Oily skin is skin with a shiny, oily appearance, mainly visible on the face and scalp.

The skin naturally secretes a fatty substance, called sebum, which helps it protect against external aggressions and fight against dryness.

Sebum is produced by the sebaceous glands, which are particularly numerous in the forehead, the wings of the nose and the chin.

In some cases, the production of sebum is excessive: this is what gives the skin a “greasy” appearance. This is called hyperseborrhea, a condition that can promote the appearance of acne.

Oily skin is an excessive functioning of the sebaceous glands, which secrete sebum. Several situations can be the cause of oily skin:

• A hormonal imbalance (especially an excess of male hormones, androgens, which are present in both men and women)
• Excessive use of cosmetics
• Too aggressive cleaning of the skin
• Hypersensitivity, probably genetic, of the sebaceous glands to androgens (the hormone level is normal but the glands overreact by producing too much sebum)
• Consumption of drug-induced hormones (estrogen, progestogen)
• Various systemic conditions (including Parkinson’s disease)

In adolescence, increased hormone levels are associated with hyperseborrhea, which affects about 80% of young people. This may or may not be accompanied by acne.

Besides the unsightly appearance (shiny skin), oily skin is a condition that can promote the appearance of acne, pimples and blackheads. However, not all people with oily skin have acne.

On the scalp side, excess sebum can lead to greasy, heavy and “dirty” looking hair.

Contrary to popular belief, oily skin is fragile skin.

It is therefore necessary to start by limiting astringent or “stripper” cosmetic products, which apparently eliminate excess sebum but have the side effect of increasing its secretion.

We should give preference to cosmetic products designed for combination to oily, non-comedogenic skin, which sometimes also have a mattifying effect.

Once a week or once every 2 weeks, it is possible to perform a mask (with clay, for example) or a gentle exfoliation.

If the hyperseborrhea is due to a hormonal problem, hormonal drugs, such as anti-androgens, may be prescribed. The dermatologist or endocrinologist must be consulted to make a precise diagnosis and suggest an appropriate treatment.

Finally, in the case of very unsightly oily skin, which is accompanied by acne, laser treatments can sometimes be performed by dermatologists.