage. You need to wash your face twice a day, but not more often to avoid dehydration. It is advisable to use washable products.

Toning

For oily skin, tonics and lotions are useful, containing soothing and sebum-regulating components (hamamelis extract, aloe), as well as acids that regulate the level of greasiness and prevent thickening of the stratum corneum.

Exfoliation

Regular (1-2 times a week) use of scrubs and peels will relieve oily skin of the accumulation of dead cells, which, together with sebum, clog pores, and prevent the appearance of open and closed comedones.

Masks

Mineral masks based on natural clay are addressed to oily skin, as they absorb excess sebum, deeply cleanse and tighten pores.

humidification

Oily skin needs to be moisturized. The main thing is that the product is non-comedogenic, has a light texture and a water-based formula.

Oily skin loves light, water-based formulas. © L’Oréal Paris

Back to the table of contents

How to eliminate oily sheen

External manifestations of greasiness of the skin can be controlled with the help of products with matting effect.

  • Mattifying creams Light formulas for day care contain components that absorb moisture and fat: perlite, silicon, zinc.

  • Mattifying foundation Non-greasy fluids and emulsions with a matte effect and mattifying powders absorb sebum and have increased durability.

  • Matting blotters An irreplaceable thing, especially in summer. It is worth blotting a shiny forehead with a special napkin, as the greasy shine disappears. Such blotters absorb only sebum, but not makeup pigments. To fix the result, you can powder a little.

Back to the table of contents

Diet for oily skin

Sugar increases the greasiness of the skin.

It has been established that certain foods stimulate the sensitivity of the sebaceous gland follicles to hormones. These include:

  • sugar in all forms;

  • flour and cereals with a high glycemic index;

  • dairy products, especially whole milk.

“The so-called sparing diet allows you to control the work of the sebaceous glands, excluding everything very sweet, spicy, fatty, fried and pickled, that is, any dish that irritates the taste buds.

Too hot food or drinks also provoke oily sheen, not only due to the production of sebum, but also due to sweating. Coffee, especially black coffee, has a stimulating effect on the sebaceous glands. The same effect has products with a high degree of processing (canned food) due to the abundance of preservatives and salt in them. Ekaterina Turubara, Vichy medical expert.

Back to the table of contents

Salon procedures

Oily skin needs peeling.

Cleansing and renewal – it is for these effects that owners of oily skin should go to the beauty parlor.

Peeling

A course of superficial acid peels will benefit oily skin: it will exfoliate the stratum corneum, open the sebaceous ducts, prevent rashes, reduce shine and add radiance.

Ultrasonic cleaning

The hardware non-traumatic technique for cleansing the skin adequately copes with the task if there are few comedones on the face.

Back to the table of contents

Overview of cosmetics for oily skin

Purification

Cleanser Normaderm 3-in-1, Vichy

Combines cleanser, scrub and purifying mask. Among the active ingredients are salicylic and glycolic acids + LHA, kaolin.

Clear Skin Cleanser 3-in-1, Garnier

It has the functions of a cleansing gel, scrub and mask. Designed for oily and problematic skin.

Update

Ampoules “Revitalift Laser x3” with glycolic acid, L’Oreal Paris

Serum with 10% glycolic acid renews the skin day after day. Each ampoule is designed for one application in the evening. In the morning, apply sunscreen cream.

Mattifying + moisturizing

Light moisturizer with a mattifying effect Daily Moisture, SkinCeuticals

Moisturizes, tightens pores, mattifies thanks to Brazilian algae, burnet, cinnamon and ginger extracts.

Seboregulating emulsion Effaclar Mat, La Roche-Posay

Means with sebulis, perlite and zinc controls the release of sebum, helps to reduce inflammation.

Back to the table of contents

Leave a Reply